Jimmie C. Holland, MD

As a psychiatrist for more than 30 years, I have devoted my career to helping patients, their families, and medical staff as they cope with the psychological burden of cancer and its treatment. I have directed a support group for patients with lung cancer for over 15 years, and I now also co-lead a group for older adults who are coping with illness and cancer. This intervention is also being offered over the telephone to housebound elderly.

Over the years, I pioneered ways in which counseling, psychosocial interventions, and medications can reduce the distress experienced by cancer patients and their families. My research focuses on psychotherapy for elderly patients with cancer. As such, I am part of the hospital-wide 65+ Program in which we provide both clinical services and conduct research in helping older patients cope with cancer and illness.

I was the first chair of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the founding president of both the International Psycho-Oncology Society and the American Psychosocial and Behavioral Oncology Society. In 2000, I published a book for patients titled The Human Side of Cancer. In 1995, I became a fellow of the Institute of Medicine. In addition, I have served on many national committees for the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.