
Resilience:
LACNETS Health & Wellness Retreat
August 5, 2023
REGISTRATION CLOSED
All spots are filled. Please check back for future opportunities.
Meditation, Art Therapy, Drum Healing, and More...
Join our LACNETS Health & Wellness Virtual Retreat on Saturday, August 5th from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM Pacific. The theme of the retreat is Resilience. We recognize that coping with cancer requires adapting to adversities and enduring difficult physical, emotional and mental demands.
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Together we will take a moment to find respite, recognize our resilience and replenish it with connection, empathy and joy. This is an interactive wellness meeting for those living with neuroendocrine cancer (neuroendocrine neoplasm/NEN, neuroendocrine tumor/NET) and/or their loved ones. Greater resilience can be cultivated and practiced and we hope the tools in this experience help us build resilience in our journey.
The retreat will take place on Zoom (a two-way stream), meaning everyone will be able to see and interact with one another during the activities. All sessions are designed with a holistic approach addressing all aspects of your well-being. Activities are adaptable to varying levels of mobility and comfort.
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Guided Meditation with Ruth Q. Wolever, PhD, NBC-HWC
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Drum Healing with John Fitzgerald (Drum Circle Facilitator, Coach)
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Art Therapy with Angie Ladabouche (Art Therapist)
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Self-Reflection & Connections facilitated by Lisa Yen, NP, NBC-HWC
This special biannual event* is offered at no charge to neuroendocrine cancer patients and caregivers. *Limited spots are available. First come, first served. Register below by July 26th, 2023.
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS & FACILITATORS

JOHN FITZGERALD
Drum Circle Facilitator
Coach
Before he fell in love with the transformational impact of coaching and rhythm facilitation, John Fitzgerald spent decades as a degreed percussionist performing jazz and classical music, and the amazing music of cultures from around the world. Rhythms, cycles, and improvisation have always been central to his joy and passion, the spontaneous personal expression that is such a vital part of all living cultures, and indeed, all our lives.
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As the Manager of Recreational Music Activities for Remo Inc., for 23 years, he created relationships with organizations and individuals, educating and advocating for the use of music for well-being in every imaginable population through a global network of partnerships, facilitators, and Remo’s distributor network. Presentations, training, and facilitated experiential activities at conferences and symposia were a central part of his work at Remo, and his passion as well.
He brings to his coaching and facilitation the great gifts music has given him: deep curiosity, the capacity to listen for rhythm, relationship and cadence, and an ability to trust his intuition and improvise naturally as we explore both areas of harmony and of dissonance in pursuit of your goals and dreams.
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In addition to his one on one work with individuals and organizational leaders, he has designed and facilitated team-building, communication and leadership workshops for over 20 years.

ANGIE LADABOUCHE
Art Therapist
Angie Ladabouche was inspired to form "Reach heART" in March 2020, went the pandemic began, to offer art lessons for kids through Zoom that combine her passion for the arts and mindfulness (she prefers to call it "presentfulness"). It was her intention to provide a safe space to create, physically and emotionally, in addition to supporting an outlet for social engagement, as well as to encourage a sense of connectedness--to think of and support others in our community through our art.
Her background stems from a degree in technical Theatre (Costume and Scene Design), the entertainment industry, her love for the arts, yoga, sports (both playing and coaching), and being a parent herself. She has a constant thirst for creativity and learning, particularly in the field of social and emotional development, neuroscience, and the various ways we all can cultivate a practice of BEING present. She is now teaching both kids and adults in one-on-one lessons, camps, after-school art classes, adult art classes, and events that include birthdays, team building, friends and family gatherings, and scout meetings. ​

RUTH Q WOLEVER
PhD, NBC-HWC (CST)
Guided Meditation Facilitator
Ruth Q. Wolever, PhD, NBC-HWC serves as Interim Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt and the Director of Vanderbilt Health Coaching. She is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with secondary appointments in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Meharry Medical College. Ruth is the Chief Science Officer for eMindful, Inc., is a founding member and was the inaugural President of the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching. A clinical health psychologist and nationally-board certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC), Ruth has over 25 years of experience training and mentoring medical and allied health professionals in behavioral medicine, emotional health and coaching. She also has over 25 years of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating behavior change programs for medical patients and those at risk for chronic disease.
Internationally recognized for her expertise on mindfulness and health coaching, Ruth studies mindfulness-based approaches to self-regulation and lifestyle change. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NCCAM – now NCCIH, Office of Women’s Health, NHLBI, NIDCD, and NIDDK), the United States Air Force, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, industry, and philanthropy. Ruth is particularly interested in the intersection of mindfulness, behavior change, and inter-professional training.

LISA YEN
NP, NBC-HWC
Director of Programs & Outreach, LACNETS
Lisa Yen was a nurse practitioner hospitalist for over 12 years prior to her husband’s diagnosis with advanced, metastatic pancreatic NET in January 2015. As a medical professional, a caregiver, and a health coach to NET patients, she brings a unique perspective to LACNETS.
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In her role as Director of Programs & Outreach, she works with the team to plan content for the monthly educational meetings and annual patient educational conference as well as developing programs such as NETCONNECT, the LACNETS Health Coaching Program, the weekly virtual NET support group, and the monthly virtual NET caregiver support group. Lisa also co-created NET VITALS with LACNETS founder Giovanna Joyce Imbesi and City of Hope NET expert Dr. Dan Li. Lisa was the recipient of the 2020 Monica Warner Award. Her passion is to help improve the quality of life for those who have been touched by NET.
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Lisa earned a bachelor of arts in psychology from Wheaton College in Illinois in 1997, a bachelor of science in nursing from Loyola University of Chicago in 1998, a master of science in nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing’s Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program in 2003, and a post-graduate certification in Health Coaching from Vanderbilt University in 2018. She is a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), a credential offered in collaboration with the National Board of Medical Examiners. She has been active in community service and has served in medical missions in Kenya and Haiti. Other than her passion for helping people, she also enjoys traveling, snowboarding, and attending theater.
By registering, you agree to let LACNETS know at least 72 hours in advance of the retreat
if you are unable to attend.
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Contact us at events@lacnets.org if you have any questions.