Since its founding in 2009, the Source of Hope Foundation, under the leadership of Stephen K. Robert, has contributed to improving health by supporting healthcare facilities through funding. One such initiative is the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where Stephen Robert funded the Touch Therapy Program that the MSKCC facility manages through the Integrative Medicine Service Department.

Integrative medicine is a treatment approach that integrates alternative and conventional medicine to offer patients holistic and comprehensive care. Touch therapy, also called therapeutic touch, is a crucial constituent of integrative medicine. It entails caregivers using hands to manipulate body muscles and energy fields connecting to the mind to facilitate healing.

Touch therapy encompasses various practices, including acupuncture, whereby physicians use needles to stimulate specific points on the skin to enhance energy flow. It also entails mind-body therapies like massage therapy, where therapists manipulate soft tissues in the body, reducing muscle soreness and related pain and anxiety. Touch therapy improves blood circulation, which is essential for cardiovascular health and better immunity. It also promotes faster healing and recovery.

In addition, touch therapy is generally safe for most patients. However, therapists may advise against it if patients have recently undergone surgery, have implanted devices, or have bowel conditions like abdominal obstructions. Patients should consult their doctors before undergoing touch therapy.