Great Lakes Rejuvenate

Opening Activity - Tackling Brain Fog
Kellie Kaminski-Johnson, MSPPM - NOCC Great Lakes Regional Manager

Kellie Kaminski-Johnson, is an almost 20-year veteran of the non-profit field, having previously worked in several capacities, including Development Director of the ALS Association, Executive Director of Pathways of Southwestern PA, and Director of Administration at Project Destiny, all here in Western Pennsylvania. She joined the NOCC team in July of 2023. She is an experienced facilitator and tries to engage audiences with lighthearted activities to make participants comfortable. Kellie received her B.A. from Washington and Jefferson College and her M.S.P.P.M from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.

Clinical Update - The State of Ovarian Cancer Detection and Treatment
Shannon K. Rush, MD

Dr. Shannon K. Rush completed medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine and her residency at the University of Washington Medical Center and Affiliated Hospitals in Seattle, Washington. She completed her Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. Dr. Rush is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as faculty in the Gynecologic Cancer Program at the UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant Hospital.

Session 1: A Multimodal Approach to Pelvic Floor Health and Lymphedema PT
Rajvee Shah, DPT, OCS, WCS, CLT - Certified Pelvic Health, Oncology and Certified Lymphedema Physical Therapist

Participants will learn:

• When to seek help from pelvic floor PT
• Five self-management techniques for maintaining the health of the pelvic floor
• Five lymphedema risk reduction/maintenance strategies

For the past 6 years, I have worked as a certified physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor, oncology and lymphedema care. My passion lies in creating a safe space for patients to openly address their concerns and assisting them in finding holistic treatment solutions. over the past year, my dedication to cancer rehabilitation has grown stronger, fueled by my personal journey as a breast cancer patient. Embracing the dual role of both patient and provider has enriched my commitment to improving oncology and pelvic floor PT care.

Session 2: Awakening Your Inner Spirit
Wendy Myers, MSW, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Participants will:

• Define your inner spirit and its importance in conjunction with caring for your body and mind to achieve overall wellness.
• Learn how to nurture your inner spirit through seven focus areas: self-love, grace, courage, hope, kindness, gratitude, and resiliency.
• Learn how your inner spirit can help you determine what is important and not important in your life and how this can help with setting intentions to find a purpose-filled life.

Wendy Myers is currently a Senior Clinical Manager at Cancer Bridges, a newly created non-profit, which combined two non-profits to establish a joint mission, which is to provide support to those impacted by cancer through a variety of free programs and services, offering the emotional, social, and educational tools they need to navigate their cancer journey. She oversees the Counseling Services, Support Groups, and the Grief Program in this role. She provides counseling to clients both in person and virtually. She also co-facilitates the General Weekly Zoom Support Group, the General Metastatic Zoom Support Group, and the Moving Through Grief Series. She also provides education and supervision for clinical graduate school interns. Wendy founded her private counseling practice 7 years ago called Find Your Balance LLC, where she provides counseling for those with acute/chronic illness, caregiver support, grief and bereavement, and women’s health issues.

Session 3: Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: What’s the Deal and How to Deal With It
Andrew Chongaway PT, DPT - Board Certified Oncologic Clinical Specialist

This presentation will focus on:

• Highlighting the background on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
• Implementing exercises and strategies to reduce the risk of and address CIPN symptoms and activity limitations.

Andrew Chongaway is a physical therapist with Allegheny Health Network within their outpatient oncology rehab team. He is a Board Certified Oncologic Clinical Specialist and predominantly works with patients who are experiencing mobility and function problems due to neuropathy, weakness, pain, and deconditioning. Aside from his role as a clinician he is active with professional organizations working collaboratively with other various health professionals in cancer survivorship.