DFCI Zakim Center
Jennifer A. Ligibel, MD
Dr. Jennifer Ligibel is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, the Director of the Zakim Center, and the Director of the Center for Faculty Well-Being at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Ligibel’s research focuses on the impact of lifestyle interventions upon cancer-related outcomes in women with breast cancer. She has conducted a number of studies looking at the impact of exercise and weight loss interventions upon patients’ quality of life and symptoms after cancer diagnosis and is currently leading an NCI-funded Phase III clinical trial that will test the impact of a weight loss intervention upon the risk of disease recurrence in more than 3000 women with early-stage breast cancer. Dr. Ligibel was the Chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Subcommittee on Energy Balance, which has developed patient and physician materials to help facilitate healthy lifestyle changes after cancer diagnosis.
Ting Bao, MD
Dr. Ting Bao is the Co-Director of the Zakim Center, the past president of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), and the current Co-Chair of SIO Education Committee. She was a joint faculty member at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) Integrative Medicine and Breast Medicine services and the Director of the Integrative Breast Oncology program at MSK from 2014 – 2023. She is a board-certified breast medical oncologist and medical acupuncturist, and integrative medicine physician. She has conducted a number of clinical trials that examine the safety, effectiveness, and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture and yoga to improve cancer patients’ quality of life and to address treatment- and disease-related symptoms. Because of her clinical and research expertise, she is a member of National Cancer Institute (NCI) Physician Data Query Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Editorial Board. She is also a member of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Symptom Intervention Committee and she is a speaker and panelist for NCI conducted workshops on oncology acupuncture and cancer CAM.
Victoria Kennedy, MA
Victoria Kennedy, MA is the Administrative Director of the Zakim Center. Victoria joined the Zakim Center in 2014, and is responsible for the oversight of all personnel, clinical operations, programming and administrative aspects of the Center. Victoria joined Dana-Farber in 2004 after having completed a college internship within the pediatrics department. She has held roles in numerous departments including the Perini Clinic, the pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship program, and the Adult Survivorship Program.
Patricia Martin Arcari, PhD, RN, AHN-BC
Dr. Patricia Arcari is the Program Manager for Meditation and Mindfulness at the Zakim Center and a Visiting Scholar at Boston College, where she has created novel meditation, mindfulness, and Mind Body Resilience programming for patients, staff, and students. She is also responsible for the design and implementation of the Dana-Farber Reiki Volunteer Program. She received her PhD and undergraduate degrees from the Boston College School of Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Boston University. Previously, she was a Program Director at the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, and a Nurse Scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is board certified as an advanced holistic nurse, a clinical nurse specialist in Integrative nursing, and has been involved in practicing Holistic Nursing for over 20 years in clinical, training, and research capacities. Her areas of research interest include Reiki, mindfulness meditation, and developing resilience.
Megan Carleton, LMHC, ATR-BC
Megan Carleton is the Expressive Arts Program Manager at the Zakim Center and a board-certified art therapist and licensed mental health counselor. Following ten years of professional experience at Massachusetts General Hospital, she has expertise in providing program development, art therapy, and environmental arts experiences, with a specialization in working with pediatric and adult oncology patients, families, and caregivers.
Megan has made creativity the guiding force in her personal and professional life, with an expressive arts approach that is trauma-informed, personalized, creative, inclusive, and accessible. Her clinical work is informed by client interests and a multi-modal approach that addresses needs while building strengths, resilience, self-compassion, stress reduction, and wellness.
Megan is past co-president of the New England Art Therapy Association. She completed her graduate degree in Expressive Therapy at Lesley University and has supported the training of expressive arts interns as a clinical supervisor, clinical instructor, and most recently, associate director of Field Training in Lesley University’s Expressive Therapies graduate program.
Christina Conte, RDN, LDN
Christina Conte, RDN, LDN, is the Nutrition Coordinator in the Zakim Center. She has over seven years of experience supporting patients in achieving their health goals as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Health Coach. During her time as an outpatient dietitian, she provided one-on-one medical nutrition therapy to both adults and children, led group classes, delivered seminars to the community, and was a member of Yale New Haven Health’s Diabetes Board and Health Coordinating Council. Christina began her career at Dana-Farber in 2017 as a Health and Wellness Coach on the Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) Study.
Juliana G. Berfield, PhD, E-RYT 500, CPT
Juliana joined the Zakim Center in 2017 as a Movement Instructor. Since 2000, she has taught various movement classes including Yoga, Mat Pilates, Aerobics, Step, Kick Boxing, Core, Muscle Conditioning, and Resist-a-Ball ® class styles. Juliana has certifications in Yoga (E-RYT 500), Personal Training (ACE-CPT), Mat Pilates (Physicalmind Institute®), Yoga for Cancer (y4c®), Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra, Cancer Exercise Specialist (CETI), and Senior Fitness Specialist (ACE).
Nancy Campbell, MS
Nancy Campbell is the Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Exercise Team Lead in the Zakim Center. Nancy provides personalized exercise consultations for patients and also teaches several strength training-based exercise classes. Nancy has been a part of over 15 research studies looking at the benefits of exercise and healthy living for cancer survivors. She has been at Dana-Farber since 2005, is a certified ACE Personal Trainer and has the American College of Sports Medicine Cancer Exercise Trainer certification.
Ramel "Rami" Rones
Rami Rones is a gold medalist, award-winning martial artist in both the United States and China. With 16 years of experience leading Tai Chi, Qigong and Meditation classes, he focuses on helping individuals with conditions such as cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, aging, injuries, and stress. Rami is a consultant on mind/body therapies at Harvard and Tufts Medical Schools, and is the co-author of numerous publications. In addition to his work at the Zakim Center, Rami also lectures and instructs in the techniques of the Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation philosophies in hospitals, institutions, and schools around the world.