Meet Our Integrative Oncology Team
The Center is staffed by a range of caring individuals who understand the importance of a patient-centered approach to care.
The Center has staff with expertise and knowledge representing a variety of domains and disciplines including clinical and health psychology, psychiatry, preventive wellness, nutrition and dietary supplementation, oncology social work, mind/body approaches, art therapy, holistic healing, QiGong, individual, couples and family therapy, bereavement, spiritual care, complementary care, and the psychology of women.
Leadership Team
Shannon La Cava, PsyD
As a clinician, researcher, public speaker, and thought leader, Dr. Shannon La Cava specializes in delivering and studying supportive services for children, adolescents, adults, and families experiencing a cancer diagnosis or caring for a loved one with cancer.
Valentina Ogaryan, PhD
As a clinical psychologist, my role includes providing patients and their families who have been impacted by cancer with different types of psychosocial support. I provide direct patient care in UCLA oncology clinics and at the Simms/Mann Center.
John A. Glaspy, MD
John Glaspy, MD, MPH, is professor of medicine at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC). Dr. Glaspy holds the Simms/Mann Family Foundation Chair in Integrative Oncology. He previously held the Estelle, Abe, and Marjorie Sanders Endowed Chair in Cancer Research.
Barb Jagels, RN, MHA, CPHQ
Barb Jagels, RN, MHA, CPHQ, serves as the Senior Director of Cancer Services at UCLA Health. This role is dedicated to the integration of services across the care delivery system at UCLA Health.
Administration
Kelli Sargent
Jackie Rollins, BA
As the Project Manager for the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, my goal is to provide additional administrative and project support for the Center’s current and new programming.
Da’Vie Guzman, MA
As the inaugural program coordinator for the Simms Mann Center for Integrative Oncology, I am responsible for developing onsite and virtual programming that support the psychosocial well-being of our patients and their loved ones as needed.
William Vizcarra
As the Administrative Assistant for the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, my primary goal as the face of the center and first point of contact for all of our patients is to continue to foster a welcoming and safe environment.
Development & Fundraising
Maeve Sullivan
As the Director of Development, Cancer Patient Support at the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, my primary role involves strategically planning, managing, and executing the center's fundraising program.
Marketing & Communications
Samantha Yee
Combining my professional expertise with my personal interests, I strive to make meaningful contributions to both the digital landscape and the well-being of individuals within our community.
Clinical Team
Stephanie Aguirre, LCSW
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the UCLA Simms/Mann Center, I provide psychosocial care and support to our patients and their loved ones as they navigate different stages of their cancer journey.
Sabeen Ahmed, LCSW
As a clinical social worker at Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, I provide emotional and psychosocial support to patients and families navigating the challenges and complexities of a cancer diagnosis.
Aubrey Farabee, MSW
As a clinical social worker, it is my responsibility to help address the vast range of social needs of those who are impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
Shiori Lange, LCSW
In my role as a Clinician at the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, I am dedicated to delivering comprehensive psychosocial assistance and supportive counseling to individuals, couples and families.
Makayla Lindsay
As a Clinical Psychologist at the Simms/Mann Center, I provide psychosocial support to oncology patients and their loved ones, helping them navigate the emotional and psychological complexities of cancer.
Andrea Miller, LCSW
As a clinical social worker at the Simms/Mann Center I provide psychosocial support to patients and families that have been impacted by cancer.
Denise Perez, LCSW
As a clinical oncology social worker at the UCLA Simms/Mann Center for Integrative Oncology, my responsibilities encompass a wide range of crucial support functions.
Katherine Pool, LCSW
Having dedicated much of the last decade to working in oncology and palliative care, I am honored to now contribute to the whole-person care championed by the Simms/Mann Center.
Linda Shaleen, LCSW
As a clinical social worker at Simms/Mann, I provide psychosocial support to patients and families facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
Kathleen Sheridan Russell, LCSW, DSW
I am thrilled to be part of the Simms/Mann team, all of whom are committed to providing exceptional and compassionate patient care.
Danielle Siegel, LCSW
I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Social Welfare and Gender & Women’s Studies. Following my graduation, I started a fellowship called, AVODAH, the Jewish Service Corps.
Sydney Siegel, LCSW
My role at Simms/Mann is to provide psychosocial services to patients and families facing the many unique stressors that accompany a cancer diagnosis.
Nicole Sunseri, MSW
I provide psychological and emotional support to patients and their loved ones that have been impacted by cancer. In this role, I collaborate with patients’ medical team and provide evidence-based psychosocial support.
Porter Tolkin, MSW
In my role as an Associate, Clinical Oncology Social Worker, I aim to provide well rounded and holistic, emotional and psychological support to patients and their loved ones that have been effected by cancer.
Jenny Tran, PhD
I provide assessment and psychosocial care to patients and family members touched by cancer, in addition to providing multidisciplinary consultation in medical settings to other members of the healthcare team.
Aditi Wahi-Singh, LCSW
As a clinical social worker at the Simms/Mann Center, primarily serving patients in Orange County, in the Laguna Hills clinic, I provide comprehensive, evidence-based psychosocial services to patients and families.
Spiritual Care Specialists
Michael Eselun, BCC
As a chaplain, I bring a unique dimension to complement the myriad of professional services the Center offers—spiritual care. I’ve found that many folks have misconceptions about who or what a chaplain is and what a chaplain does.
Mark Buchanan, CPE
As a Chaplain, my support of cancer patients rests upon the conviction that life is a precious gift. Through this lens every life is valuable and every interaction is an opportunity to share the gift of the present moment with another.
Nutritionists
Emma Veilleux, RDN
As the senior dietitian for the Simms/Mann Center, I provide personalized nutrition counseling and support for patients and their families as they navigate through the unique and often complex nutrition-related challenges that can accompany a cancer diagnosis.
Deborah Hong, MS, RDN
As a registered dietitian at the Simms/Mann Center, I provide nutrition counseling for patients and their families.
Eve Lahijani
Eve Lahijani is a dedicated Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at the Simms/Mann Center, where she specializes in personalized nutrition counseling for patients navigating their cancer journeys
Psychiatrists
John Horton, MD
I have the privilege of serving as a staff psychiatrist at the Simms/Mann Center. I aim to collaborate with patients, their families, and the many UCLA and Simms/Mann clinicians in evaluating and treating psychological distress.
Mona Mojtahedzadeh, MD
I am deeply grateful for the position I’ve been entrusted with at Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology which allows me to continue to perform a work of meaning within a valued population who embrace me into some of their most pivotal moments.
Group Facilitators
Paige Asawa, PhD, MFT, ATR-BC
Healing Through Art Group Therapy Facilitator. Experiment with a variety of art techniques such as spontaneous drawing, expressive painting, collage, and multimedia to explore topics related to health and life changes.
Stephen Lottenberg, MD, PsyD
I facilitate with the intention of enhancing group members interaction with each other and giving each other support during a very trying time period in their lives.
Celeste Torrens, LCSW
My responsibility is to create a safe environment in which they are supported in expressing their hopes, fears and frustrations and assisted in finding fulfillment and meaning within the limitations that they are forced to accept.