Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel

PRECISION HEALTH & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
HEAD OF INTEGRATIVE CANCER CARE
DIRECTOR OF SYNTHESIS CLINIC

Dr Nina

MB BChir (Medicine) and MA Hons Natural Sciences (Cambridge) 

MSc Precision Cancer Medicine (Oxford) with Distinction

FBANT FRSA IFMCP DipIM DipAc DipCHM PGCert DipION RYT200

PRECISION HEALTH AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE DOCTOR SPECIALising in INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY

BANT REGISTERED NUTRITIONIST AND NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST, HERBALIST, TCM PRACTITIONER, ACUPUNCTURIST AND YOGA TEACHER

I am an award-winning Oxbridge-trained integrative medicine doctor, scientist and educator with over a decade’s experience in integrative healthcare. I am a Fellow the College of Medicine, the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and I was the 2021-2023 Co-Chair of BSIO (British Society for Integrative Oncology). Alongside my scientific and medical training, including an MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine from the University of Oxford with distinction, I hold multiple qualifications in nutrition, integrative medicine, functional medicine (IFMCP), health coaching (FMCA), herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (including Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture), yoga, mindfulness and other therapeutic approaches. I integrate and draw upon this extensive knowledge and clinical toolkit every day in my practice. As the clinic Director, I am hugely passionate about the role of Integrative Medicine and Precision Health in regaining and maintaining our health and wellbeing, having seen its effects during my own breast cancer diagnosis and the profound impact this approach has on the lives of my patients in clinic.

In 2022 I was delighted to receive a prestigious Innovation Leader of the Year UKBIA award for our inspirational vision for healthcare and practice leadership. Alongside my clinical work, I speak at national and international conferences and educate medical and nutrition professionals, as well as participating in research in integrative medicine and precision health and contributing to journal editorial boards (International Journal of Integrative Oncology and Nutritional Medicine Journal) and guideline development panels nationally and internationally. I am a co-author of the recent SIO-ASCO guidelines on integrative oncology care for anxiety and depression symptoms, and I am a co-author of ‘Integrative Oncology in Breast Cancer Care’ with Dr Penny Kechagioglou, a book for healthcare professionals due to be published in March 2024. Finally, I am the Co-Founder and Director of Oncio CIC, an innovative non-profit aimed at providing high quality app-based resources for people with cancer (the Oncio app) and supporting best clinical practice and research in integrative oncology.

My passion lies in combining my extensive scientific and medical understanding and precision health testing with a whole person approach to create a precisely tailored health plan drawing on a broad range of therapeutic interventions. I believe that our current healthcare system, while often life-saving, is not life-optimising, and is rarely able to deliver whole person care for prevention and management of complex, chronic disease, including cancer. As a doctor providing integrative, personalised care to support people with cancer and other complex illness, I see the transformative impact of this approach on personal resilience, quality of life and clinical outcomes every day.

We occasionally offer medical professional training days at the clinic, offering an introduction to functional and integrative medicine in women’s health and cancer support. Please learn more about this here.

Areas of Special Interest

INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY SUPPORT

Integrative oncology support for solid tumours and stable haematological cancer patients - I have a particular interest in marrying precision oncology approaches with integrative medicine to rationally design comprehensive collaborative care plans

I use a broad range of modalities in integrative cancer care, including nutrition and lifestyle approaches, psycho-emotional support, complementary modalities (including herbal medicine and acupuncture) and specialist approaches, including IV support, mistletoe therapy and oncothermia (modulated electrohyperthermia), delivered at our clinic in Hampshire.

Please note that I am an integrative medicine doctor, not an oncologist, and I would always aim to work with your extended medical team to provide supportive care. Unfortunately I am not currently taking on any new cases, and my waiting list is closed due to high demand.

For integrative oncology enquiries, Dr Emma Davies currently has availability for 2024, and our cancer nutrition team is also able to offer support. For women’s health enquiries, please see Dr Katerina Bambang’s profile, as I am no longer covering complex women’s health queries due to schedule limitations.

Recent Podcasts & Conference Talks

Recent Posters, Lectures and Papers

  • “Dr Nina is extremely qualified. It is so reassuring to find someone with her knowledge and expertise in dealing with patients who have late stage ovarian cancer. So many people have commented on how well I look and cannot believe I have cancer. I am so much more relaxed knowing I am under her care.”

    — Patient Testimonial

  • “Dr Nina is the most caring, understanding and experienced practitioner I have worked with. Her approach has given me hope where previously, very few have been able to provide the support & interventions I have needed & certainly not to the clinical level that I am currently receiving.”

    Patient Testimonial

  • “I have been seeing Dr Nina for over a year and am utterly thrilled to have found her. It is hard to believe what has been achieved - with many areas that I had thought could never be changed now improved or improving. She is very thorough, evidence-based, efficient, professional, yet alongside this she is also highly personable, open-minded, and warm. In my experience, this is not an easy mix to find! Prior to this, I had tried many, many practitioners, and approaches for over 20 years without success. Thank you so much Synthesis!”

    — Patient Testimonial

  • “I saw Dr Nina Sept 2020 following treatment for breast cancer. At our first consultation she told me she wanted me to feel better than I had prior to treatment and cancer I wasn’t sure that would be easy, but that’s exactly what she did in only 4 months! I now feel better than I have in years. With a change in diet and life choices and adding supplements that are relevant to me specifically alongside Dr Nina’s support and knowledge we have transformed how I feel both physically and emotionally. I cannot recommend Dr Nina highly enough, her approach is personal and unique and I felt very supported.”

    — Patient Testimonial

  • “Dr Nina and the entire team at Synthesis Clinic are deeply compassionate and supportive of what you and your body need to maintain energy and vitality. Their knowledge is off the charts and they are always finding ways to empower their patients.”

    — Patient Testimonial

  • “I would thoroughly recommend Dr Nina as an extremely impressive healthcare practitioner. She is very thorough, evidence-based, efficient, professional, yet alongside this she is also highly personable, open-minded and warm. The Synthesis admin team have also been great - patient, organised, polite and good at communicating.”

    — Patient Testimonial

  • “Dr Nina is the first person since my diagnosis who spent time getting to know me as a person, truly listening and understanding my wishes. A personalised holistic approach to any treatment plan is used, not just the same protocol for each person. This has made a huge difference to my quality of life, increased resilience during treatments, enabling me to enjoy life and not constantly worry about my health.”

    — Patient Testimonial

  • “I cannot recommend Synthesis Clinic highly enough. Dr Nina and her team have been absolutely incredible in helping me get to the root cause of my problems which have plagued me for several years. I know that no stone has been left unturned, and I am already feeling so much better even after only 6 weeks of treatment. The whole team have been so supportive, open and welcoming, and I would not put my trust in anyone else.”

    — Patient Testimonial

  • “I had my appointment with Dr Nina just over a month after my mastectomy surgery following the detection of breast cancer. Meeting Dr Nina has been life changing and has given me the confidence and belief that I am taking charge and doing the very best I can to mitigate any possible future recurrence. I have never felt and looked better!”

    — Patient Testimonial

  • “The care I have received at the Synthesis Clinic is nothing less than outstanding. I have regained significant quality of life in spite of having stage 4 cancer. It’s such a relief to be treated as an individual at last, and not another cancer patient who gets the same blanket approach which simply doesn’t work for some of us. This does.”

    — Patient Testimonial

Professional Background

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

MA Hons (Cantab) Natural Sciences - University of Cambridge

MB BChir Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine - University of Cambridge

MSc Precision Cancer Medicine with Distinction - University of Oxford

PG Dip Integrative Medicine - National Centre for Integrative Medicine

PG Cert Personalised Nutrition - Middlesex University

Diploma in Nutritional Therapy - Institute for Optimum Nutrition

Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner - The Institute for Functional Medicine

Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach - Functional Medicine Coaching Academy

Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT200) - Yoga Alliance

Chinese Herbal Medicine Diploma - Phoenix Academy/FTCMP (Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Diploma in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Acupuncture with Distinction - MATCM (Manchester Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

ONGOING TRAINING

PG Dip Health Research - University of Oxford

Yoga therapy - Yoga Therapy Institute

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Co-Chair (2021-2023) of the British Society for Integrative Oncology

Fellow of the College of Medicine

Fellow of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT)

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA)

Henry Roy Dean Prize for Pathology, University of Cambridge

Graystone Scholar, University of Cambridge

Editorial Board Member - Nutritional Medicine Journal

Editorial Board Member - International Journal of Integrative Oncology

UKBIA (Business & Innovation Awards) 2022 Innovation Leader of the Year

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

Women’s Integrative and Functional Medicine Professional Training Program with Dr Aviva Romm

Heartwood Herbal Medicine, Functional Herbal Therapy and Aviva Romm Herbal Medicine for Women

Integrative approach to Breast Cancer — University of Arizona

Functional Herbal Therapy in Cancer with Prof Kerry Bone

Mentorship programme in integrative oncology with Dr Nasha Winters

Basic and Advanced Courses in Mistletoe and Integrative Oncology with PAAM (Physicians' Association for Anthroposophic Medicine)

SIBO Pro course with Dr Allison Siebecker

Gastrointestinal Health, Neuroinflammation and Autoimmunity — Kharrazian Institute

Introduction to Theory and Practice of CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy) — Compassionate Mind Foundation

Training in polyvagal theory and SSP (Safe & Sound Protocol)

Yin Yoga and Mindfulness — Level 1 and Level 2

Yoga Therapy Skills for PTSD, Therapeutic Yoga in Cancer Treatment and Yoga Nidra for Mental Health — The Minded Institute

The Transformative Power of Conscious Breath with Lauren Toolin through Pranamaya

PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND REGISTRATIONS

Registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)

Fellow of the College of Medicine and the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine

Member of the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal Society of Medicine and the Independent Doctor’s Federation

Co-Chair (2021-2023) and Executive Committee Member of BSIO (British Society for Integrative Oncology), member of SIO (Society for Integrative Oncology), sitting on the Education and Advancement Committees, Yoga SIG and Acupuncture SIG

Member of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine

Member of the Institute of Functional Medicine and the American Nutrition Association

Member of OncANP, ANP (Association of Naturopathic Practitioners) and GNC (General Naturopathic Council)

Member of US Yoga Alliance and UK Yoga Alliance Professionals, student member of IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists), member of SIO Yoga SIG (Special Interest Group)

Member of ATCM (Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture UK) and FTCMP (Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners)

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS, POSTERS AND CHAIRED SESSIONS

See above for 2023 presentations at the IPM Congress and presented posters on the Oncio app

BOPA (British Oncology Pharmacy Association) Conference Oct 2022 – ‘Non-pharmacological interventions [in cancer care]’

  • Integrative and Personalised Medicine Congress 2022

    • Presentation - ‘A Systems Approach to autoimmune thyroid disease’

    • Workshops - BSIO workshop ‘Integrative oncology in the UK - expanding collaboration and improving access’, industry workshop on mistletoe therapy

  • BANT Annual Conference 2022 - ‘Mental Health, Precision Nutrition, and Lifestyle Medicine: Translating Evidence to Clinical Practice’:

    • Presentation - ‘Precision Health and Integrative Medicine Approaches to Supporting Trauma Recovery’

  • Integrative Oncology UK 2022:

    • Presentation - ‘Case studies in precision integrative oncology’ with Dr Penny Kechagioglou and Dr Jonathan Krell

    • Chair of ‘Mistletoe – mechanisms, evidence and clinical practice’ session

ECIM 2021 Virtual Congress, 19th European Congress of Integrative Medicine (ESIM/ISCMR) - Chair of ‘Yoga for Health’ session

18th International Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) Conference 2021 - poster presentation ‘Breast cancer patients’ experience within a UK integrative cancer support clinic and wider perspectives on the need for integrative oncology input within the public healthcare service’

ISNPR (International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry), Oct 2019 - poster presentation ‘Vitamin D in old age psychiatry inpatients’

Integrative Health Convention, Oct 2019 - ‘Functional and Integrative Medicine as the future of chronic disease care’

TALKS AND LECTURES

Imperial College London BSc Oncology - integrative oncology workshop with Dr Jonathan Krell (2022 and 2023)

BANT Oct 2022 - ‘Optimising Women’s Health in Menopause and Beyond’

ATCM lecture Sept 2022 ‘Integrative medicine in breast cancer: the role of TCM’

Verve Festival Sept 2022 - ‘Integrative approaches to menopause support’

Your Life and Cancer Feb 2022 - ‘Supporting balanced immunity’

Penny Brohn UK Resilience Room webinar - ‘An introduction to Systems Approach to Cancer’

Genostics webinar Nov 2021 - ‘Systems Approach in practice: bringing data to life’

Datar Cancer Genetics webinar Jul 2021 - ‘Precision Oncology and Integrative Medicine – contradiction or synergy?’

Open Clinical Day at the National Centre for Integrative Medicine, Feb 2020 - ‘The Functional Medicine approach to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity’

Genova Diagnostics Clinical Training Day, Feb 2020 - ‘GI testing in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’

Your Life and Cancer, Sept 2020 - ‘Laboratory tests: what is available and what to prioritise’

Please contact Jody, our Integrative Cancer Care clinic coordinator, to discuss the programmes and book in.

If you have any questions about our integrative oncology services or are unsure about the support you may need in your individual case, please contact our Integrative Cancer Care clinic coordinator, Jody Middleton. Please note that Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is not currently accepting new patients outside of urgent referrals from our consultant oncologist network but Dr Emma Davies has availability for 2024.

UK Integrative Oncology Clinic Consultations

We offer in-person appointments and online consultations with our specialists in integrative cancer care, including integrative oncology doctors, nutrition, health coaching, physiotherapy, yoga therapy, pharmacy and psycho-emotional wellbeing professionals (please note that some services are only available remotely). Synthesis Clinic is located between King Somborne and Stockbridge near Winchester. You’ll find us within easy reach of Salisbury, Romsey and Andover.

Please note that coming to see our team is not a substitute for standard NHS care, including acute care services. We do not provide emergency or out of hours services.

Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–5pm