Program Facilitators

Karl A. Anderson, M.O.T., O.T.R.

Karl A. Anderson, M.O.T., O.T.R., is a recent graduate of occupational therapy. He is a staff occupational therapist on the bone marrow transplant unit. His experience in exercise includes a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology and currently consults with other disciplines in the area of exercise as it relates to his patient population. Karl is also a cancer survivor and brings his unique experience to the topic of exercise physiology.

Jennifer Buergermeister, D.D., N.L.P., L.M.T., C.Ht., A.T.P.

Jennifer Buergermeister, D.D., N.L.P., L.M.T., C.Ht., A.T.P., a "Facilitator of Change," yogini, author and speaker, has passionately studied many of the healing art techniques in yoga, qi gong, traditional and transpersonal psychology, anthropology, communication, neurolinguistic programming, clinical hypnotherapy, feng shui, Jewish mysticism and early Christianity, body talk, reiki and other quantum healing techniques to synthesize what she calls PsycheSynergy: Synergizing the Heart with the Mind, Body and Soul.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

~~ Mahatma Gandhi

Jennifer is a master and trainer of neurolinguistic programming and clinical hypnotherapy and is completing her Ph.D. in esoteric studies, specializing in total transformation through energy and conscious awareness, yoga and early meditative traditions. Jennifer has practiced yoga since 1992 and in the last seven years, she has studied Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Anusara and Forrest Yoga with Swami Vidyadhishananda Giri, Robert Boustany, David Williams, Jonny Kest, Shiva Rea, John Friend and Ana Forrest, respectively.

Jennifer teaches yoga at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The Houstonian, Your Body Center, The Jewish Community Center and Tex Yoga in the Houston’s Galleria area. For more information about Jennifer, go to Inner Realms Web site or the Jennyoga Web site.

Cindy L. Carmack Taylor, Ph.D.

Cindy Carmack Taylor, Ph.D., assistant professor of behavioral science, conducts research in cancer patient and survivor quality of life, specifically focusing on psychosocial assessment and interventions for physical, social and emotional sequelae. Her expertise includes designing and implementing quality of life interventions that target these consequences of cancer, adapting interventions to test their applicability to a variety of patients and cancer sites and developing innovative cognitive-behavioral interventions.

Dr. Carmack Taylor has investigated the efficacy of physical activity as a QOL intervention for cancer patients, a seriously understudied area that has recently become a vital research area in psychosocial oncology. Her interventions with cancer patients target physical activity that can be easily integrated into their daily routines. To date, studies have targeted survivors of prostate, breast and endometrial cancer. Physical activity interventions for cancer patients are significant, as they have the potential to target physical, social and psychological functioning.

Dr. Carmack Taylor also has a program of research specifically examining the social consequences of cancer, which focuses on the QOL of cancer patients’ spouses and how cancer affects the spousal relationship. This understudied area in psychosocial oncology has received increased attention because of the reciprocal impact between the family’s functioning and the patient. She is the principal investigator on two NIH-funded studies, one examining the impact of prostate cancer on the spousal relationship and the other employing a longitudinal investigation of the psychological and relationship functioning of lung cancer patients and their spouses.

Finally, Dr. Carmack Taylor conducts research developing innovative psychosocial and behavior change interventions for cancer patients and testing theoretical models for explaining their efficacy. She currently is the principal investigator on a study to develop a low cost, easily disseminated support group program for colorectal cancer patients and is testing the program’s feasibility in a small randomized trial. She also collaborates with researchers at the University of Wisconsin on studies that evaluate CHESS (the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System), an interactive health communication system that has successfully improved quality of life, information skills and health care utilization for cancer patients. This novel internet-based psychosocial intervention has the potential to provide greater dissemination of services than traditional group-based or individual psychological counseling approaches.

Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D.

Together with his academic training in the Tibetan spiritual traditions, Alejandro has trained with Tibetan lamas since 1989. Currently he is an assistant professor at the John P. McGovern, M.D., Center for Health, Humanities and the Human Spirit at the U.T. Medical School - Houston and director of the Center for Professional Renewal with the Institute for Religion and Health. Alejandro is also an adjunct assistant professor at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he is involved in research using Tibetan mind-body techniques with cancer patients and facilitating meditation for cancer patients and their support systems at the Place ... of wellness.

Micki Fine

Micki Fine is a certified mindfulness teacher and founder of Mindful Living in Houston, Texas. She was awarded this credential from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center where Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn founded what is now the largest stress reduction clinic in the world. She combines the practice of psychotherapy with teaching mindfulness-based stress reduction to help individuals heal emotionally and physically, transform beliefs to live more fully and peacefully and deal with stress in creative ways. Her belief in the power of one's inherent strength and capacity for healing strongly influences her work with people experiencing depression, anxiety and chronic pain.

She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology and is licensed as a professional counselor. She has a long-standing meditation practice.

Micki is a consultant and teacher for two National Institute on Drug Abuse grants studying mindfulness and its effects on chemical dependency recovery and smoking cessation. She has also participated in other research studies documented in the Journal of Substance Use and Addictive Disorders and Their Treatment.

She has taught mindfulness at the nationally known Omega Institute and is on the teaching faculty at the Texas Medical Center Institute for Religion and Health.

Margaret Harle, R.N., M.S.N., O.C.N., C.H.T.P.

Margaret Harle is a registered nurse with a holistic, client-centered approach to care. She views her work as "creating the space where healing can occur". Margaret has been a certified Healing Touch practitioner since 1998, and has worked as an oncology nurse for over 30 years. She has been a facilitator at Place ... of wellness from its inception, and has worked at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for 24 years, caring for hematology patients, and as a senior research nurse in symptom research. Margaret is a locally known speaker and workshop facilitator in healing modalities, including Healing Touch, the Labyrinth and Mandala. At Place ... of wellness Margaret teaches classes to patients and caregivers, assisting them to use Healing Touch techniques for themselves and others. She also offers individual sessions.

Currently Margaret works with A Healing Collective, a group of healers and educators in central Houston who offer sessions and classes in the healing arts. Margaret is also a Labyrinth facilitator and a reflexologist.

Christina Meyers, Ph.D.

Dr. Meyers is a board certified neurophysiologist. She created the Neurophysiology Service in the newly formed Department of Neuro-Oncology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1984. Since that time she has pioneered clinical research into the effects of cancer and cancer treatment on central nervous system function, in addition to having an active consultation-liaison service and pre- and postdoctoral training programs. Her extensive research includes describing the neurocognitive and psychosocial sequelae of all types of cancers and cancer therapies. Her current efforts are to characterize the biological and neural substrates of cancer-related neurocognitive dysfunction, to identify people who might be genetically at risk to develop adverse symptoms and to develop pharmacologic, rehabilitative and behavioral intervention strategies to ameliorate this distressing syndrome.

Lauro A. Munoz, M.O.T., O.T.R.

Lauro A. Munoz, M.O.T., O.T.R., has been a practicing occupational therapist for 17 years. He is currently the outpatient occupational therapy supervisor. He also holds certifications as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise and a group exercise leader by the American College of Sports Medicine, and has been recognized as an elite personal trainer by the International Dance Exercise Association. Lauro has been involved with the families industry as a trainer and consultant to trainers for the last 21 years.

Cherie Perez, B.S., R.N., C.C.R.P., R.M.T.

Cherie is the quality assurance specialist for the Department of Genitourinary (GU) Medical Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. She has been with GU for seven years and with the institution for 16 years. She was the first to submit a program plan to the Place … of wellness in 1998. Her clinical interests include cancer prevention and complimentary therapies.

In her job in GU, Cherie audits and reviews trials, edits templates, provides information related to active protocols and educates staff. She is also a member of the Institutional Review Board, and has worked on clinical trials for most of her nursing career. Complementary therapies need to be evaluated but do not always fit the standard mold.

Cherie's aromatherapy class provides information on general relaxation, promotion of sleep, maintaining a balanced GI tract and attempting to ground and focus. She presents essential oils and recipes for general relaxation, mental stimulation and restful sleep. The lecture is interactive, and she provides an opportunity to get acquainted with many essential oils. Class participants can receive a sample blend at no charge.

Noemi Peterson, M.S.N., M.P.H., R.N., O.C.N., C.H.T.P.

The client's needs and abilities are at the center of Noemi's private practice, Health and Wellness Counseling. She focuses on facilitating her client's increased state of wellness. Noemi is a registered nurse in the state of Texas and holds master degrees in nursing and in public health from The University of Texas. She has a long career as a nurse and nurse educator, with many of those years in the field of oncology. Noemi has trained extensively in complementary approaches, including Healing Touch, The Reconnection, Zero Balancing, hypnosis and guided imagery and more.

Michael M. Richardson, M.T.

Michael Richardson is a board certified music therapist. After graduation from Southern Methodist University in 1985, he began his career developing the first music therapy program for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). One of the first board certified music therapists in Texas, he developed programs at Gulf Pines Psychiatric Hospital, The Center for Hearing and Speech and special music therapy programs for the geriatric nuns residing at the Villa de Matel. He implemented two pilot internship programs for TDCJ, and continues to supervise Sam Houston State University practicum students in the field of music therapy.

Michael came to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1991 as a contract employee and is currently on staff full-time through the Place … of wellness, providing services throughout the hospital. He is also developing a Music Therapy Internship Program. Michael was the recipient of the 2005 Citation for Excellence in Ancillary Support from the Division of Cancer Medicine, and is featured in Total Body "The Healing Journey" (March/April 2006) , Coping with Cancer "Healing Through Music" (March/April 2006), Women & Cancer "Complementary & Alternative Therapy" (Spring 2006) by Laurie Wertich.

Debra Sivesind, M.S.N., A.P.R.N.-B.C.

Debra Sivesind received her master's degree in psychiatric nursing from the University of Nebraska in 1982, and has held ANA certification as a clinical nurse specialist in adult psychiatric and mental health nursing since 1986. For the past 15 years, she has worked as a clinical nurse specialist in the Department of Psychiatry at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, dedicating the past seven years to palliative care, including extensive work with the terminally ill. In this role she provides psychiatric assessment and supportive/expressive counseling for patients and their families.

Sandi Stromberg, M.A.

As program manager of external publications in the Communications Office at M. D. Anderson, Sandi Stromberg, M.A., oversees production of the institution's annual report, Conquest and CancerWise, and is the writer/editor of two patient/caregiver newsletters — Network and FYI. As a facilitator of journaling and writing workshops, she has presented at many conferences and teaches an ongoing class at the Jung Center in Houston. She also is an award-winning poet.

Sat-Siri Sumler, L.M.T., N.C.T.M.B., R.Y.T.

Sat-Siri Sumler joined The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Integrative Medicine Program in 2003. Sat-Siri is a licensed massage therapist and is nationally certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork. Her massage modalities include Swedish, therapeutic and geriatric, as well as aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, reflexology and skilled touch for the seriously ill. She has specialized in massage for the oncologic patient since 1991. She trained extensively in Sat Nam Rasayan^® with Master Guru Dev Singh, giving her massage a foundation of total body/mind awareness. Sat-Siri began practicing yoga in 1969 and found Kundalini yoga and meditation in 1973. She has been teaching yoga since 1974 is a teacher trainer for the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers’ Association. She has traveled extensively, offering workshops and teacher training courses. Sat-Siri is a Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher.