Ines Santiago, LCSW
Staff Clinician, Clinical Social Worker
Responsibilities
As a licensed clinical social worker and staff member of the Simms Mann--UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, it is my privilege to provide support, care, assistance and guidance to people with cancer, and their family members during this stressful experience. As a clinician I am sensitive to the needs of the entire family system and aware that a diagnosis of cancer can be just as difficult for loved ones. I see individuals who have been diagnosed with a variety of cancers, many of which are rare and are referred to UCLA because of its tremendous research programs and novel treatment. The Simms/Mann Center offers individual and family counseling to UCLA patients with cancer and their significant others. I assist in problem solving, identifying resources and making referrals as needed. I also facilitate support groups My responsibilities also include working with the Latino and Spanish-speaking community which I find very gratifying. As a result of my own background, I have an acute understanding of many of the barriers that this community encounters in accessing quality medical care.
Training
Prior to becoming a social worker, I worked for more than two decades in the corporate sector before making the shift to social work. That experience has curiously been quite helpful as social work really draws on having a varied knowledge base and life experiences. I graduated from the University of Southern California—School of Social Work with a Masters in Social Work and subsequently obtained necessary training to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California. My clinical concentration in graduate school focused on working with the elderly population. Additionally, the internships and subsequent work experience exposed me to a diverse population that included children and families, health, and mental health settings sensitizing me to the needs a wide-range of communities that have been cumulatively instrumental in sharpening my clinical skills.
Selected Professional Experiences
I have extensive years of experience in the field of oncology. I was instrumental in the creation and facilitation of numerous psychosocial support groups for patients and families in the Los Angeles area for The Wellness Community—West Los Angeles. Prior to joining the Simms/Mann Center, I was on staff at The Wellness Community—West Los Angeles as their Director of Multicultural Outreach and Program Development and group facilitator spearheading their efforts to offer services to cancer patients who were primarily Spanish-speaking.
Personal Interests and Perspectives
In my free time, I enjoy reading and a little travel. I cherish my down time and work hard at taking care of myself and catching up with friends and family. The diversity that Los Angeles has to offer is a great stimulus for me.
My personal experiences with cancer have also helped me in understanding the potential impact that cancer can have on individuals and their family and friends who are faced with this diagnosis. I believe I possess the facility to engage with individuals from a variety of cultures, background, and lifestyles very commonly encountered in a major research hospital setting such as UCLA.