At Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, we believe in treating more than just the disease—we care for the whole person.
Through our Integrative Oncology program and Supportive Care Services, we’re here to support you—not just your diagnosis. Our goal is to enhance your well-being and improve your quality of life, working alongside your conventional cancer treatment.
Integrative oncology is centered on you. It empowers you to be an active participant in your care—from prevention and diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship.
Your journey begins with collaboration. Together with your care team, you’ll explore your symptoms, treatment options, potential side effects, and most importantly, your personal goals. From there, we create a personalized care plan—designed to reflect your values, support your healing, and honor your unique path forward
Our approach is designed to help you live well throughout your cancer journey.
We focus on:
Fostering a sense of community and connection
Managing stress, fatigue, and emotional challenges
Encouraging healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits
At Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, we are dedicated to supporting our patients’ overall well-being. As part of this commitment, we offer a wide range of Supportive Care Services, including Genetic Counseling, access to Registered Dietitians and Social Workers, support groups, wellness classes, and special events.
We encourage you to explore the programs that resonate with you. Visit our Event Calendar to discover upcoming classes, events, and activities designed to support you.
Integrative therapies can help with symptom management and general supportive care such as easing nausea, joint pain and improving sleep and appetite. Our Integrative Treatment program will help you learn how to understand your whole body. It can assist you in managing the stress that is often associated with a cancer diagnosis. When patients (and patient family members) are engaged in their cancer care by developing healthy behaviors during and after cancer treatments can maximize positive health outcomes.
Together, we’ll support your body, mind, and spirit—because healing involves more than medicine.
Medical Director of the Supportive Care Services Department
Dr. Heidi Rula joined Ironwood in 2018 to launch the Integrative Oncology program. She is board certified in family medicine and fellowship trained in Integrative Medicine. Dr. Rula has been a practicing physician in the Phoenix area for over 20 years and has been recognized by her colleagues as one of Phoenix’s “Top Doctors” on multiple occasions. Dr. Rula has played a key role in bringing integrative medicine to the Valley.
She served as the medical director of the University of Arizona Integrative Health Center where she leads a team of physicians and complementary practitioners in a unique model of integrative primary care that she helped to develop along with Dr. Weil and the UA Center for Integrative Medicine.
