Dr. Harold H. Benjamin, Founder, The Wellness Community
The Cancer Support Community is an international, non-profit organization that provides support, education and hope to people with cancer and those who care for them. By offering free professionally-led support groups, educational workshops, nutrition and exercise programs, and stress-reduction classes, the Cancer Support Community empowers individuals affected by cancer through the learning of vital skills that enable them to regain control, reduce isolation and enhance quality of life. The Cancer Support Community also collaborates with academic and health care partners to conduct evidence-based research and provide training in the field of psychosocial oncology with the goal of improving outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients, cancer survivors, and the individuals who care for them. The Cancer Support Community assists people affected by cancer at nearly 100 locations worldwide including 23 U.S. based and 2 international centers with 73 satellite and off-site programs and online at www.cancersupportcommunity.org.
The Cancer Support Community was founded by Dr. Harold Benjamin in Santa Monica, California in 1982. As a result of experience with his wife's breast cancer and through subsequent years of study on the psychological and social impact of cancer, Dr. Benjamin formulated the Patient Active Concept. This revolutionary idea would be recognized years later at Walt Disney World EPCOT Metropolitan Life exhibit as one of the most significant developments in the evolution of modern health care.
In addition to the Patient Active Concept, the other significant cornerstone of our program is that all services are provided free of charge in a home-like, community setting. 'Community' is perhaps the most important aspect of the Cancer Support Community model of care that differentiates the program from any other. Today, thousands of people with cancer and their loved ones unite together through our programs. People come at diagnosis, during or at the end of treatment, at recurrence or several years out of treatment. They all come to learn they are not alone in their fight--whether for physical, emotional or spiritual recovery. Together, they regain a sense of control over their lives and ultimately discover that hope is a valuable tool irrespective of the stage of disease.
From Dr. Benjamin's first program in a little yellow house in Santa Monica, The Wellness Community has grown to twenty-four (24) facilities throughout the country with three (3) additional facilities currently in development. In addition, The Wellness Community has two facilities abroad in Tel Aviv, Israel and Tokyo, Japan, and the Online Cancer Support Community on the Internet.
A significant factor in expansion of facilities in the early 1990's can be directly attributed to Gilda Radner, a participant at TWC until her death from ovarian cancer in 1989. In her book, It's Always Something, she shared extensively about her experience at The Wellness Community. As countless patients have read her book, many have gone on to help bring a facility to their area.
Joanna Bull, MA, MFCC, Founder, Gilda's Club Worldwide
Joanna Bull is founder and board member of Gilda’s Club Worldwide, the headquarters organization that oversees the development of Gilda’s Clubs throughout the world. The first Gilda’s Club opened in New York City in 1995, after four years of intensive fund-raising in support of its mission.
Gilda’s Club is named for Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner with whom Ms. Bull worked as a cancer psychotherapist during the comedian’s illness. The mission of Gilda’s Club is to provide non-residential “clubhouses” where people with cancer and their families and friends join with others to craft individual and collective social and emotional support as a structured supplement to medical care. Among the many program features Ms. Bull originated are the Customized Membership Plan and ph&d, an opportunity for exploration and action aimed at cancer survivors and their families and friends.
Throughout her career, Ms. Bull has worked in the service of free cancer support communities – initially as Clinic Director at the pioneering Center for the Healing Arts in Los Angeles, California and later at The Wellness Community in Santa Monica and Redondo Beach, California. In addition to participating in the development and administration of such communities, she has trained and supervised therapists extensively in the concept, and has worked with hundreds of people with cancer and their family members on psychosocial issues related to cancer.
As principal spokesperson for the Gilda’s Club movement, Ms. Bull presented the Gilda’s Club story at the Fifth World Congress on Psycho-oncology in Melbourne, Australia. She joined leaders of cancer organizations in a Washington D.C. Roundtable organized by the National Cancer Legislation Advisory Committee to advise President George W. Bush. Ms. Bull was a speaker at the Comprehensive Cancer Care 2000 Conference sponsored by the National Cancer Institute in Washington D.C., which focused on complementary cancer therapies. In May of that year she delivered the Charlotte Johnson Barrett Lectureship at Baylor-Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas. Each year, the Barrett Lectureship is awarded to one nationally known expert on cancer-related psychosocial issues. She has been a vocal participant in the New York State Cancer Initiative and similar high-level focus groups.
Since her retirement in 2002, Ms. Bull has worked as consultant to developing Gilda’s Clubs and as its primary media representative. She is a sought-after keynote speaker at gatherings focused on cancer, across North America. Raised in Detroit, she attended the University of Chicago; she also studied at the Chicago Art Institute. Her Masters in Clinical Psychology was earned at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. Ms. Bull’s licensure is as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California.