Meet Jess.
Hello, and welcome. I’m Dr. Jessica Gentile aka Dr. Jess.
I am an experienced healthcare provider and cancer survivorship expert. I began my career as a clinical pharmacist earning my Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University, and completed residency training at Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Michigan. I spent my early years focused on providing high quality hospice and palliative care symptom management before I decided I wanted to be more involved in treatment choices and health education.
I proceeded to the University of Utah for their nationally-ranked Masters in Physician Assistant Studies program and began my career as a dual certified PharmD, PA-C. I spent several years as a clinician and administrator building cancer survivorship programs that work within the established medical model, being billed to insurance, and advocating for patient needs within the conventional medical system. I found insurance benefits often didn’t cover the support my patients needed (since it was beyond the current standard of care), and the siloed medical care was difficult for my patients to navigate and sometimes not even available.
As a provider, my patients needed more time to ask questions, more support more frequently, and access to empowered guidance that was medically informed instead of overloading them with prescriptions and super-sub-specialists.
Then in a wild turn of events in 2024, I was diagnosed with a rare chronic blood cancer- one that is managed for life, not cured. This has been a weird, beautiful, HARD, esoteric type of experience being on "both" sides- provider and patient. A gift in that I got to really truly experience and test interventions, and deepen my understanding of the experience.
Which leads us to now. I am honored to be your support, encouragement and offer direction for your journey to life after (or with!) cancer, and even Better Than Before.
Featured
Frequently asked questions
What is Cancer Survivorship Coaching?
Cancer Survivorship Coaching is a supportive healing environment for those who have or have had cancer. We will take the biggest pain points in your day to day, and find a path to improvement. Life is full of ups and downs, and I'm right here with you.
Do you provide prescriptions?
No. I am licensed as a Physician Assistant and Clinical Pharmacist, but function as a health coach here. Many ailments can be improved with medically informed interventions that do not require prescription or diagnosis. If through our work we discover a medical need that requires the additional help of traditional medical intervention we work together to get you to a provider who can see you in person to diagnose and treat.
Who is this type of coaching for?
I work with highly motivated individuals who want to embrace life in a different way after cancer diagnosis and treatment. Often it can feel like a big knot of interwoven symptoms. I provide clarity, focus on health education, constructive habit formation and quality results that make the biggest impact for how you feel.
I don't have cancer, can I still work with you?
While I am honored, my expertise is working with the unique challenges encountered through cancer diagnosis, and the treatment involved. Due to the lack of accessibility of these types of services for people with cancer, I am not accepting clients who have not had a cancer diagnosis.
I am currently in treatment, can I still work with you?
Absolutely. If you're in treatment, our focus will be around things you CAN do now, and can give you a head-start in embracing life again.
Do you accept insurance?
No. Unfortunately, most insurances view coaching services as non-essential and are not generally covered. I hold hope that insurances will cover support services like this in the future as part of normal cancer care standards.
I had a cancerous lesion removed, but don't have to have chemo or radiation, do I count?
Yes. Those diagnosed with early stage or stage I cancers treated with surgery alone can still benefit from cancer survivorship coaching.
Changing the digital world
I believe it's paramount to create a committed and genuine community that has a positive influence on people’s lives beyond the online sphere. With more people online than ever before, the competition for attention is fierce, and you have to work hard to appeal to the masses. That's why it's my goal to help you understand the power of social media and create connections that go beyond the internet.
My blog
I'll let you in on some trade secrets and share my top tips on how to successfully promote your brand online.
