About

Cindy Gillan has maintained a private practice in massage therapy since 1993, focusing on oncology massage therapy, massage for older adults, and working with athletes. Her work with people with cancer includes 5 years of providing massage therapy at the Zakim Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Cindy holds a master’s degree in health care administration, and received her massage therapy diploma from the Muscular Therapy Institute in Cambridge, MA. Her research experience includes a pilot and subsequent NIH-funded phase 2 project focused on massage therapy for people with metastatic cancer, based at the Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center. Prior to that, she served as a massage therapist for a project on low back pain conducted by Harvard Medical School’s Osher Institute. Cindy loves teaching, and brings her steady presence and sense of humor to each classroom experience. She taught for 15 years in the Muscular Therapy Institute basic program, including one year in an oncology massage therapy internship program at Boston Medical Center. She has taught oncology massage therapy with Tracy Walton & Associates since 2008. An avid cyclist and runner, Cindy is a regular rider and volunteer for the Pan-Mass Challenge, an annual fundraiser for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.