TheOncoPT Podcast

Send us Fan Mail One of the most disappointing things in DPT curriculum is the lack of oncology physical therapy content. As 1 in 2 men & 1 in 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetime, the likelihood that a physical therapist will encounter a patient with cancer is very high. Fortunately, Dr. Shana Harrington, PT & Dr. Lisa VanHoose, PT are on a focus group that is developing standard...

Send us Fan Mail APTA CSM 2022 did not let me down.  I got to finally meet so many people that I had been chatting with online.  But instead of listening to me go on & on about how amazing this conference was, I have five amazing PTs that are going to tell you all about CSM 2022. It was a great honor to meet so many people whose lives have been touched by my work through this podcast. I look f...

Send us Fan Mail Starting with the oncology evaluation is a great way to establish a positive first impression with your patients. By creating a process for this interaction, you will be well prepared to begin your relationship with your patients. You have the opportunity to build that relationship so you can guide them to live their best life despite a devastating diagnosis.  Grab your free eval...

Send us Fan Mail CSM 2022 is quickly approaching & whether you will attend in person or not, there are some very important things to consider before you begin your CSM experience. This is a semi-hybrid conference. There are many interesting sessions, and I want to ensure that you are well prepared. The in-person event will take place in San Antonio, Texas starting February 2nd. Approximately o...

Send us Fan Mail The average person doesn't have time to read the 100s of articles coming out each year about cancer rehab.  So how are we supposed to keep up with the latest info? Lauren Miller, Cynthia Barbie and Steve Morris, join TheOncoPT podcast today to provide a rundown of what happened last year in cancer rehab oncology research.  We discussed both the exciting and disappointing find...

Send us Fan Mail So you want to work in OncoPT...but don't know how (or where) to start?  This episode is just for you! Welcome to this week's Ask Me Anything, with Dr. Karen Rivera Yepiz.  She had a lot of AMAZING questions about finding a job, additional certifications, & so much more.  I know every new grad has these questions, which is why I'm so glad Karen agreed to ask her...

Send us Fan Mail Just because we're PTs doesn't mean we're good patient educators. Did that make you cringe a little bit? Because I sure did. But that doesn't mean we can't become better patient educators. Drs. Karla Wente & Alex Hill, PT are serving up some "Oncology Knowledgy" & how best practice patient education helps our treatment plans from start to...

Send us Fan Mail Since it's a new year, it's the perfect time to reintroduce what we do here at TheOncoPT & what's coming up for 2022! After going in the wrong direction for months, I finally figured out the plan I needed to prepare effectively for the Oncology Specialist Certification exam.  So now, I'm sharing that plan with you, & our students are already loving it!...

Send us Fan Mail Happy 3rd Birthday to TheOncoPT Podcast! The idea for this podcast came to me just after I had landed my dream job. As I walked into my first day, I felt confident & on track. On my way home from my first day, I broke down & cried. I realized that my dream job left me feeling like I was flying by the seat of my pants.  I realized as I drove home that others must be feeling...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we'll hear from Dr. Aubrene Fiore about the importance of wound care in oncology. Many oncology physical therapists lack wound care training, but wounds are very common during cancer treatment. During this episode, Dr. Fiore will walk us through basic wound care, sharing tools, resources, and her expertise.  Supporting wound care is important. Physical therapy is o...

Send us Fan Mail Those treating people with cancer can feel overwhelmed & confused by nutrition for cancer treatment. Many healthcare providers are not trained in nutrition, but nutrition is vital to the health of their patients. It allows them to maintain the strength and function of their bodies. Our guest today is Dr. Krystle Zuniga, a registered and licensed cancer dietitian who discusses...

Send us Fan Mail Our discussion continues on the importance of strength-building for patients with cancer with Dr. Andrew Chongaway, PT, and Dr. Shai Swell, PT. Providing exercise programs that support strength-building at every stage of their journey is essential. Being sedentary can slow healing and recovery. Because of this, it is critical to develop a program that is tailored to the needs of e...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever struggle with dosing exercise for your oncology patients? I sure do. I spoke with Dr. Andrew Chongaway, PT and Dr. Shai Sewell, PT about using exercise for your patients in their cancer journey and the importance of understanding how to dose exercise.  If exercise is medicine, then we must be dosing it as such: specifically, to target specific patient needs. When it co...

Send us Fan Mail Black Friday is a great time to grab deals for you, your practice, and your patients. It might be worth checking out many tools to help you improve your practice and assist your clients. Since many companies are offering specials during this time of year, it is a great time to sign up for CEUs to keep your license or expand your practice with the Oncology Specialist Certification...

Send us Fan Mail Our guest today is Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, FACSM.  Yep, that Kathryn Schmitz! Dr. Schmitz's work has paved the way for exercise oncology throughout her illustrious career, & her new book, Moving Through Cancer , empowers patients with the needed tools to start & stay moving through their cancer treatment.   In our interview, Kathryn discusses the barriers we are cu...

Send us Fan Mail I speak with Dr. Abby Hegerfeld, PT about her journey from cancer survivor to oncology physical therapist.  Being a cancer patient herself opened up new avenues for Abby: she's been able to help her patients regain their strength with the help of her own experience and research.  This interview is a must listen: you'll find so many great tools, tips, and suggestions abou...

Send us Fan Mail Our guest this week is Dr. Teresa Lee, a lymphedema  physiotherapist specialist. Lymphedema is often referred to as a 'dreaded side effect' in oncology. However, it is something we cannot always avoid. Her book, Navigating Lymphedema, A Guide for Cancer Survivors, provides cancer survivors with the tools to treat lymphedema. This week, we will discuss what you should kno...

Send us Fan Mail Mentorship can be a real selling point for PT jobs. It is unparalleled to be able to continue learning in a structured environment with a guide. But does this really happen in reality? We're often promised mentorship in a job interview, but as soon as we start working, that quickly disappears. Now it's "learn on the fly and keep up." Oncology physical therapy i...

Send us Fan Mail Are you seeing red flags show up as your work for your employer? It might be time to look at what you are doing and make a decision to change your situation. When you are suffering, lacking joy, and feeling that your patients are not getting the best care because of the practices your employer wants you to follow, this stress and unhappiness will follow you in all areas of your li...

Send us Fan Mail This week we are talking about time. Most of us don’t feel that we have enough of it. We are running from one thing to the next, putting out the fires that are started by the notification dings on our phones or other devices.  What do the constant notifications do to our quality of patient care? When we keep trying to keep up with the demands of everyone else. We are in this fight...

Send us Fan Mail After nearly a year & a half, I finally ventured out from my cave (as my husband calls it) to attend my first in-person conference. This was my first NLN conference, so I don't have prior experience with this organization. This conference was structured heavily around lab sessions. Much more hands-on time than traditional conferences I've been to - & after 3 year...

Send us Fan Mail Joe Sanok joins us today to talk about his journey to releasing his new book, Thursday is the new Friday. After experiencing the burnout of the long hours of a five day workweek in healthcare, he knew something had to be different. Today we talk about that journey and how he is helping other professionals, healthcare workers, and entrepreneurs take back their life, slow down, work...

Send us Fan Mail I'm attending my first in-person conference this week at the National Lymphedema Network 2021 Conference. After almost a year & a half since my last in-person conference, I'm really excited & a bit nervous. I absolutely love conferences. I love connecting with people I've encountered through social media & the podcast, meeting new people, & learning...

Send us Fan Mail Fan-favorite Dr. Angela Wicker-Ramos is back! This time, she's updating us on how her practice was exploding pre-pandemic, how she & her team navigated changes quickly over the past year, & how she's now running a non-profit foundation to help even more patients with cancer. Tune in to hear her talk about all of these amazing things, plus the advice she gives to...

Send us Fan Mail Access to care is one of the central tenets of high-quality cancer rehabilitation. What good is a residency, board certification, etc. if people can't actually get your care? Answer: It's not. It's worthless. We've talked previously on the podcast about meeting patients where they're at, improving accessibility, but today's guest is taking a unique ap...