GREELEY, Colo. (April 22, 2021) –To help with the range of emotions that can come with a cancer diagnosis and support a patient’s physical cancer care, Ashley Imburgia, PsyD, has joined the team of experts at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at North Colorado Medical Center and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at McKee Medical Center.
Psycho-oncology provides personalized behavioral medicine and support interventions to patients and their caregivers. Dr. Imburgia is an integral member of the oncology team and works alongside the patient and caregivers to address areas including:
• Disease progression
• Stress, depression, fear, and worry
• Loss of sense of control
• Family members’ grief after loss
• Tobacco or nicotine cessation
• Health behaviors
• Spirituality
• Survivor’s guilt
• Care team relationships
• Suicidal ideation
• Psychotropic medication collaboration
• Pain
• Sleep Problems
• End-of-life issues
• Sexuality and intimacy
• Appearance and body image
There are several types of psycho-oncology interventions that can be introduced:
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Solution-focused therapy
• Acceptance and commitment therapy
• Motivational interviewing
• Mindful-based stress reduction practices.
Dr. Imburgia will work with patients to determine which type of psycho-oncology intervention would be most beneficial to each person’s situation. Patients interested in this service should speak with their primary oncologist about a referral.
“As our programs through Banner MD Anderson continue to grow, we are honored to be able to offer this unique discipline to patients in Northern Colorado,” said Jeffrey Albert, MD, physician executive with Banner MD Anderson in Northern Colorado. “Our goal is to meet the needs of patients by offering oncology care that is comprehensive and of the highest quality.
Dr. Imburgia moved to Colorado from Illinois where she worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She held appointments in medicine and psychiatry. She received her doctorate in psychiatry from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Imburgia completed her psychology residency at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System and psycho-oncology fellowship at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine.
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at North Colorado Medical Center is located at 1801 16th St., Greeley. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at McKee Medical Center is located at 2000 N. Boise Ave., Loveland. To learn more about cancer treatment, call 970-810-2026.
About Banner MD Anderson Cancer Centers
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at North Colorado Medical Center and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at McKee Medical Center deliver cancer care to patients in Northern Colorado through the partnership of Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, Arizona, and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner MD Anderson offers focused disease-specific expertise in the medical, radiation and surgical management of the cancer patient; an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to patient care; access to clinical trials and new investigative therapies; state-of-the-art technology for the diagnosis, staging and treatment of all types of cancer; oncology expertise in supportive care services. For more information, visit www.BannerMDAnderson.com.
For further information contact us at: [email protected]