STAFF

Susan Silberstein, PhD
Executive Director

Dr. Susan Silberstein has served as Executive Director of the CACE since she founded the organization in October of 1977, after the death of her young husband to cancer. She also serves as Educational Advisor to the National Foundation for Alternative Medicine, as trainer for Ultimate Health Group, Inc., and as consultant for various educational, clinical, and nutraceutical facilities.  In conjunction with her work at the cancer center, Susan is Editor of Immune Perspectives magazine, creator of the video, Breast Cancer: The Diet Connection, author of the recipe book Hungry for Health, and originator of Philadelphia’s annual “Food & Health Expo.”

A national speaker on nutrition, cancer prevention, and complementary and alternative medicine, Susan lectures frequently for medical and nursing schools, continuing oncology nursing education programs, universities, corporations, and other organizations. Since 1977, she has appeared on scores of radio and television talk shows, has coordinated hundreds of health conferences, and has counseled thousands of patients.

For several years, Susan taught the psychology of health and disease in the Graduate Division of Counseling Psychology at Immaculata University and served as Director of the Integrative Program for Cancer Prevention at the Village at Newtown Medical Center. A frequent contributing writer and interviewee for various health publications, she is featured in Rutgers University Press’s Evaluating Alternative Cancer Therapies.

A Phi Beta Kappa and Fulbright scholar, Susan is the recipient of the Jefferson Award of the American Institute for Public Service, the Legion of Honor Award of the Chapel of Four Chaplains, the Montgomery County Woman of Vision Award, the Founder’s Award of the National Foundation for Alternative medicine, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education.

Susan is also an accomplished linguist, a trained opera singer, and mother of four. (Click here for Full Bio)

Randi Shayne, ND
Patient Services Director

Dr. Randi Shayne has served as Patient Services Director since 2000.  She received her bachelor's degree in biology from La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, one of four U.S. accredited medical schools formally training primary care physicians in natural medicine.

Dr. Shayne has worked extensively in the areas of education, healthcare and communications, developing educational materials and conducting training sessions for medical personnel, educators, social service workers and clergy. She has coordinated dozens of seminars, conferences and workshops and is a popular lecturer on complementary and alternative medicine at medical schools, colleges and universities, and national health-related conventions. Producer and host of the series "Exploring Holistic Healing" for public access TV, Dr. Shayne has managed media relations with newspapers, radio and television, and has written articles for national print and on-line publications.

For over 20 years, Dr. Shayne has consulted on health promotion, disease prevention and management of chronic illness. In addition to the thousands of consultations she has provided to cancer patients and their families, Dr. Shayne worked for several years with other special populations including victims of sexual abuse, adolescent mothers, and the Amish.

Since 1996, she has been a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Naturopathic Physicians, an organization working towards the state licensing of naturopaths. She has a keen interest in and a deep knowledge of the environment and consumer choice as they affect human health. 

Lillian Goertzel, EdD, CN
Supervising Psychologist & Patient Counselor

Dr. Lillian Goertzel has served the Center as Supervising Psychologist and Patient Counselor since 1991. A licensed psychologist and certified nutritionist, Dr. Goertzel received her bachelor's degree in psychology from American University, her master's degree in psychology from the New School for Social Research, and her Ed.D. degree in health psychology from Temple University. She is also certified in nutrition through American Health Science University and the National Institute of Nutrition Education.

Dr. Goertzel has been in private practice since 1989, specializing in clinical health psychology and behavioral medicine for individuals, families, and groups. She has worked extensively with children and adults with cancer and has completed professional training with ECAP, a program for exceptional cancer patients founded by Bernie Siegel, MD. She also studied with Lawrence LeShan, Ph.D., a researcher and clinical expert in psychotherapy for patients with cancer. Her doctoral dissertation focused on anxiety and self-esteem among pediatric and adolescent cancer patients and was published in Psychological Reports in May of 1991.

For several years Dr. Goertzel worked as psychological program coordinator servicing primarily African-American children, adolescents and adults. Her special areas of expertise include relationships, anger and stress management, depression, hypnotherapy, and anxiety. Her professional affiliations include membership in the American Psychological Association, the Association for Play Therapy, and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. She is a national board member of the Society of Certified Nutritionists and past president of the Delaware Valley Association of Humanistic Psychology.

Karen Key, CMT
Program Assistant

Karen’s interest in mind-body health was sparked in the early 1990s.  Her learning journey started with a certification in Holistic Health Studies through the Health Perspectives program of Rosemont College in Rosemont, PA.  In order to fulfill her 100-hour internship requirement, Karen began working at the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education. She never left.

In 1995, Karen became a certified massage therapist and reflexologist.  A member of the International Massage Association, she is also certified in pre-natal massage therapy.  Since 1995, she has maintained a private practice and has also worked at various spas and chiropractic offices.  She currently practices at MassageWorks, a massage and yoga center in Bryn Mawr, PA, while maintaining a part-time schedule with the cancer center.

Karen is happy to be involved with an organization that is aligned with her belief in the remarkable healing and regenerative capacities of the human body.  She enjoys teaching cancer patients and other clients the importance of proper lifestyle changes and mind-body modalities, while taking advantage of the best that modern medicine has to offer.

Over the years, Karen’s compassion for all living creatures has made her the champion of many worthwhile causes, including Amnesty International, several civil rights and animal rights organizations, and an animal shelter.

Jillian Pintye, BSN
College Campus Outreach Coordinator

Jillian became deeply committed to a career in health care following her father’s death from cancer.  As a nursing student in the Honors Program at LaSalle University, Jillian had the opportunity to serve the underprivileged communities of Philadelphia and became extremely interested in disease prevention, public health promotion, and policy.  The University’s commitment to community service led Jillian to volunteer at the Triform Camphill Community, a residential therapeutic and vocational training center for young people with developmental disorders. 

In 2005, Jillian became involved with the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education to fulfill  the community service component of a nursing course.  Beginning as just a volunteer, she was soon offered a paid position as College Campus Outreach Coordinator. Starting with programming at La Salle, where Jillian has coordinated educational programs for sororities, nursing students and faculty as well as organized student volunteer and fundraising events, she is now helping to plan outreach programs at other colleges and universities. 

Recently, Jillian has been developing her cross-cultural communication skills and global consciousness through her international travel and study experiences, including studying Denmark’s socialized healthcare system during a course on “Nursing in Scandinavia.”

The knowledge and experience which Jillian has gained at the Center have further solidified her commitment to promote health within the cancer diagnosed community and to raise awareness of cancer prevention resources among those who are cancer free.  Jillian now plans to pursue a Masters of Public Health degree and is passionate about her future proactive, empowering and compassionate career in public health.