Welcome to the ECaP website.

Our mission is to provide exceptional resources, comprehensive professional training programs and extraordinary interdisciplinary retreats that help people facing the challenges of cancer and other chronic illnesses discover their inner healing resources. These programs are based upon the science of mind-body-spirit medicine. We celebrate every person's potential for rediscovering wholeness, balance and inner peace. Our organization looks forward to serving you with quality programs, materials and information that can help you make positive choices to meet your individual needs.

Exceptional Cancer Patients was founded in 1978 by Bernie Siegel, MD and successfully operated for many years by a team of highly dedicated individuals. In the fall of 1999, the Mind-Body Wellness Center acquired and assumed operations of ECaP in order to build upon and advance the organization and its principles. Under the direction of Barry Bittman, MD, ECaP stands as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a comprehensive integrative philosophy in the context of whole person, evidence-based care.

The Center, owned and operated by Meadville Medical Center and MMC Health Systems, Inc., a non-profit organization, offers comprehensive, integrative whole person programs in a traditional medical setting. Through a combination of outcome-based clinical studies and basic science research, the Center promotes the concept of integrative healing in mind, body and spirit.

As it applies to our unique relationship to universal and individual truths and therapeutic values, we believe:

• Life is to be celebrated. By recognizing the divine spark in ourselves and others, we can move toward kindling the flame of greater understanding and awareness. We accept ourselves and others in every moment as doing the best that we can.
• Everyone's healing journey is unique. It is personal, intimate, and cannot be generalized. All of us need to express our divine spark in ways that are unique to us.
• Health is a process - it is not a state of achievement - it is a continuous, moving and alive process. The manifestation of health is the expression of our wholeness. We do not create wholeness; we reveal it. We need to seek out those opportunities that enhance its expression.
• While we diligently seek to resolve physical disease, our main goal is to remove the blocks to our expression of health on all levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
• This work is about the process... the life-long journey. We seek to engage individuals in this continuous process that requires constant change.
• We notice and support what is right with each person...what are they living for, rather than what they fear.
• We recognize that we are all teachers and students. We honor and accept the wisdom that abounds in each of us.
• We are here to learn and share our experiences; to come into our own empowerment. That empowerment is the life force; that life force is love.
• Love heals. Love is the belief in the sanctity of all things; compassion and forgiveness for ourselves and for others.

Bernie Siegel, MD (Bernie, as he prefers), founded Exceptional Cancer Patients (ECaP) in 1978. He is one of the world's foremost physicians, authors, motivational speakers and advocates for individuals facing the challenges of all chronic illnesses.

His many articles, best-selling books, tapes and videos serve as a testimony to his loving commitment for those who wish to take an active role in their own healing process. He and his wife, Bobbie have introduced the concept of individual and group therapy based on "carefrontation," a loving, safe, therapeutic confrontation enabling everyone to understand his or her healing potential.

Motivational, inspirational and down-to-earth, Bernie's approach is one of compassion, caring and love coupled with a wonderful sense of humor. His message of hope and love is extended to all who seek a whole person approach for living life fully each day.

Barry Bittman, MD, neurologist, researcher, mind-body lecturer, award-winning producer director, author and inventor is the CEO of ECaP.

He is also the CEO and Director of the Mind-Body Wellness Center, dedicated to the integration of scientifically validated whole person approaches in traditional medicine. Dr. Bittman is also the co-developer of the patient program, Insights for Living Beyond Cancer with Bernie.

With an emphasis on Psychoneuroimmunology, the medical discipline that studies the interaction between emotions, the nervous system and immune function, Bittman started TouchStar Productions, a company dedicated to creating resources for helping individuals become active participants in their healing process.

Dr. Bittman's Column,
Mind over Matter