Our Zakim Center Team

Administration

Victoria Kennedy, MA
Administrative Director

Clinical Staff

Michael Carrier, PT, DPT, BS
Program Manager, Health & Wellness

Daniel Glidden, MS, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Michaela Kane, MS, ACSM-ACS 
Exercise Trainer

Acupuncture

Weidong Lu, MB, MPH, PhD, LicAc
Weidong Lu is the Lead Oncology Acupuncturist in the Zakim Center and an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Weidong has led several research studies examining oncology acupuncture and symptom management in patients. He has practiced oncology acupuncture at the Zakim Center since 2000.

Anne Drogin, MDiv, MAc, LicAc
Anne Drogin has practiced acupuncture since 1997 throughout the Boston area. Prior to working at the Zakim Center, Anne worked as a clinical supervisor, teaching and training the next generation of acupuncturists in hospitals and health centers across Boston. She brings great experience to her work at Dana-Farber.

Dongyan Yu, MB, MS, LicAc
Dongyan Yu joined the acupuncture team at the Zakim Center in 2014. She is a co-investigator on various research studies examining oncology acupuncture. Dongyan has practiced acupuncture in the U.S. for over 20 years. She has Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Medicine degrees from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in China.

Xiaoqin "Sabrina" Zhao, MB, MS, LicAc
Sabrina Zhao brings extensive knowledge and experience to her work at the Zakim Center. In addition to 10 years of medical research experience, she has over 10 years of clinical experience in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Sabrina brings her background in Chinese and western medicine to her work here at the Zakim Center.

Massage

Maria "Bambi" Mathay, LMT, BCTMB, RMT
Bambi Mathay graduated from medical school in the Philippines in 1986. Since 2003, she has specialized in oncology massage therapy, Reiki, and reflexology. With over 20 years of experience at the Zakim Center, Bambi has a depth of knowledge in caring for oncology patients through massage and other touch services. She is experienced with working with both adult and pediatric patients. Bambi states, "Partnering with my patients to provide a safe and effective integrative oncology massage session that supports their healing and wellbeing is very important to me."

Erika R. Slocum, LMT
Erika Slocum has practiced massage therapy since 2005 and has been working with the oncology population since 2007. She uses a variety of techniques when she works with patients, including scar tissue mobilization, lymphatic massage, orthopedic techniques, and Reiki. Erika has also taught professional massage therapists across the country how to work safely with oncology patients since 2011.

Theresa Ochenkoski, LMT, BCTMB, RM
Theresa Ochenkoski is a board-certified massage therapist who began her massage therapy career in 1988. She became a Certified Usui Reiki Master in 2007, and in 2011 integrated foot reflexology to include a more supportive aspect to her practice. Theresa states, "Becoming an Oncology Massage Therapist and being given the opportunity to provide this service at the Zakim Center since 2006 has been one of life's precious gifts to me. I believe that providing sessions that offer a nurturing atmosphere and that support patient self-care are a key aspect of healing."

Patricia "Patty" Kitchen, LMT
Patty Kitchen has been a massage therapist since 2009. Her journey began when reading an article about the powerful role massage plays in pain management for oncology patients and older adults, which led to her training at Cortiva Institute – Boston. She has since worked in a variety of clinical and private settings. In addition to oncology massage, Patty is trained in manual lymphatic drainage and Reiki which she can incorporate into her sessions. In addition to the Zakim Center, she also works with oncology patients at The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden in Harvard, MA. Patty believes that true healing happens when the body is allowed to relax and is honored to support patients on their wellness journey. 

Group Movement, Meditation, Expressive Arts, Nutrition

Juliana G. Berfield, PhD
Juliana joined the Zakim Center in 2017 as a Movement Instructor. Since 2000, she has taught various movement classes including Yoga, Mat Pilates, Aerobics, Step, Kick Boxing, Core, Muscle Conditioning, and Resist-a-Ball^® class styles. Juliana has certifications in Yoga (E-RYT 500), Personal Training (ACE-CPT), Mat Pilates (Physicalmind Institute^®), Yoga for Cancer (y4c^®), Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra, Cancer Exercise Specialist (CETI), and Senior Fitness Specialist (ACE). 

Nancy Campbell, MS
Nancy Campbell is the Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Exercise Team Lead in the Zakim Center. Nancy teaches several strength training exercise classes for patients and survivors via Zoom and in-person. Nancy has been a part of over 15 research studies looking at the benefits of exercise and healthy living for cancer survivors. She has been at Dana-Farber since 2005, is a certified ACE Personal Trainer, and has the American College of Sports Medicine Cancer Exercise Trainer certification.   

Megan Carleton, LMHC, ATR-BC
Megan is the Program Manager, Expressive Therapy and Mindful Practices at the Zakim Center, a board-certified therapist, and licensed mental health counselor. Following 10 years of professional experience at Massachusetts General Hospital, she has expertise in providing program development, art therapy, and environmental arts experiences, with a specialization in working with pediatric and adult oncology patients, families, and caregivers.

Megan has made creativity the guiding force in her personal and professional life, with an expressive arts approach that is trauma-informed, personalized, creative, inclusive, and accessible. Her clinical work is informed by client interests and a multi-modal approach that addresses needs while building strengths, resilience, self-compassion, stress reduction, and wellness.

Christina Conte, RDN, CSO
Christina Conte is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition. She has over nine years of experience supporting patients in achieving their health goals through one-on-one counseling and group programming. Christina began her career at Dana-Farber in 2017 as a Health and Wellness Coach on the Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) Study and has worked as the Nutrition Coordinator for the Zakim Center since 2023.

Anna Krotinger, MBE
Anna Krotinger is a medical student at Harvard Medical School. She received her BA in Neuroscience from Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Bioethics from Harvard Medical School. In medical school, she has worked to expand access to dance for clinical populations around the Boston Area. In addition to teaching dance classes for people with Parkinson’s disease in collaboration with Urbanity Dance, a local dance-focused nonprofit, she leads dance classes at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation, and McLean Psychiatric Hospital.

Barbara "Babz" Jackson Tobin, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CYT, Reiki Master 
Babz is an occupational therapist, lymphedema therapist, certified yoga teacher, certified in yoga4cancer, LoveYourBrain, Yoga for Trauma training, and Reiki master. Babz is a certified lymphedema therapist (LANA certified) specializing in cancer rehab and the lymphatic system. Babz integrates her clinical techniques into her yoga practice. She is passionate and eager to introduce her wellness programs to help to teach and support specialized populations. She is the founder of Lymph Flow Yoga; a type of yoga specifically designed to improve lymphatic health. Her mom, a breast cancer survivor who manages lymphedema, is Babz’s ongoing inspiration.

Ramel "Rami" Rones
Rami Rones is a gold medalist, award-winning martial artist in both the U.S. and China. With decades of experience leading Tai Chi, Qigong, and Meditation classes, he focuses on helping individuals with conditions such as cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, aging, injuries, and stress. Rami is a consultant on mind/body therapies at Harvard and Tufts Medical Schools, and is the co-author of numerous publications. In addition to his work at the Zakim Center, Rami also lectures and instructs in the techniques of the Tai Chi, Qigong, and meditation philosophies in hospitals, institutions, and schools around the world.