Addressing cancer patients’ complete health with the Whole Person Care Collaborative
The Abramson Cancer Center’s legacy of holistic care is the foundation for cancer care and research that aims to become a model for the world.
In 1997, Leonard and the late Madlyn Abramson established the Abramson Cancer Center with a $100 million gift to recruit not only top scientists and clinicians, but also social workers, psychiatrists, and nutritionists. Madlyn’s vision of holistic, whole person care was a founding principle that continues to guide the cancer center’s mission. Her legacy also lives on through a dedicated community committed to supporting comprehensive cancer care that treats not only the cancer itself, but also the individual and their unique holistic needs.
Cancer treatment should never be one-size-fits-all, and even with immense innovation in medical care, treatment requires a whole person approach for each patient. It is also becoming essential to address the psychosocial needs of family and loved ones and support their preparedness for the complexities of caregiving as cancer treatment increasingly moves into the outpatient setting. That is why Penn Medicine offers a growing suite of supportive services, including mental health support, spiritual care, fertility preservation, social work, and palliative care. These resources help patients and their loved ones manage the often-overlooked challenges of a cancer diagnosis, from emotional distress to financial strain.
A team for treating the person, not just the disease
In 2025, Danica Arizola marked 11 years as a massage therapist in the Abramson Cancer Center’s infusion suites, where she helps patients navigate the physical and emotional toll of cancer treatment.
“Her interventions help patients and families through very traumatic days and really make an impact in providing the most patient-family centered care possible,” said Heather Sheaffer, DSW, LCSW, director of Patient and Family Services at the Abramson Cancer Center.
Arizola’s work is part of a larger movement within Penn Medicine to redefine what it means to care for patients with cancer. While leading-edge treatments remain central, true healing extends beyond medical interventions: Research shows that cancer cannot be treated as “distinct” from a patient’s well-being and life circumstances. Services like massage therapy—though not always covered by traditional insurance—can play an important role in a patient’s care and overall physical and mental wellbeing. Guided by the principle of whole person care, Penn Medicine teams aim to treat not just the disease, but the entire individual: their body, mind, and spirit.
A comprehensive approach for every patient
This work is happening across Penn Medicine, but a team of faculty leaders is working to unify and expand these efforts to ensure that every patient in the cancer system benefits from a truly comprehensive approach. The team is furthering the Abramson Cancer Center’s commitment to providing the most patient-centered, compassionate care possible through the Whole Person Care Collaborative by:
- Growing the teams of nurse navigators, social workers, and more to provide more personalized guidance and advocacy
- Expanding counseling, psychosocial support, mental health screenings, and spiritual care programs
- Creating support groups and outreach initiatives to build community and reduce isolation
- Enhancing specialized care geared towards adolescents and young adults, older patients, and patients experiencing fertility-related needs
- Leveraging palliative care early and often
- Advancing quality of life research to refine supportive care interventions
This ethos of cultivating whole person care is continuing to evolve through the Psychosocial Oncology Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, generously supported by a local philanthropist/anonymous donor. Together, all of these efforts are shaping holistic cancer care at Penn Medicine.
The role of philanthropy in the future of holistic care
Dedicated donors help address critical unmet needs at pivotal moments to ensure Penn Medicine patients are seamlessly connected with a growing suite of resources tailored for their unique needs—advancing the mission of whole person care and continuing the vision created by the Abramson family and carried forward by countless others. There are many areas where Penn Medicine would welcome philanthropic partnership:
Building a robust digital infrastructure across our cancer system and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to tailor care and design the right pathways
Investing in compassionate experts who make whole person care possible and provide support in life’s hardest moments
Expanding the tools available to patients and caregivers including research studies and clinical trials that advance Penn Medicine’s leadership in whole person care
Additional support means more ways to help patients and families find comfort, strength, and hope during the most challenging moments of their lives. We invite you to start a conversation with us on how a gift of any size can make an impact on our vision of a comprehensive Whole Person Care Collaborative. Your support will ensure each cancer patient receives the care they need as individuals.
For more information, please contact chief development officer and principal gifts officer Kathleen Hertkorn at khertkor@upenn.edu.