Menu
Meet our Care Oncology clinical team, all specialists, in the delivery of metabolic treatments to people living with cancer. They are experienced in working with patients across solid tumours and blood cancers alongside many different standard-of-care regimens.
Dr Said Akhtarini is a seasoned Medical Doctor with a passion for oncology and over 15 years of extensive clinical experience in delivering comprehensive healthcare across the UK and Ireland. He is committed to providing personalised, compassionate care, ensuring the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of each patient.
After earning his medical degree from Aleppo University, Dr. Akhtarini completed a rigorous residency in Internal Medicine where he built a strong foundation in medicine. He remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of medical advancements by regularly attending workshops and continuing education courses to offer the most up-to-date treatments and practices.
As a dedicated doctor he offers his service in a private sector in Ireland and has worked in the UK in various hospitals in the NHS. He strongly believes in a patient-centred approach to medicine, emphasising open communication, trust, and collaboration to achieve the best health outcomes. Whether managing chronic conditions, conducting routine check-ups, or providing preventative care, he takes the time to listen to patients’ concerns, educate them about their health, and develop tailored treatment plans to meet their unique needs.
Dr. Aktharini speaks Arabic as well as English and can offer treatment in both languages. Having his accreditation in UK and Ireland (EU) broadens our service capabilities for our international patients.
Karl Lingenfelder is a dedicated naturopath with his own practice in Fulda, Germany who, over many years, has continuously expanded his expertise in integrative medicine, most notably in oncology.
Karl began his medical career as a rescue paramedic when he discovered his passion for health.
In 1989, he became a naturopath and established his practice, where he continues to serve his patients.
Early in his career, Karl started integrating oncology with holistic treatment options. Since 2000, his practice has specialized in complementary and biological treatments for cancer patients.
In 2020 he won the Science Award of the Swiss SSAAMP (Swiss Society for Anti-Aging and Prevention).
Karl has also been a lecturer at the German Paracelsus schools and continues to share his knowledge with various institutions, associations, and foundations. After studying integrative medicine and psycho-neuro immunology, he is now preparing for his PhD.
Karl joins COC as a consultant clinician for our German-speaking patients, both virtually and in person.
An experienced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist with passion and spirit.
Gemma graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2011. During her nursing degree, she was awarded the Freda Ashmore Scholarship Award and spent time in Tanzania where she gained insight into healthcare in low resource environments. Her dissertation project researched the importance of choice for patients at end of life. Gemma completed a Masters in health research in 2015 and investigated the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in preventing emergency admissions for patients with cancer. This ignited her interest in oncology which has remained her passion and clinical focus ever since.
Employed at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust for thirteen years, Gemma has extensive clinical oncology experience. Proficient in delivering systemic anti-cancer treatments, she worked as a chemotherapy nurse before advancing her career into acute oncology, where she managed patients during oncological emergencies. Gemma volunteered and sat as a regional board member for the Royal College of Nursing for two years representing fellow nurses and RCN members, providing advocacy and influencing future workstreams. Her subsequent roles included oncology clinical nurse specialist and corporate nursing where she developed a partnership with primary care, she was appointed as the Macmillan Patient Experience Manager in an innovative team introduced to ensure that personalised care is offered to each patient diagnosed with cancer at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust.
An experienced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist with passion and spirit.
Gemma graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2011. During her nursing degree, she was awarded the Freda Ashmore Scholarship Award and spent time in Tanzania where she gained insight into healthcare in low resource environments. Her dissertation project researched the importance of choice for patients at end of life. Gemma completed a Masters in health research in 2015 and investigated the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in preventing emergency admissions for patients with cancer. This ignited her interest in oncology which has remained her passion and clinical focus ever since.
Employed at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust for thirteen years, Gemma has extensive clinical oncology experience. Proficient in delivering systemic anti-cancer treatments, she worked as a chemotherapy nurse before advancing her career into acute oncology, where she managed patients during oncological emergencies. Gemma volunteered and sat as a regional board member for the Royal College of Nursing for two years representing fellow nurses and RCN members, providing advocacy and influencing future workstreams. Her subsequent roles included oncology clinical nurse specialist and corporate nursing where she developed a partnership with primary care, she was appointed as the Macmillan Patient Experience Manager in an innovative team introduced to ensure that personalised care is offered to each patient diagnosed with cancer at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust.
Hi, I’m Vanessa. I grew up in the Bahamas and have called New Zealand home for the past decade. As a naturopathic physician with over 15 years of experience in integrative oncology and metabolic medicine, I’m deeply committed to working alongside conventional cancer care—bringing a terrain- and metabolic-informed approach to support your healing journey.
At the heart of my practice is the concept of terrain: understanding the body as an ecosystem influenced by nutrition, biological rhythms, mitochondrial energy, stress, inflammation, and lifestyle. I don’t just look at symptoms—I explore the foundational aspects that underpin resilience, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.
My clinical focus includes nutrition, circadian alignment, mitochondrial optimisation, and evidence-based adjunctive therapies such as targeted nutrients, botanicals, and personalised dietary strategies. Within the framework of metabolic oncology, I aim to help clients reduce side effects, strengthen treatment efficacy, and feel their best during and after cancer therapy.
Before relocating to New Zealand, I co-founded Pure Health Bahamas, where I supported women with breast cancer using integrative protocols. I later directed Bloom Integrative Health, a multidisciplinary clinic offering IV nutrients, ozone, and complementary therapies for oncology clients. I am a Fellow of the American Academy of Anti-Aging, Regenerative & Functional Medicine (A4M), with advanced training in bioidentical hormone management and metabolic support.
At Care Oncology, I partner with patients to create comprehensive, evidence-informed care plans that align with their treatment goals and personal values. What inspires me most is seeing people feel informed, supported, and hopeful at every step of their journey.
Outside the clinic, I embrace the lifestyle I teach—starting my days with yoga, ocean swims, and the rhythms of nature on New Zealand’s west coast.
Hello. My name’s Dr. Dylan Northstar (ND). At CareOncology I operate as a Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Doctor with a specialty in integrative cancer care. I was born in the UK but I was raised and educated in Canada. My personal and professional outlook has been shaped by extensive travel and life experience around the world. I bring a global, open-minded and evidence-based approach to patient care – one that blends scientific rigour with a deep respect for the personalization of each individual’s healing journey. For over a decade, I have supported my patients through bespoke and customized naturopathic and functional medicine care, with a clinical approach that’s grounded in both evidence informed practice and compassionate, whole-person care.
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, and completed my Naturopathic Medicine Doctorate (ND) at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) in Toronto/Vancouver, Canada. I am a Registered Full Member in good standing with the British Naturopathic Association (BNA) and the General Council and Register of Naturopaths (GCRN) in the UK, with international affiliation through the World Naturopathic Federation (WNF) via GCRN membership.
Through my own international practice and in my previous role with Holistic Wholeness Institute I have worked with individuals facing a very wide spectrum of complex health concerns, including integrative cancer care support. My work at CareOncology draws upon advanced case review analysis, functional and genetic testing, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, nutraceutical therapies, lifestyle medicine, and other precision-based natural therapeutics. I am particularly passionate about helping patients to feel educated and empowered to better understand the deeper drivers of their illnesses, guiding them toward clear, practical, and meaningful strategies that support deep resilience, healing, and long-term vitality.
My approach to integrative cancer care at CareOncology is adjunctive, thoughtful, and deeply individualized. I work alongside conventional oncology care, with attention to the terrain through which either health or disease unfolds, including optimizing metabolism, inflammation, mitochondrial function, digestive health, circadian rhythm, stress physiology, nutrition, and recovery capacity. My aim is to help patients feel more supported, more informed, and more empowered throughout their treatment, while using carefully selected integrative strategies to strengthen their wellbeing, support their treatment tolerance, and enhance their quality of life from a body, mind, and spirit perspective.
At the heart of my work is the belief that living well is an essential part of healing well. I am a lifelong lover of nature, animals, adventure, travel, and exploration, and I encourage my patients not only to pursue better health, but to cultivate a life that feels passionate, balanced, meaningful, and purpose driven. Through my holistic and naturopathic perspective, true wellness is not simply the absence of disease, it is the presence of vitality, purpose, harmony, and connection. At Care Oncology, I am committed to creating personalised, evidence-led care plans that align with each patient’s medical treatment, personal goals and values, while simultaneously helping them to feel genuinely seen, supported, and cared for at every stage of their holistic healing journey.
We are still the same Care Oncology Clinic, committed to providing better service and support. While our team has changed, our mission has not.
Care Oncology Clinic is a trading name associated with Clinics Operations Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 13484651.
