Chief, Pain and Palliative Care
BS, New York University
MSN, University of Pennsylvania
MD, Medical College of Ohio
Email:
aberger@cc.nih.gov
Phone:301-594-9767
Chief, Pain and Palliative Care
BS, New York University
MSN, University of Pennsylvania
MD, Medical College of Ohio
Email:
aberger@cc.nih.gov
Phone:301-594-9767
Dr. Ann Berger is the chief of the Pain and Palliative Care Service at the NIH Clinical Center, where she has clinical, teaching, research and administrative responsibilities.
Dr. Berger earned her undergraduate degree, a B.S. in nursing, from New York University, followed by an M.S.N. in oncology nursing from University of Pennsylvania. After working as an oncology clinical nurse specialist for several years, she completed her medical training at Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. Dr. Berger next did an internship and residency at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut and a fellowship in medical oncology and pain/palliative care at Yale University in Connecticut.
As an assistant professor in medicine and anesthesiology at Yale, Dr. Berger started a palliative care service.
Dr. Berger founded her second successful palliative care service while serving as an assistant professor in medicine and anesthesiology at Cooper Hospital/University Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey.
During her four-year tenure there, her service was actively involved in the care of patients and in education and research. She initiated a palliative care course for medical students, residents and fellows and also used her expertise while chairing the ethics committee.
In addition, Dr. Berger served as medical director of Lighthouse Hospice and as director of supportive care services at Cooper Hospital/University Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey. During this time she received two grants as project director of a pain and palliative care scholars program and as project director for a project designed to develop pain/palliative care teams in New Jersey long-term care facilities.
Since August 2000, Dr. Berger has been chief of the Pain and Palliative Care Service at the NIH Clinical Center, where she has clinical, teaching, research and administrative responsibilities. Dr. Berger coordinates a very successful hospice and palliative care fellowship at the NIH, clinical center.
Internationally, Dr. Berger has been involved with the NCI All-Ireland fatigue consortium, the NCI Croatian Cancer Consortium and the Mideast Cancer Consortium teaching palliative care in multiple different countries in the world.
Dr. Berger has recently developed the new innovative NIH-HEALS which measures psychosocial spiritual healing of individuals with life threatening and life challenging situations. Dr. Berger has both published and lectured extensively in the field of pain and palliative care.
Books and Journals
Berger A. Cancer and Chronic Pain: Myths and Facts. CMP Healthcare Media, (in press)
Berger A (eds). Annals of Palliative Medicine. Special issue on Healing and Spirituality. July 2017.
Berger A, Schuster J, Roenn J. Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology. 4th edition. , Lippincott-Raven, 2013
Berger A, Shuster J, Von Roenn J. Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology, 3rd edition, Lippincott-Raven, 2006
Berger A, Deswain C. Healing Chronic Pain. Rodale Publishers 2006
Berger A. (eds) The Cancer Journal: Special Issue on Supportive and Palliative Care. Vol 12. No 5. Sept/Oct. 2006.
Berger A. Handbook of Supportive Oncology. CMP Healthcare Media, 2005.
Berger A. (eds) Cancer Pain For The Health Care Professional. CMP Healthcare Media, 2004.
Berger A. (eds) Chemotherapy Related Nausea and Vomiting. CMP Healthcare Media, 2004.
Berger A. Cancer Fatigue: Myths and Facts. CMP Healthcare Media, 2004.
Berger A, Portenoy, Weisman D. Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology, 2nd edition, Lippincott-Raven, 2002
Berger A, Portenoy R, Weissman D. Principles and Practice of Supportive Oncology, 1st edition, Lippincott-Raven, 1998
Articles
Foote FO, Benson H, Berger A, Berman B, Deleo J, Deuster P, Lary DJ, Silverman M, Sternberg E. Advanced Metrics for Assessing holistic Care: the Epidaurus 2’ project. Military Medicine (in press)
Coats H, Rosenfeld A, Crist J, Sternberg E, Berger A. psychological-Social-Spiritual healing Instrument Development; Cultural Perspectives of Aging  African Americans with Serious Illness. Journal of Advanced Nursing (in press)
Coats et al. using cognitive interview to improve a psychological-social-spiritual Healing Instrument. Voices of aging African Americans with serious illness. Applied Nursing Research (in press)
Zia F, Olaku O, Bao T, Berger A, Deng G, Fan AY, Garcia MK, Herman P, Kaptchuk T, Ladas E, Langevin H, Lao L, Lu W, Napadow V, Niemtzow R, Vickers A, Wang X, Witt C, MAO JJ. Acupuncture for Symptom Management in Cancer: State of the evidence and Science. JNCI (in press)
Berger A. Psychosocial Spiritual Healing. Annals of Palliative medicine. July 2017.
Sloan DH, BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Mistretta E, Cheng MJ, Berger A. The Influence of Relationships on the meaning Making process; patients Perspective. Annals of Palliative Medicine, 2017.
Li L, Sloan DH, Mehta AK, Willis G, Weaver MS, Berger A. Life Perceptions of patients receiving Palliative Care and Experiencing Psychosocial Spiritual Healing. Annals of Palliative Medicine. July 2017 
Skeath P, Berger A. “living in the Moment” Among cancer survivors who report life transforming change. Annals of Palliative Medicine. July 2017.
Lichenstein AH, Berger A, Cheng MJ. Definitions of Healing and Healing Interventions across different cultures. Annals of Palliative Medicine. July 2017.
Mehta AK, Wilks S, Cheng MJ, Baker K, Berger A. Nurses’ interest in independently initiating end of life conversations and palliative care consultations in a suburban, community hospital. American journal of Hospice and palliative Medicine, 2017.
Coats, H, Rosenfeld A, Crist J, Berger A, Sternberg E. African American Elders serious Iiness Experiences: Narratives of “God did”, God will, and “Life is better” Qualitative Health Research. 2017, Vol 27 (5) 634-648.
Mistretta EG, Sloan D, BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Weber KM, Berger A. Testing domains of the healing experience in all life stressors questionnaire in a cohort of HIV-infected And HIV-uninfected Chicago women. Psychology Research and Behavior Management. 2017:10, 201-208.
Sloan DH, BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Kichline T, Baker K, Pinzon J, Tafe C, Lingsheng, L, Cheng MJ, Berger A. An Assessment of Meaning in life-threatening illness. Development of the healing Experience in All Life Stressors.  Patient Related Outcome Measures, 2017:8 15-21.
Berger A. “Mother MD Intense”: The Need for Intentional Healing. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. Vol 52. No 1, July 2016.
Nadarajah SR, Buchholz SW, Wiegard D, Berger A. The lived experience of individuals in cardiac rehabilitation who have a positive outlook on their cardiac recovery: A phenomenological inquiry. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. May 2016, 1-10.
Harris BA, Berger A, Mitchell SA, Steinberg, Baker K, Handel DL, Bolle JL, Bush EG, Avila D, Pavletic SZ. Spiritual Well-Being in Long-Term Survivors with Chronic Graft versus Host Disease after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant .Journal of Supportive Oncology. Volume 8, Number3, May/June2010, 119-125.
D. Hui, Elsayem A F, De la Cruz M, Berger A, Zhukovsky D S, Evans AC, Fadul NA, Palmer JL, Bruera E. Availability and Integration of Palliative Care at US Cancer Centers. JAMA. 2010;303(11)1054-1061.
Shaiova L, Berger A, Blinderman CD, Bruera E, Davis MP, Derby S, Inturrisi C, Kalman J, Pappagallo M, Perlov E. Consensus Guideline on Parenteral Methadone Use in Pain and Palliative Care. Palliative and Supportive Care. 6, 16-176, 2008.
Hartman JM, Berger A, Baker K, Bolle J, Handel D, Mannes D, Pereira D, St Germaine D, Sobolian N, Ronasville, Torvik S, Calis K A, Phillips TM, Cizza G. Quality of life and pain in Premenopausal women with Major Depressive Disorder: The role of Substance P and Calcitonin-gene-related peptide. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2006 Jan 18:4(1):2.
Mitchell S, Berger A. Fatigue During and Following Cancer and Its treatment: The Evidence base for Assessment and Treatment. The Cancer Journal Special Issue:12(5) Sept/Oct. 2006.
Locklin JL, Mannes A, Berger A, Wood B. Palliation of Soft Tissue Cancer Pain with Radiofrequency Ablation. Journal of Supportive Oncology,2:5, Sept/October 2004.
Berger A, Baker K, Bolle J, Pereira D, Establishing a Palliative Care Program in a Research Center: Evolution of a Model. Cancer Investigation. 21(2),2003:313-320.
Berger A, Koprowski C. Treatment of Malignant Bone Pain. Principles and Practice of Oncology Update. DeVita, V.T., Hellman S., and Rosenberg SA, Editors, 13:5, 1999.
Berger A, Bartoshuk L, Duffy V, Nodoolman W. Capsaicin For The treatment of Oral Mucositis Pain. Principles and Practice of Oncology Update. DeVita V.T.,Hellman S., and Rosenberg S.A., Editors, 9:1, 1995.
Berger A, Henderson M, Nadoolman W, Cooper D, Duffy V, Saberski L, Bartoshuk L. Oral Capsaicin Provides Temporary Relief for Oral Mucositis Pain Secondary to Chemotherapy/Radiation therapy. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 10:3, 243-248, April 1995
Chapters
Mccardle P, McCune S, Netting E, Berger A, Malholmes V. Therapeutic Human-animal interaction: An Overview. In Animals in our Lives Human-Animal Interaction in Family, Community, and Therapeutic Settings. Ed McCardleP, mcCune S, Griffin JA, Esposito L, Freund LS. Paul H Brookkes Publishing Co., 2011.
Soto E, Fall-Dickinson J, Berger A. Oral Complications of Cancer Therapy. Principles and Practice of Oncology. Devita VT, Rosenberg SA., Weinberg Editors, 9th ed. Lippincott-Raven, 2011.
Mitchell S, Berger A. Cancer Fatigue. Principles and Practice of Oncology. Devita VT, Rosenberg SA, Weinberg. Editors, 9th ed. Lippincott-Raven, 2011.
Karrakunnel J, Berger A. Alopeica. Principles and Practice of Oncology. Devita Rosenberg SA., Weinberg Editors, 9th ed. Lippincott-Raven, 2011.
Bush, E, Berger A. Treatment of Pain and Palliative Care Issues for the Patient with Cancer. Gully eds. Bethesda Handbook of Oncology 2009.
Berger S, Berger A. Nausea/Vomiting, Anorexia/Cachexia, and Fatigue. Palliative Care: Core Skills and Clinical Competencies. Ed. Emanuel L., Librach S.L. Saunders, 2007.
Berger A, Clark B. Antiemetic Therapy. Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology. Berger A, Schuster J, Von Roenn J Editors, 3rd edition. Lippincott-Raven, 2006
Fall Dickinson J, Berger A. Oral complications of cancer. Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology. Berger A, Schuster J, Von Roenn J. Editors, 3rd edition. Lippincott-Raven 2006.
Berger A. Cancer Pain Assessment and Treatment. Sourcebook of Hematology and Oncology. Ed. Fojo T. McGraw Hill 2006.
Berger A, Berger S. Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting-A quality of life issue. Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induce Nausea and Vomiting. Ed. Berger A. CMP, 2004.
- Circle of Excellence Award-Samaritan Hospice, 2002
- NJ State Senate & Legislative Proclamation, 2002
- Clinical Center Director's Award, National Institutes of Health, 2001
- Outstanding leadership in palliative care in long-term care - New Jersey Seed, NJ Dept. of Health and Senior Services, Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly, Cooper Health System, 1998-2000
- Spirit of Hospice Award - NJ Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, 1999
- Hospice Medical Director Award - NJ Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, 1998
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This page last updated on 04/08/2022