S4OM Members Recognized by their
Communities
for Their Oncology Massage Work
Know someone who should be
recognized here?
Contact webmaster@s4om.org
Cindy Wright, Private Practice, Cary, NC
S4OM member Cindy Wright's personal journey from patient to survivor to healer was featured in the June 15, 2010 issue of the Cary, NC News. In interviews with Staff Writer Jordan Cooke she made sure to educate the North Carolina public about the history of oncology massage and its benefits for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer.
The article begins, "Sue Ellen Taylor entered the small, quiet upper room in an otherwise empty office on Salem Towne Court and basked in the serenity of a newfound sanctuary. The 39-year-old mother took comfort in her surroundings. The golden yellow walls, glistening in the afternoon sunlight. The East Asian statues keeping watch. In the middle of it all, a lone massage table - draped in linens of purest whites and richest burgundies - beckoned. This would be her personal oasis, if only for a day..."Kathleen Michie, Poudre River Valley Hospital, Ft. Collins, CO
S4OM member Kathleen Michie received the very first “Guardian Angel” award in the Poudre Valley Hospital System on January 14, 2008. (Since then, she has received three more such awards.) The PVHS Foundation Guardian Angel Program offers grateful patients, their families and friends the opportunity to support PVHS program and services while recognizing the exemplary care they received from a PVHS Guardian Angel healthcare provider.
Kathleen is a physical therapist, massage therapist and the hospital’s Oncology Massage Program Coordinator. She works tirelessly to spread the word about oncology massage, both in the hospital and in the community. Since November, 2006 she has given over 3,000 complimentary massages to oncology inpatients and infusion room outpatients. The family making the donation in Kathleen's honor said "We feel [massage therapy] is very valuable. It helps the patient relax, relieves muscle pain and improves the emotional well-being of the patient and family members."
Bruce Hopkins, Mercy Hospital, Portland, Maine
S4OM member Bruce Hopkins was recognized with a 2008 "Six Who Care" Award for his hospital-based volunteer oncology massage program at Mercy Hospital of Portland, ME. Northern New England's Channel 6, The United Way of Greater Portland and TD BankNorth present the awards annually at a recognition dinner, premiering promotional videos for 4th quarter airplay and presenting $600 charitable grant checks. Bruce also received a Maine Governor's Exemplary Service Award for the hospital program.
Bruce is a Client, "Buddy", Support Group Facilitator and Trustee at South Portland's Cancer Community Center. He wrote "One Man's Massage Journey", published in Massage and Bodywork Magazine. He is also S4OM's founder, a current Director, Corporate Secretary and Webmaster.
Johnnette duRand, Greet the Day, Newport Beach, California
S4OM member Johnnette du Rand Kelly received the 2008 Humanitarian Award given by the Women’s Cancer Research Foundation of Newport Beach, CA. The award was presented at the WCRF Faces of Courage Benefit Brunch on May 9, 2008. Over 300 community leaders, cancer survivors, doctors, cancer researchers and key media members attended.
Johnnette was recognized for developing Greet The Day’s Chemo Comfort program that brings oncology massage trained touch therapists into infusion centers to offer complimentary hand and foot massage to patients during chemotherapy treatment. Chemo Comfort was launched at Gynecologic Oncology Associates, Newport Beach, CA in 2006. This program is now provided in eight Orange County Infusion Treatment Centers.
Curtiss Beinhorn, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
S4OM member Curtiss Beinhorn was selected as the Heart of M.D. Anderson - Outstanding Employee in April, 2007 from over 16,000 employees. The the award was presented at an April 19, 2007 reception held at the nationally recognized M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
Curtiss has played an important role in MDACC's "Place...of wellness" since joining the hospital in 2003. Patients benefit from his kind heart and caring hands in the Ambulatory Transfusion Center, surgery wait areas, inpatient areas and the Palliative Care Unit. He co-wrote "Role of Massage Therapy in Cancer Care", published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and "Managing Radiation Therapy Side Effects with Complementary Medicine", published in the Journal of the society for Integrative Oncology. He is also the Program Chairman for S4OM's 2013 Oncology Massage Healing Summit.
If you know of other S4OM members who have
been recognized in their communities, please
please contact webmaster@s4om.org.
Thank you.
