Member Spotlight
Elise Hoffman, ND, FABNO
How did you get into Naturopathic Oncology?
Before attending naturopathic college, I was working in fitness and nutrition as a personal trainer and holistic nutritionist, creating diet and exercise plans for my clients. I started to have clients who had cancer, including family members, which led me to research what I could offer them and I quickly learned that I needed more education and resources to support them. I started at CCNM knowing that I wanted to focus on naturopathic oncology in my practice and so I completed an oncology focus shift in my clinical year, followed by a two-year hospital-based oncology residency that created a strong foundation for my practice.
What do you do during your downtime and/or what do you do for fun?
I love being active and using my hands, so during these pandemic days I’ve been gardening, refinishing furniture, taking long walks or bike rides and cooking. I try to do at least one of these daily as I’ve learned over the last year that I thrive when my down time is filled with engaging projects.
What is your “broken record statement” to your patients?
What I talk about and encourage with every patient is self-compassion – the idea that if we can show ourselves the same kindness we would give to a close friend going through a difficult time, we can reduce some of our suffering and promote greater health and happiness.
About your clinic:
I practice at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Integrative Cancer Centre (CCNM ICC), located within CCNM. We are an integrative cancer care clinic that supports people with cancer at any stage using naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, psychotherapy, and massage and yoga therapy. Our clinic integrates the clinical training of our resident naturopathic doctors, as well as 4th-year naturopathic interns, with patient care.
Our team of practitioners works together and alongside our patients’ conventional team, to provide patient-empowered, whole-person care. Our goals are to improve quality of life, both during and after treatment, reduce the risk of recurrence, and support better outcomes for our patients.
