Professional Cancer Coaching & Training
WHY CHOOSE A CANCER WELLNESS INSTITUTE COACH?
Experience and training you can trust.
CWI recognizes that each cancer patient’s experience is different. Our mission is to meet cancer patients and survivors where they are in their journey and empower them to find their unique path to wellness.
Whether you are newly diagnosed, in treatment, or at any stage after treatment, CWI’s coaches are here to help you navigate the ways cancer has impacted your life.
A CWI Cancer Coach can provide you emotional support, guidance, and help overcoming setbacks. Our coaches also help you learn to identify and reduce feelings of anxiety and sadness, and help you find improved positivity & motivation, increase physical activity & confidence, and help you choose a healthier way of eating that fits your individual needs.
At The Cancer Wellness Institute, we know finding wellness after cancer is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. CWI coaches work with you one-on-one to tailor a program right for you using proven tools and techniques.
WHY EARN CERTIFICATION FROM THE CANCER WELLNESS INSTITUTE?
The Cancer Wellness Institute was founded to ensure new cancer coaches get the training, certification, and professionalism they need to be successful in the field of integrative cancer coaching.
If you are looking to start your career as a Cancer Coach, or if you are an existing Health Coach looking to improve your expertise in working with cancer patients & survivors, the Cancer Wellness Institute offers the expertise you can trust to build the foundations necessary for your success.
We offer 3 pathways to successful cancer coaching:
CWI’s Integrative Cancer Coaching Certification course is ideal for you if you are looking to start your career as a Cancer Coach.
Our HWC Cancer Populations Concentration course is ideal for you if you are an exisiting health coach wanting to work with cancer patients & survivors.
CWI’s Coaching Cancer Patients & Survivors: Continuing Education course is intended for certified Health Coaches who are required to have continuing education credits in order to maintain their certification. Topics and availability vary.
About Our Founder
Kara Kenan, MA, CPN, CEO & Founder, Cancer Wellness Institute
Kara Kenan is a dedicated educator, cancer coach, and patient advocate who has helped thousands of individuals address their unique wellness needs. With a Master’s degree from North Dakota State University and a Certification in Oncology Patient Navigation from George Washington University, Kara has spent over a decade empowering cancer patients, survivors, and healthcare professionals through education, advocacy, and community-driven solutions.
She is the Founder of Going Beyond the Pink, a regional nonprofit providing critical support for breast cancer patients and survivors, and an active patient advocate with leading organizations, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship’s Cancer Policy & Advocacy Team. She also serves as a Community Advocate with the American Cancer Society’s Breast Health Equity Team, working to improve access to care for underserved communities.
Through her work with the Cancer Wellness Institute, Kara has established certification and professionalism standards in the emerging field of cancer coaching. Drawing from nearly a decade of research, direct client work, and collaborative partnerships, she has designed training programs that equip coaches with the knowledge and tools to provide transformative support to cancer patients and survivors worldwide.
A Look at her Work
Kara Kenan is a recognized leader and advocate in the cancer survivorship and integrative oncology space, shaping policy, research, and clinical guidelines through high-impact collaborations with national and international organizations. As Co-Chair of the Patient Advocacy Committee for the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), she is at the forefront of advancing patient-centered integrative cancer care. She also serves on ASCO’s Guideline Review Expert Panel for Medical Therapy for Stage I-III Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer, ensuring that patient voices are represented in the development of treatment recommendations.
A sought-after grant reviewer and research partner, Kara has contributed her expertise to the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, the Duke University Medical Center’s Day2Night Behavioral Intervention Study, and UNC Wilmington’s research on wellness interventions in breast cancer survivorship. Her dedication to breast health equity is evident in her roles with the American Cancer Society’s Hospital Systems Capacity Building Initiative, the North Carolina Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control, and the NC Northeastern Regional Community Cancer Network.
Kara’s impact extends beyond clinical and research settings into policy and environmental health advocacy. She has testified before Congressional hearings on PFAS-contaminated communities, partnered with organizations like Environmental Working Group and Clean Cape Fear, and engaged in Breast Cancer Action’s Pinkwashing Campaign to hold corporations accountable for misleading marketing practices in cancer awareness.
As a WILMA Leadership Institute Emerging Leader and a San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Alamo Advocate Scholar, Kara continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of cancer care, survivorship policy, and equitable access to integrative health solutions. Through her deep commitment to education, advocacy, and research, she is ensuring that cancer survivors receive the comprehensive, patient-centered support they deserve.
A Passion for Service & Advocacy
Kara’s commitment to service runs deep. A decorated U.S. Air National Guard veteran, she served six years, including a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. In her military role, she supported both Search & Rescue and Homeland Defense missions.
Her contributions were recognized with multiple honors, including:
🏅 Air Force Commendation Medal
🏅 Air Force Achievement Medal
🏅 Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
🏅 National Defense Service Medal
🏅 Defense of Liberty Service Medal
…and others.
From Survivor to Leader
In 2013, at just 35 years old, Kara was diagnosed with breast cancer—a life-altering moment that reshaped her purpose. Navigating her own cancer journey, she saw firsthand the gaps in support, education, and advocacy for survivors. This realization ignited her passion to do more—not just for herself, but for others facing similar challenges.
Today, Kara is most excited about training the next generation of cancer coaches, expanding access to life-changing survivorship support, and ensuring that every patient and survivor has the knowledge, confidence, and community they need to thrive beyond cancer.
“Kara really helped me understand all the things I needed to do to start feeling good again. She’s such a great resource!”
Testimonials
“I woke up one day just sick of feeling sick. I’d tried for so long to get past all the side effects of treatment and just be well. Now I have a clear path and have made so much progress! I never would’ve gotten here without your help!”
