The Society for Integrative Oncology: Two Decades of Global Leadership in Evidence-Based Integrative Health Care

Introduction

The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) (https://integrativeonc.org/) was founded in 2003 as a not-for-profit, international, multidisciplinary professional organization to bring together integrative oncology practitioners across multiple disciplines. The mission of SIO is to advance evidence-based, comprehensive, integrative health care to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

SIO has helped define the field of integrative oncology: “Integrative oncology is a patient-centered, evidence-informed field of cancer care that utilizes mind and body practices, natural products, and/or lifestyle modifications from different traditions alongside conventional cancer treatments. Integrative oncology aims to optimize health, quality of life, and clinical outcomes across the cancer care continuum and to empower people to prevent cancer and become active participants before, during, and beyond cancer treatment.” ¹ Although these approaches are not generally considered part of standard Western oncology practice, integrative oncology can guide the patient, family, and caregiver through the complex process of implementing these potential treatment options.

As an interdisciplinary and interprofessional society, SIO has consistently encouraged rigorous scientific evaluation of integrative treatment approaches across the cancer care continuum in both preclinical and clinical settings. SIO envisions that this research-informed process will increasingly move integrative oncology practice to standard practice and, thereby, improve accessibility and transform oncology care.

Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

SIO is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging. SIO's Health Equity Mission Statement reads in part, “The Society for Integrative Oncology affirms the dignity, equality, and equity of all people. We recognize that all are not treated with respect, and we commit ourselves to working for justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging among both internal and external stakeholders.” SIO has conducted a member inclusion survey, its executive committee has engaged in diversity education, and has drafted a land acknowledgment statement.

SIO's support of its diverse global community includes its recent statements on the war in Ukraine, battlefield acupuncture education for individuals in Ukraine, a vigil for those affected by COVID-19 in India, and a fundraiser for Navajo whose population was also significantly affected by COVID-19. SIO has sought meaningful impact whenever possible.

Organizational Structure

The structure of the organization includes an executive committee composed of the immediate past president (Dr. Ting Bao), the current president (Dr. Linda Carlson), the president-elect (Dr. Santosh Rao), the treasurer (Dr. Ana Maria Lopez), secretary (Jodi Macleod), and vice-president of advancement (Dr. Channing Paller). SIO's board members serve 2-year renewable appointments. Committees include conference planning, clinical practice, clinical practice guidelines, research, membership development, communications, education, patient advocacy, and health equity and inclusion committees. Special interest groups (SIGs) include the highly productive yoga SIG, acupuncture, nursing, program management and pediatrics.

Task forces include the advancement task force, global task force, and online program delivery task force. SIO members are able to join any of the SIGs and volunteer for committee membership.

Membership

Members of SIO share the common goal of delivering excellent comprehensive cancer care that includes cancer risk reduction, symptom management, and enhancement of cancer therapy. Our members are active contributors to the science of integrative oncology through their roles in academic centers, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the International Psycho-Oncology Society, and the National Cancer Institute's Physican Data Query Integrative, Alternative and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. SIO members are a unique community of health professionals and patient advocates across community, academic, and solo practice locations.

Patient advocates are engaged through the patient advocate committee and in leadership (executive committee and SIO board) where their voice is integral to all SIO activities through committee activity, annual meeting planning, and policy development. As an international society and with its commitment to equity, SIO offers reduced membership fees to members from low-income countries and to retired persons.

Conference Scholarships

SIO offers conference scholarships to support engagement and mentorship globally. Patient advocates may apply for conference attendance support. Conference discounts are available for trainees and students and may be coupled with mentorship opportunities. These have resulted in projects ranging from symptom management with natural products to improving quality of life through acupuncture or yoga. SIO's International Ambassador Program spurs international representation and collaboration through global enhanced membership.

SIO Annual Meeting

SIO's annual meeting highlights the scientific achievements in integrative oncology. The annual international conference creates a meeting place for members, researchers, and patient advocates. Conferences rotate to different locations to encourage regional interest. In 2022, SIO's annual international conference will be held in Scottsdale Arizona from October 20 to 22. In 2023, the conference will travel to Banff, Canada, where we will commemorate SIO's 20th year anniversary. The goals of the conference are to educate, to further the scientific basis of integrative oncology, to translate research into meaningful action, and to facilitate community building and networking among a diverse group of individuals who are dedicated to integrative oncology practice, education, investigation, and community partnership.

The conference includes keynote lectures, plenary sessions, abstracts including oral abstract sessions, workshops, and an annual gala. SIO's hybrid conference model facilitates knowledge access through asynchronous learning. The meeting will continue in a hybrid format that has brought new and increased participations from colleagues and advocates in Africa and South America.

Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines

SIO has developed multiple evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. These guidelines serve as best practices for incorporating integrative therapies into conventional oncology clinical practice. In 2007, SIO published guidelines in Chest on the use of complementary therapies and integrative oncology in lung cancer. ² These were updated in 2013. ³ In 2009, SIO published “Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Integrative Oncology: Complementary Therapies and Botanicals.” ⁴ This article included the use of integrative therapies in the supportive care of cancer patients.

In 2014 “SIO Guidelines; Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Use of Integrative Therapies as Supportive Care in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer” was published in short form, ⁵ updated and expanded upon in 2017, ⁶ and endorsed by ASCO in 2018. ⁷ These guidelines, although not prescriptive, serve to guide clinical shared decision making founded on the best evidence available. SIO has received funding from the Samueli Foundation for further clinical practice guideline development, and is currently collaborating with ASCO on three evidence-based integrative oncology guidelines for adults focusing on cancer-related pain management, fatigue in cancer survivors, and care of anxiety and depressive symptoms experienced by those with cancer.

COVID-19 Response

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SIO was quick to provide support to members trying to adapt to online and other remote forms of program delivery and created a task force to survey practitioners globally to determine best practices in this area. The result was the comprehensive “SIO Practice Recommendations for online consultation and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic” document, ⁸ which has been heavily accessed since its publication. Further, SIO also provided a series of webinars on COVID-related topics including the use of Chinese herbs, natural health products and Vitamin D, which can be freely accessed in our YouTube channel archives.

Educational Content Dissemination

SIO also disseminates educational content through multiple platforms. The SIO website (integrativeonc.org) serves as a repository for SIO's structure, mission, and current educational offerings. Webinars can be accessed by members as a benefit of membership and to nonmembers for a fee. SIO freely shares information on its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/SocietyforIntegrativeOncologySIO/playlists). In 2019, SIO initiated a podcast, “Integrative Oncology Talk,” which discusses topics in integrative oncology focusing on areas of research, clinical practice, and experiences of both patients and health professionals. This monthly podcast has been accessed globally in >50 countries, increasing SIO's reach and mission. SIO's Yoga SIG has also led a summer series of talks and experiential yoga sessions that are available on SIO's YouTube channel. SIO has collaborated on educational offerings with other professional societies including the British Society of Integrative Oncology and ASCO.

Integrative oncology is a rapidly developing field, and SIO is a unique international multidisciplinary organization with a mission to promote evidence-based integrative oncology care through its diverse global membership. As the evidence evolves, integrative oncology care is transforming standard oncology care. Recent inclusion in the NCCN guidelines is potentially impactful from a reimbursement and practice perspective. SIO's professional and patient members are leaders giving voice to integrative oncology needs and benefits across the globe. As we reflect on our first 20 years, we look forward to our next chapter and continuing to work together to lead integrative oncology education, research, and practice in partnership with our communities and partners.