The Maryland Proton Treatment Center, the only proton therapy cancer treatment center in the Baltimore-Washington region, has been recognized as one of the 28 leading medical institutions in the nation to begin implementing naturopathic care in standard oncologic treatment.
The Institute for Natural Medicine (INM) identified the Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC) as a medical center of excellence for providing patients with access to a licensed naturopathic doctor. Naturopathic doctors support patients’ recovery and overall health with whole-body care.
In partnership with the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), MPTC offers every patient — at no additional cost — the opportunity to meet with a naturopathic doctor to develop a personalized integrative treatment plan to complement their proton therapy. Scientifically proven to improve outcomes for cancer patients, integrative health plans include specialized nutrition and diet consultations, mind-body therapy, relaxation therapy, therapeutic art, and yoga therapy sessions with a certified yoga therapist.
Additional treatments are available for a fee, and include: private massage therapy, acupuncture, private yoga therapy, private mind-body sessions, and integrative physician consultations.
“Naturopathic doctors are meeting the growing consumer demand for whole-body health care providers, and they are delivering better health outcomes at lower costs,” said Michelle Simon, PhD, ND, and Chair of the INM Board of Directors.
The MPTC’s naturopathic doctor began working with patients in January 2018.
“We appreciate the Institute for Natural Medicine for this commendation and for their ongoing work to educate the public about the benefits of naturopathic medicine and to expand access to naturopathic doctors,” said William F. Regine, MD, FACR, FACRO, the Isadore and Fannie Schneider Foxman Chair and Professor of Radiation Oncology at UMSOM, and the Executive Director of the MPTC. “By coupling our state-of-the-art proton therapy with individualized integrative treatment plans, we are better able to help our patients conquer cancer and emerge healthy - not just in body, but also in mind and spirit.”
The MPTC launched this new model of Integrative Wellness care in the beginning of 2018 to allow patients to add holistic care to their treatment, and to raise the bar in the delivery of patient-centered and comprehensive health care. Dr. Charles B. Simone II, medical director of MPTC and an internationally recognized expert in the use of proton therapy for reirradiation and thoracic malignancies said, “At the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, we are committed to helping our patients through every step of their cancer journey. Integrative medicine at MPTC allows for mind and body healing of our patients that is a perfect complement to the ultraprecise proton therapy used to target their cancer.”
One of the fastest growing proton treatment centers in the country, the MPTC offers proton therapy at the same cost as conventional radiation therapy. Its experienced providers, advanced technology, and holistic approach to treatment and patient care has helped the center take a leading role in the industry, as evidenced by the recognition from the INM.
Committed to making the treatment process as easy as possible for patients and their loved ones, MPTC also provides free, dedicated concierge services to all patients in their care. Its concierge team assists in making all necessary arrangements before, during, and after treatment, allowing patients and their families to focus on what really matters – getting better. There is also free valet parking at the front door.
About the Maryland Proton Treatment Center
The Maryland Proton Treatment Center offers proton therapy – a highly advanced and precise form of radiation therapy that can increase radiation dose to tumor while decreasing dose to healthy, surrounding tissue – to the Baltimore/Washington region and beyond. Proton therapy is a highly effective treatment that can reduce treatment side effects for a wide range of solid tumors such as those found in the base of skull, brain, breast, esophagus, eyes, head and neck, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate, pelvis, spine, as well as lymphomas. It is also a very important treatment option for children with cancer and for patients whose tumor came back in an area that was previously treated with radiation therapy.
