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Ellen Cooke, MD

Hi! Thanks for checking out the Circle of Hope site.

I’m Dr. Ellen Cooke, the founder of Circle of Hope. I grew up in multiple locations in the U.S., before settling in Belton, Texas for high school. I attended the University of Notre Dame as an undergraduate, obtaining a B.S. in Preprofessional Studies, with a second major in Theology (the appreciation of all things spiritual goes back to my roots). I was then engulfed in left-brain thinking for 4 years of medical school at Texas A&M College of Medicine, followed by 5 years of postgraduate training in Radiation Oncology at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. I now reside in Wichita, Kansas with my husband, Justin and 3 children, where I practice clinical medicine in the treatment of patients with cancer using radiation. I am certified to teach meditation through the Mindfulness Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

During my career in oncology and in caring for family members with cancer, this is what I often see…

“I’m sorry, but it’s cancer.” Hearing these word can cause instant fear and anxiety. Will I die? Will the treatments cause suffering? How will I manage this physically, financially and emotionally? As a radiation oncologist, I have witnessed this countless times in my patients and was left feeling hopeless.

What happened next changed me…I began a practice of mindfulness meditation.

Your oncology team may prescribe surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatments for your body. But, what about your mind? Science is advancing in the realm of the power of the mind-body connection. My goal is to help you not only understand this power, but to help you put it into practice with ease to compliment your cancer therapy.

I also teach oncology professionals and caregivers how to integrate mindfulness and meditation into your practice and personal life, which was integral for me in creating a life of fulfillment.

If you are impacted by cancer in any way, whether a patient, a caregiver or an oncology professional, I hope you will find this site transformative.

Mindfulness is scientifically proven to help many of the multifaceted challenges cancer patients face.

I am excited to see the progress we can make TOGETHER to THRIVE. Circle of Hope is meant to be exactly that…a place of hope where mindful presence and the support of like-minded people propels you to a life of fulfillment.

—Dr. Ellen Cooke

 

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Photos of Dr. Ellen Cooke by Allie Burns Photography

Testimonials

“Dr. Ellen Cooke is a masterful physician and meditation leader.  I started working with Dr. Cooke 2 years ago at which time, she was creating Circle of Hope.  I was so impressed with the way she was able to encourage others to use meditation to improve their lives.  She now has created a custom meditation program for my company.  My clients are raving fans and Dr. Cooke is a regular at our live workouts where she ends the session with a customized meditation.  She has allowed me to use mindfulness in my work and in my everyday life.  Dr. Cooke is beyond gifted and I am so fortunate to learn from her.”

~Dr. Ali N. (Life Coaching for Women Physicians)

“I really like the “Meditation of the Week” each week…the centering thought, the deep breathing sessions, and the length of quiet time. Hopefully, with enough practice, I'll get better at being in the present moment. Learning to do so promises a way to handle what all of us experience (anxiety, impatience AND restlessness)! Thank you for these excellent, informative and useful meditation sessions.”

~ a loyal Circle of Hope follower!

“As a fellow healthcare provider in the oncology field, I have found Circle of Hope and Dr. Cooke's guided meditations to be invaluable in both my career and my personal life. A cancer diagnosis and the associated treatments are not just physically challenging, but emotionally challenging as well. I have been grateful to have this resource to share with my patients to help address the emotional challenges they may face. In my personal life, I have found meditation to be helpful in managing daily stress and feelings of being overwhelmed and stretched too thin.”

~Staci C.

 
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