Oncology Massage Instructors and Training Programs
Due to the many potential pitfalls, no massage
therapist should work with a newly diagnosed cancer patient, a patient in
treatment or a patient out of treatment unless the therapist has had specialized training in oncology work. There are numerous
S4OM recognized training opportunities for massage therapists interested in working with
people at all stages of the cancer journey: diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, follow-on treatment, survivorship and end-of-life.
S4OM recognition of a training program is based on instructor qualifications, classroom
hours, coverage of specific topics and supervised hands-on practice.
Listed below
are S4OM's
16 recognized instructors and their curricula. Additional instructors are now applying
for recognition. (Click here to learn
what "recognition" means and how it came about.)
Class Schedules
Click here for our most up-to-date composite list of oncology massage training programs by all S4OM recognized instructors. This list includes two tables. The first (in green) is the foundation classes required for S4OM professional membership. The second (in purple) is a variety of other courses taught by these same instructors.
Isabel Adkins, BA, CMT - Oncology Massage Education Associates
Course: Massage for People Living with Cancer©
Description: http://www.oncologymassagematters.com/classes.htm#mfplwc
Isabel Adkins, BA, CMT, spent four years as Oncology Massage Program Director/Supervisor at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Nevada City, CA. She has been a keynote speaker at the UC Davis Cancer Center forums on complementary medicine. Isabel contributed a chapter to Medicine Hands, on an Eastern approach to strengthening the body. Her approach to massage with cancer patients, over the last ten years, comes from understanding the need to address the experience of illness in a way that explores the body-mind relationship and the body's energetic systems.
www.OncologyMassageMatters.com
info@OncologyMassageMatters.com
Karen Armstrong, NCTM - William Beaumont Hospital, Integrative Medicine
Course: Clinical Oncology & Hospital Massage
Description: https://www.beaumonthospitals.com/school-of-allied-health-clinical-oncology-massageKaren Armstrong, NCTM completed massage school in 2003 and began working in physical therapy. She is now the Supervisor of Clinical Massage for Integrative Medicine at William Beaumont Hospital in both Royal Oak and Troy Michigan. Karen and her staff offer clinical massage in two hospital based outpatient clinics as well as to inpatients. Several research projects have been started under her guidance. Karen was recently elected Chairperson of the inaugural Board of Massage Therapists for the state of Michigan. Beaumont's Oncology & Hospital program offers a unique hands-on rotation throughout the hospital.
www.beaumonthospitals.com/school-of-allied-health-clinical-oncology-massage
karen.armstrong@beaumonthospitals.com
Lauren Muser Cates, LMT/CMT, NCTMB
Course: Compassionate Clinical Service: A 6-day Oncology/Hospital Massage Intensive
Description: http://www.curanderabodyworks.com/Training.htmlSince her graduation from Potomac Massage Training Institute in 2005, Lauren has had unique opportunities to train with national leaders in the field of oncology massage. Over the last 3.5 years, she has built an intensive clinical massage therapy program at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA. Lauren is a certified massage therapist, Reiki practitioner and volunteer massage therapist with Capital Hospice. She is also an End-of-Life Care Practitioner.
www.curanderabodyworks.com
Cheryl Chapman RN, HNC, NCTMB, NJSC
Courses: Cancer and Life Altering Illness (16 hours) plus Mastectomy Massage(8 hours)
Description: http://cherylchapman.com/workshops.html
Cheryl received her RN in 1965 and massage therapy certification in 1988. Taking her experience from ICU, cancer and hospice nursing, she blended the professions. Before massage school ended she saw a great need of massage for people with cancer and mastectomy. In 1991 she taught the first training class for massage and cancer. Her trainings are focused on the private practice client but are applicable to the hospital as well. She has presented her programs at four AMTA national conventions and authored articles on Cancer and Mastectomy Massage for the trade magazines. She is a breast care advocate and wrote The Happy Breast Book. Cheryl has a full time oncology and mastectomy practice in Short Hills, NJ.
www.cherylchapman.com
Name: Gillian Desreaux
Course: Oncology Massage Training
Description: www.oncologymassagetraining.com.au
Gillian Desreaux has been a practicing massage therapist since 1998. She has worked in conjunction with osteopaths, chiropractors, naturopaths and doctors in areas of rehabilitation and well being. Since 2005 Gillian has specialised in the area of oncology massage - providing comfort and relief to cancer clients and their families. She is currently employed at Sydney Adventist Hospital, Australia as their first Oncology Massage Therapist. Gillian is passionate about sharing her knowledge with fellow therapists, leading to my role as the NSW Facilitator for Oncology Massage.
www.oncologymassagetraining.com.au
gillian@oncologymassagetraining.com.au
Johnnette du Rand
Course: Oncology Massage (14 hrs) plus O. M. Practicum (10 hrs).
Description: http://www.greettheday.org/education.html
Johnnette du Rand, LMT, NCBTMB, works in close collaboration with numerous Orange County, CA, cancer centers, and has been the coordinator and trainer for their oncology massage volunteer programs since 2003. Her approach to oncology massage education emphasis the importance of evidence-based bodywork, the value of working as a team with clinical staff, and recognizing that healing can happen without a cure. Johnnette, a Greet The Day co-founder, received the 2008 Humanitarian Award from the Women’s Cancer Research Foundation.
www.GreetTheDay.org
Jamie Elswick - Oncology Massage Education Associates
Course: Massage for People Living with Cancer©
Description: http://www.northernraventherapeutics.com/My_Services/
Jamie Elswick, LMT, NCBTMB has been a massage therapist since 1992 and a massage educator since 1994. Her work has included scar tissue and lymphatic work for post-treatment cancer patients as well as comfort-based massage for those currently in treatment. At the present time she teaches courses in oncology massage, anatomy and physiology, and advanced structural bodywork at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Jamie has been the coordinator and trainer for the Providence Alaska Medical Center for the oncology massage volunteer program since 2003. She is a Graduate of Peregrine Institute.
www.northernraventherapeutics.com
jamie.elswick@yahoo.com
Tina Ferner - Oncology Massage Education Associates
Course: Massage for People Living with Cancer©
Description: http://www.medicinehands.com/MLPMore.html
Tina Ferner, LMT, RD, is the coordinator of the Integrative Medicine Department at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Cancer Centers in Toledo, Ohio. She developed this program which provides massage, healing touch, reiki, and guided imagery to all oncology inpatients as well as those receiving radiation and chemotherapy as outpatients. This center is one of the sites for Massage in the Oncology Setting, taught by Gayle MacDonald. Tina is a registered dietitian, massage therapist, certified Oncology Massage Therapist, reiki master, healing touch practitioner and hypnotherapist. She has 20 years of experience working with oncology patients.
Tina_Ferner@mhsnr.org
Rebecca Harrison
Course: Oncology Massage: Massage for Clients During and After Cancer Treatment
Description: http://www.harrisonbodywork.com/index.html
Rebecca Harrison, LMT, has been practicing oncology massage since her initial training in 2000. Her experience includes an ongoing private practice and 4 years of working at the Providence Integrative Medicine Department in Portland, OR. She is honored to have worked with clients in every stage of the cancer experience in many different settings including hospital inpatients, outpatients in the clinic setting, chemo infusion and radiation departments, and in hospices. She is currently studying the Alexander technique and has a private practice blending hands-on work and body-skills training to help people feel powerful, connected and at ease.
www.harrisonbodywork.com
rebecca@harrisonbodywork.com
Marjorie “Sarah” Hoeven – Greet The Day
Course: Course: Oncology Massage (14 hrs) plus Oncology Massage Practicum (10 hrs).
Description: http://www.greettheday.org/education.htmlSarah Hoeven, NCMTB, CMT, is the Lead Therapist for Greet The Day’s Chemo Comfort Touch infusion center program. Providing oncology massage and education in the infusion center setting, Sarah mentors new therapists in the clinical setting and works with the infusion center staff to provide education to patients and their families. Sarah has worked with Greet The Day since 2008 and has over 25 years of experience in the corporate and wellness industries. Sarah is a double degree graduate from the University of Southern California.
www.greettheday.org/education.html
safarie5@mindspring.com
Gayle MacDonald - Oncology Massage Education Associates
Course: Massage for People Living with Cancer©
Description: http://www.medicinehands.com/MLPMore.html
Gayle MacDonald, M.S., L.M.T., is the author of Medicine Hands: Massage Therapy for People with Cancer (Findhorn Press) and Massage for the Hospital Patient and Medically Frail Client (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins). Her expertise comes from 15 years of work with oncology patients at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR, Banner Desert Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ and St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. She has supervised massage students and therapists on the oncology units, in chemo infusion, radiation oncology, and the bone marrow transplant units.
Eleanor Oyston
Course: Oncology Massage Training
Description: www.oncologymassagetraining.com.au
Eleanor Oyston is a Cytotechnologist, Massage and Bowen Therapist and National Director of Oncology Massage Training. In private practice since 1999 she specializes in neurodegenerative disease cancer cancer. For 9 years she worked with Petrea King at the Quest for Life Centre facilitating & massaging people with cancer and other life changing illnesses. Eleanor developed Oncology Massage Training, 4 modules, based on her strong science background and tactile experience. Her program is the only course in Australia accredited by the international body, S4OM, and taught at an advanced level. She also served on the complementary therapies committee for the NSWCC.
www.oncologymassagetraining.com.au
eleanor@oncologymassagetraining.com.au
Meg Robsahm - Oncology Massage Education Associates
Course: Massage for People Living with Cancer©
Description: http://www.medicinehands.com/MLPMore.html
Meg Robsahm, M.Ed., LMP, NCTMB, is in her eigth year of practice with a focus on chronic pain, stress, relief, oncology and hospice massage. Compassionate Therapies, is located in Everett, WA within the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership, and in Monroe, WA. She is a regular presenter on topics such as Oncology Massage, Hospice and Caring massage . Meg is currently the President of the Society for Oncology Massage [www.S4OM.org], an organization grounded in a philosophy of compassion and service. Meg is a graduate of Peregrine Institute.
avannelli@netscape.net
Tania Shaw
Course: Oncology Massage Training
Description: www.oncologymassagetraining.com.auTania Shaw has been practising wholistic bodywork since 2003. She has worked extensively with clients who have cancer, including their families and support people. Tania is Bloomhill Cancer Help's Senior Therapist and is the Queensland Facilitator for Oncology Massage in Australia.
www.oncologymassagetraining.com.au
tania@oncologymassagetraining.com.au
Jean Van Etten - Oncology Massage Education Associates
Course: Massage for People Living with Cancer©
Description: http://www.medicinehands.com/MLPMore.html
Jean Van Etten, LMT, has been the staff massage therapist for the Pluta Cancer Center in Rochester, New York for five years. She developed the program at the Center which includes comfort-oriented massage, massage for caregivers, and hand, foot and shoulder massage for patients in the infusion room. She has been the guest speaker at cancer support groups, organizations and massage education programs. A graduate of the 300-hour Peregrine Institute of Oncology Massage Training, Jean believes in the power of safe, effective massage for those in treatment for cancer.
jvanett1@rochester.rr.com
Tracy Walton - Tracy Walton & Associates, LLC
Course: Oncology Massage Therapy: Caring for Clients with Cancer©
Description: http://www.tracywalton.com/courses/3dayintensive.htmlTracy Walton, LMT, MS, is a researcher, writer, and award-winning educator. She is a dynamic voice for the power of touch, and the author of a new textbook, Medical Conditions and Massage Therapy. Tracy appears in the film "Touch, Caring, and Cancer," a home instruction program for patients and caregivers. Her column on oncology massage appears regularly in Massage Today. Tracy has worked on NCI-sponsored clinical trials of professional and caregiver massage, with research partners including the Osher Institute at Harvard Medical School and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. She has worked in private practice, hospital and spa settings since 1990.
www.tracywalton.com
info@tracywalton.com
Information for New Instructors Find the current standards for S4OM recognition here. Find the application here as an online form. Contact the education committee with questions or difficulties at education@s4om.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
