The Center for Intimacy after Cancer Therapy, Inc.., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only organization dedicated to helping couples renew their intimacy after cancer.
Founders and Co-Executive Directors: Ralph and Barbara Alterowitz
Ralph and Barbara Alterowitz experienced the sexual side effects of Ralph’s treatment for prostate cancer in 1995. They set out to learn all they could about this important quality-of-life issue that affects many couples, and shared their extensive research and insights with other patients and support groups. After many requests to “please write it down,” they published The Lovin’ Ain’t Over – the Couple’s Guide to Better Sex after Prostate Disease and later its updated version, Intimacy with Impotence - – the Couple’s Guide to Better Sex after Prostate Disease. They were invited contributors to the professional reference guide Sexual Health, with a chapter on “Sexual Rehabilitation After Cancer”, and have authored numerous articles on sexuality after cancer. Most recently, they published The Lovin’ Ain’t Over for Women with Cancer.
Ralph and Barbara are sexuality counselors certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), and founders of the Center for Intimacy After Cancer Therapy, Inc. (CIACT, Inc.) They frequently speak at cancer support groups and conferences, and they educate patients and the medical community on dealing with the sexual effects of cancer treatments. They provide counseling in person and via telephone or Skype.
Barbara and Ralph have been happily married for over 30 years, including 20+ years “post-cancer”. They walk the talk.
Board Members
Arthur Burnett, M.D., Director of the Men’s Sexual Health Clinic, Professor of Urology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution. Co-author, Prostate Cancer Patients Speak
Woet Gianotten, M.D., Psychotherapist, Rehabilitation sexologist; Rehabilitation Centre De Trappenberg, Huizen, The Netherlands. Visiting professor (annually) Oxford Course for Sexual Medicine. Numerous publications
Michael Krychman, M.D., Medical director of Sexual Medicine and the executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine in Newport Beach, California. He formerly served as Co-Director of Sexual Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Associate Professor at Cornell Medical School in New York City. Co-author, 100 Questions & Answers About Life After Breast Cancer Sensuality, Sexuality, Intimacy
Annette Owens, M.D., Ph.D., Certified Sexuality Counselor, Director, Charlottesville Sexual Health and Wellness Clinic, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of The Sexual Health Network. Editor, Sexual Health four volumes
Anita Solomon, Ph.D., Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, Diplomate in Clinical Pharmacology, Member of Governor’s Task Force
Rabbi Edgar Weinsberg, Ed.D., D.D.,
Edgar Weinsberg of Sarasota, Florida, is an ordained rabbi, gerontologist and healthcare educator. After his successful robotic surgery for prostate cancer at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in April, 2007, he was moved to share his and others’ experiences by writing the book Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life. He wrote the book with his contributing author, Dr. Robert Carey, a urologist and a leading robotic surgeon.
His book received the 2009 Nautilus Silver Book Award for its innovative approach to health and healing. This competitive award recognizes new leading-edge books that underscore conscious living and positive social change, combining new ideas with religion or spirituality. The book also received two 2009 Indie Excellence Book Awards, as the winner in the men’s issues category and a finalist in the health category. In addition it was a 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist in the category of health. These awards designate the best new books published by independent publishers and authors.