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Nancy Schell,

M.D.

Psychiatrist

4.9 (62 Ratings)
Biography photo
I was drawn to work at City of Hope because of the commitment to treating not just the cancer but also focusing on the whole patient.
Location
City of Hope Chicago
2520 Elisha Ave.
Zion, IL 60099
Specialties
Psychiatry
Education
Medical school:
University of Pecs Medical School, Pecs, Hungary
Residency:
Psychiatry - Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Fellowship:
Psychiatry - American Psychiatric Association
Psychiatry - Chicago Psychoanalytic Association
Psychiatry - American Psychoanalytic Association
Academic Appointments
  • Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Supportive Care Medicine
Certifications
Board Certified in Psychiatry - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
About Me

Dr. Nancy Schell joined City of Hope in Chicago in July 2018. She is an experienced psychiatrist and board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Schell is excited to be part of an expert team of doctors and clinicians providing comprehensive care at City of Hope. Cancer patients may face anxiety, stress or other emotional distress after a life-changing diagnosis. She focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of psychological and emotional challenges.

“Sometimes when people experience something like depression or anxiety for so long, they forget how it feels to be normal,” says Dr. Schell. “My goal is to improve patients' mental health and emotional well-being, so they can spend their energies fighting their disease. I work with patients to address psychological issues early and help patients improve their quality of life.”

Dr. Schell earned her medical degree from the University of Pécs Medical School in Pécs, Hungary, graduating cum laude. She then moved back to the United States to complete a residency in psychiatry at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Schell completed fellowships with the American Psychiatric Association, Chicago Psychoanalytic Association and American Psychoanalytic Association.

She has previously worked in a variety of settings, including hospitals and clinics. She has reviewed several published books and held academic appointments, and she continuously furthers her education to stay up to date on new treatments and incorporates those insights into her practice.

Outside of City of Hope, Dr. Schell focuses on her love of nature. Her other interests include art, photography and archaeology.

Patient reviews
The patient ratings and comments on this page are obtained from an external Press Ganey® outpatient survey provided to all eligible City of Hope patients within one to two weeks of their treatment occurrence. Raw data from the answers to the survey questions about our physicians are calculated by Press Ganey into a one- to five- star rating. In the spirit of transparency, all patient comments are posted as written by the patient, whether they are positive or negative. We only exclude comments if they are deemed to be slanderous or libelous, contain profanity or vulgar language, or do not relate to the patient's experience with the doctor involved. As a result, the comments are the views and opinions of the patients surveyed and are not endorsed by, and may not necessarily reflect the opinion of, City of Hope.
Apr 15, 2026
5.0
"Dr. Schell thank you for spending so much time with me and helping me understand and explaining everything in detail."
Dec 20, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Schell is the best psychiatrist I've ever seen. I love her."
Dec 20, 2025
5.0
"City of Hope saved my life I would recommend anyone who goes through what I have been through to City Of Hope"
Sep 29, 2025
5.0
"CoH saved my life from cancer [...]"
Sep 20, 2025
5.0
"I love all of my care team and always feel relieved afterwards"
Sep 20, 2025
5.0
"My team always works as a team with my needs the center of their priorities"
Jul 21, 2025
4.3
"She did not address my immediate need for extreme anxiety related to medical procedures [...]"
Jul 8, 2025
5.0
"City of hope is Awesome"
Jul 4, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Shell is very concerned on if I was seeing a therapist if I was taking my meds correctly very good experience"
Jul 2, 2025
5.0
"Excellent care"