Social determinants of health play a massive role in whether people with cancer can access the care they need — including oncology rehab.
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Alexandra Hill, PT, to preview her powerful upcoming session at The Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2025: “Tackling Social Determinants of Health and Reducing Cancer Care Disparities in Oncology Rehab.”
Dr. Hill shares how social determinants like transportation, income, geography, and health literacy directly impact our patients’ ability to follow through on treatment and rehab — and what we as oncology rehab professionals can do about it.
This conversation will challenge you to think beyond the clinic walls and equip you with actionable steps to reduce cancer care disparities in your own practice and community.
Register for TCRCC2025 now!
Join Dr. Hill and a powerhouse lineup of speakers November 7-8, 2025, for two days of practical, actionable education built specifically for oncology rehab professionals.
👉 Get your ticket here
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why social determinants of health are non-negotiable for delivering truly patient-centered cancer rehab
- The biggest barriers patients face in accessing oncology rehab — and how to spot them early
- How clinicians can move beyond awareness to actionable strategies that make a real impact
- Why every voice matters in creating a more equitable cancer rehab landscape
- How you can learn even more at Dr. Hill’s full session during TCRCC2025
Want to watch the episode instead?
Watch this week’s episode of TheOncoPT Podcast on our YouTube channel!
About Dr. Alexandra Hill, PT
Dr. Alex Hill, PT, DPT, whose pronouns are she/her, earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida and completed the Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency at Duke Health. Alex is a double Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health and Oncologic Physical Therapy and a LANA Certified Lymphedema Therapist. She is presently a physical therapist with UF Health Jacksonville, specializing in pelvic health, oncology, and lymphedema rehabilitation for all genders. In addition to her clinical work, she has multiple peer-reviewed research publications, mentors pre-PT and PT students, and is passionate about providing inclusive and empowering education on pelvic health and oncology rehab through her business, OncoPelvic PT.
Follow Dr. Hill on Instagram: Instagram.com/OncoPelvicPT
Transcript
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (00:19)
Hey OncoPT and welcome back to this episode of the OncoPT podcast. We are continuing our promo series for the upcoming, the Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2025. And you are going to love this session with this dynamite speaker. I’m so thrilled to welcome back Dr. Alexandra Hill to the OncoPT podcast to talk about her upcoming session at TCRCC 2025.
called Tackling Social Determinants of Health and Reducing Cancer Care Disparities in Oncology Rehab. And while this is a timely topic all the time, unfortunately, since Alex submitted this topic back in, I don’t know, winter, spring of 2025, this is only continuing to become more pressing and more timely. And so, Alex, I’m so excited to hear about this. I’m frustrated.
currently that this continues to be such a continually increasingly important thing that is becoming more pressing in our minds, but I can’t think of a better person to tackle this session and to talk about it. And so first of all, welcome back to the OncoPT podcast. I’m so excited you’re here.
Alex Hill (01:17)
you
Thank you so much for having me on. It’s always a pleasure. I love your podcast. always, as I told you before, years ago, I listened to your podcast studying for my boards. Like I love this podcast, everything you do for it. So thank you for having me on.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (01:52)
Thank you, Alex. It always touches me that you say that. That was such a pivotal moment for me getting to talk to you and be like, I listened to your podcast studying. was like, it’s working. It’s working. So would you mind telling, my gosh, thank you. Would you mind telling the audience a little bit about you and what you do before we dive into this amazing topic that you’re presenting on at our conference?
Alex Hill (02:04)
You are the mastermind.
Yes, absolutely. So I’m Alex. I’m a outpatient physical therapist and I specialize in pelvic health and oncology and lymphedema. And I’ve been a therapist for over 11 years and I’ve been doing these specialties for those 11 years. ⁓ I practice in Jacksonville, Florida and outside of clinical care, I own a small business, Onco Pelvic PT.
And I also do a lot of other volunteer work with APTA, work on different research projects and peer publications. So I’m really just so grateful to be in a profession and specialties that I am so passionate about and surrounded by so many other passionate people to be able to do all these different amazing projects and advance care.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (03:09)
That was a very succinct description, Alex. But I don’t know that it totally encapsulates all of the amazing things that you do. Like y’all, if you’re not following Alex, first of all, her handle is OncopelvicPT on all the socials. If you’re not following Alex, where have you been, my friend? Because how I learn about oncology is Alex and so many of the amazing people that we have in our field. So definitely like a positive episode, follow Alex right away. Cause she has a
Alex Hill (03:11)
You
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (03:38)
overwhelmingly wonderful library of content that only serves to advance our profession in so many wonderful ways. So Alex, as I mentioned before, you are presenting at our upcoming conference, the Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2025, which is taking place November 7th through 8th of this year, which we are so excited for putting the final touches on. And so we’re having some of our speakers come on and talk about a little bit about your session and what it’s about.
Alex Hill (03:55)
you
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (04:06)
Just to get a little taste to draw up the excitement in preparation for these last few weeks before our conference. Can you tell us before we get into the meat and potatoes of your session, like what is firing you up right now about working in cancer rehab?
Alex Hill (04:25)
Too many things to count, but if I had to distill it down and continue to be succinct, I would say the fact that there are so many other rehab providers ⁓ and especially specialists in particular areas that are recognizing that they not only need to have further training in oncology care, but also that they want to. And this isn’t just its own little like dark
of oncology PT anymore, like millions and millions of survivors. There’s gonna be more every year. to see sports PT’s, know, PT brain here, sports PT’s, ⁓ neuro PT’s, pediatric PT’s, academics, researchers that are wanting to learn more about oncology rehab, about, okay, they had this breast cancer treatment, you know, 10 years ago, could that be impacting their shoulder? Hint, yes.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (05:23)
The answer is yes.
Alex Hill (05:23)
But it’s, know,
the answer is always yes. It’s always because of the treatment. But like to see so many people across so many different specialty areas in so many different levels of where they’re at in their profession, whether they’re a student, a new grad, an early professional, or even a seasoned therapist, to see people getting excited and wanting to listen to On-Pology Podcast. ⁓
take continuing education courses, go to CSM sessions on oncology that they think, ⁓ that’s maybe an area that I don’t feel as comfortable with. Like I should be learning that. For me, like that’s really exciting. It’s like we’re finally getting hashtag cancer rehab trending.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (05:57)
Mm-hmm.
I literally posted about this on social media today. was commenting on a different one, but know, cancer rehab oncology PT is no long. It hasn’t been for a while, which we know, but it’s really no longer this super niche that it kind of has felt like for a long time within the grander scheme of, you know, physical therapy in our field, in our profession. And I mean, we’re projecting potentially, probably realistically at this point.
Alex Hill (06:22)
Mm-hmm.
Maybe.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (06:37)
that 50 % of Americans are going to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. That is way more people than are ever going to have an ACL repair. ⁓ Name a diagnosis, name an impairment. The likelihood that patients are going to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in your lifetime and you, the average physical therapist, not to mention all the oncopeties listening right now, are going to work with these patients.
before, during, and after treatment, sometimes decades, as Alex was teasing, after a treatment. Like, we know that this is reality. This is not niche. is, ⁓ Kelly Martin, ⁓ who we are working with currently, says this, you know, clinical reality. And I just love that phrase so much of like, this is what our patients are dealing with. This is actuality of day in and day out.
Alex Hill (07:06)
Mm-hmm.
and
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (07:31)
working with patients across the country. know, no matter where you’re at, what kind of a setting you’re in, what kind of a specialty you think you’re in, what kind of patient population you think you’re working with, cancer transcends all of this, unfortunately. And I think this is also why it’s so, so important that while we’re talking about the side effects and the impairments that we are absolutely going to see as a result of cancer and its treatments,
we also have to consider the clinical reality. What is actually taking place in our communities and what is affecting our patients because unfortunately these patients, we are not just dealing with cancer, we’re also dealing with all the other things that are happening right now. What it takes to just be a human, getting from point A to point B, but also the environment in which we are humaning. And so it’s really, again, so critical.
that we are continuing to have these conversations and talking about social determinants of health and disparities in care and also how that is unfortunately evolving and is going to continue to evolve. ⁓ know, currently Alex and I are recording this in August. Who knows what the world is going to look like, frankly, in October when this episode goes out, but we are dealing with the very serious ramifications of this current administration that is phasing out funding for
cancer research, which is absolutely affecting our patients. It affects our communities. It affects our profession. So, who, as you can tell, very important, very passionate about this. Alex, let’s talk about your session at our upcoming conference.
Alex Hill (09:07)
Thanks
Thank
Absolutely. But honestly, mean, that queues it up perfectly. From when I submitted this, ⁓ again, it was earlier this winter, like winter 25. ⁓ And even just now in those six, eight months, the landscape has changed completely. Every time I go to start working on this talk,
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (09:30)
Mm-hmm.
dramatically.
Alex Hill (09:41)
I’m like, well, need to rework that one. Like, well, this is important. you know, from what I have right now until like you said, October, when this is, you know, we do the conference. mean, I know that my talk is going to be changing significantly, you know, looking at the reduced funding for the cancer research, even looking at Medicaid coverage. And so, I mean, there’s so many things that are impacting our patients. And so,
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (09:44)
There’s laugh.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Alex Hill (10:09)
especially earlier this year, that was one of my prompts and like, kind of aha moments for this has to be talked about at this conference. Like I knew that this had to be talked about. And in, in a way as objective as possible, right, this is a conference, a continuing education conference. But you know, we as healthcare providers, and as humans, like we can’t talk about this without having some heart and soul into it. And having some, you know,
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (10:17)
100%.
totes.
Yes.
Alex Hill (10:36)
fire under our seats to like get things going. So in terms of the talk itself, you know, we’re going to be talking about social determinants of health. And so if you’re not familiar with what that is, that’s can be shortened into SDOH, that social determinants of health. And these are kind of non-medical factors in the environments where people are born, where they live, where they work.
and their age that influence health outcomes. And so it’s kind of been quoted before that a person’s zip code is going to be a better indicator of their health quality and their quality of life and their health outcomes than their genetics. It’s a little oversimplified, but I mean, when you really look at more of the research coming out, that’s not far off. It’s really not. So some of those examples of social determinants of health.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (11:04)
Mm-hmm.
No.
Alex Hill (11:26)
our access to reliable transportation, to medical appointments. Think about our patients who are out in rural areas. And it takes two, three hours to get to the nearest cancer PT or the nearest lymphedema therapist. ⁓ Stable housing and living conditions. I live in Jacksonville, A very large metropolitan area.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (11:38)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Alex Hill (11:48)
And there are certain neighborhoods that are right up against major highways. think about all that air pollution, what do we know about air pollution? Increases or certain, you know, so there’s just these certain things that we have to be mindful of ⁓ beyond just kind of like surface level things, right? Like we certainly have to talk about access to healthcare insurance.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (11:56)
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Alex Hill (12:10)
And the rising
costs of that, just, myself today had to get, you know, go through the whole process and rigmarole of getting your pre-authorization and having to call different places and figuring out how much is this copay going to be? When can I schedule this? And I have a high health literacy and it was like, I had a headache after 40 minutes of it. And so when people have a lower health literacy, they don’t understand. Maybe they don’t have access to a telephone to take care of all these things. These are those social determinants of health that are impacting our patients.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (12:22)
Right.
Yeah. Yeah.
Alex Hill (12:39)
And especially when we look at our cancer survivors. And so that’s really what this talk is going to be looking at, how these are impacting their access to oncology, specifically oncology rehab, because this is a shorter session, ⁓ their outcomes, and then also strategies for better inclusive oncology care. ⁓ What are steps and actions that you can do starting tomorrow, locally in your clinic or with organizations or
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (12:51)
Mm-hmm.
Alex Hill (13:07)
let’s go big or go home nationwide. You know, there’s so many things that we can do. And so that’s my goal is like, get you understand what these social determinants of health are. Get you to really see them in your own patients and your population. And then what are we going to do about it?
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (13:10)
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
So many things, so many thoughts. I’m gonna narrow it down because we only have so much time to talk about it. And you and I could talk about this for days if we were left to our own devices. So one of the things that is so important to us at the cancer rehab community is obviously we want evidence to be best practiced, best informed with the best available, the latest and greatest and whatnot.
Alex Hill (13:26)
Yeah.
Yes. ⁓
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (13:53)
But where we see a lot of times that there is a gap between what the literature says, the latest and greatest, to actually implementing that into practice. I mean, we quote this all the time, but it takes an average of 17 years for research to be implemented into clinical practice. We don’t have time for that. Our patients don’t have time for that. And so this session and all of our sessions are really about where, I guess, the rubber meets the road, right? Where we are taking
Alex Hill (14:19)
Mm-hmm.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (14:20)
not just the knowledge, but also how do you implement that into your own practice? I’m here in Fort Worth, Texas, which is a very large metropolitan area. ⁓ And what Alex said about the zip code really hit home because there is a zip code here in Fort Worth. I think it’s 76104. And I’m totally, I’m gonna check it after I say this, because I wanna make sure, but there is,
a significantly, I mean like a year’s difference in life expectancy in this zip code compared to the rest of Fort Worth. It is dismal. And unfortunately, it very disproportionately affects black and brown communities and has for a very long time. And if you don’t think that cancer is part of that, my friend, you are sorely mistaken. This is the clinical reality of our communities.
Alex Hill (14:52)
Mm.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (15:15)
This affects patients, whether we’re in urban areas, which is what Alex and I currently live and practice in, suburban areas, and rural communities. This affects everybody. It may affect them a little differently. know, Alex has already mentioned transportation. For someone who lives out in rural areas, maybe a different barrier than someone who lives in the city and is dealing with more of an air pollution factor affecting their health. Like, there’s so many different things.
But this is for everybody, for every practice setting, every community, every patient population. Because unfortunately, like I said earlier, cancer transcends all of this.
Alex Hill (15:58)
Yep. Couldn’t have said it better. You know, and it’s, it’s unfortunate when, you know, you see or hear healthcare providers who kind of poo poo social determinants of health, or, you know, just kind of put it on the back burner, don’t really address it or quote, believe it. ⁓ And so, yeah, I mean, of course, being online, you see all sorts of different things and, you know, the best thing that we can do is have a conversation.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (16:23)
True, true,
Alex Hill (16:27)
⁓ because everybody has a different lens from where they’re coming from. ⁓ Oftentimes, you know, that may be a place of privilege if it’s something that they just don’t understand or, you know, don’t think is truly an issue. ⁓ And not everybody has that privilege to think that way or to get the access to care that we need. And so again, that’s kind of the goal of this talk is even if you think that you’re in a, you know,
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (16:31)
Absolutely.
Alex Hill (16:55)
great area, there’s no issues, like all your patients are great, can perform the treatment that they need. They’ve got, you know, there’s so many different things, but you don’t, never know what types of things could still be impacting them also. So we get, we’ve just got to have these conversations and at least be aware of it.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (17:09)
Totally.
Totally.
Right. And you know, I think it’s also pertinent to bring up, you know, you may have learned about social determinants of health in school. Maybe you’ve been to a continuing education class where you’ve talked about this. This is also something that is ever evolving. You know, I remember in school, I mean like, got it, social determinants of health.
Alex Hill (17:29)
Mm-hmm.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (17:35)
And since I have graduated almost 10 years ago, we’re coming up on 10 years here shortly, things are continuing to evolve. Communities continue to evolve. Our understanding continues to evolve. And I think that’s why it’s so pertinent that we continue to have these conversations because even our understanding of what contributes to cancer has changed over the last 10, 15, 20 years and is going to be in a different place.
Alex Hill (17:57)
Yes sir.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (18:02)
in five to 10 years from now even. And we are only beginning to understand just at what a cellular, a microscopic level that cancer really starts and what contributes to that. it really is like environment is a huge portion of that. I know we’ve talked about, you know, air pollution is definitely one of those things. There’s so many other things, you know, I feel like within the past couple of years, this cultural collective understanding of microplastics, like
Alex Hill (18:29)
Yeah.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (18:30)
that’s
coming in. There’s so many things that are contributing not just to the development of cancer, but also a person’s outcomes on is that treatment going to work for them? Can they access that treatment that is best for them? If they access that treatment for them, is that going to work?
into the clinical reality of their life and what they’re experiencing and also not forgetting like they’re also humans with all these other human things going on. Like we can’t look at our patients in silos, period. But I think that becomes more and more apparent the more that you really sit with this kind of information.
Alex Hill (19:08)
Yep.
Yep, absolutely. And paying attention to intersectionality. their age, their gender, their sexual orientation. I mean, all of these things are going to also then be a whole other layer on top of these social determinants of health as well that can impact their access to care, access to quality of care. There’s ⁓ a study that actually found that, I believe,
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (19:26)
Yes.
Yes.
Alex Hill (19:41)
I can’t remember the exact percentage, but for ⁓ black Americans and Hispanics that they were much more likely to get non-standardized treatment for some specific cancers, including, I think it was kidney and liver cancer. Why? Why? And that, and again, that’s, that’s once they have gotten through all those hurdles of they have insurance, they get the transportation, they can pay for the visit. get, they finally get the treatment.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (19:57)
Interesting, right? Right.
Alex Hill (20:10)
but then they’re not even getting the standardized treatment. And again, that’s going to impact us on the rehab side, if they do have a delay in getting the care that they need, if they’re not getting the optimal treatment, if they’re not getting the standardized treatment that they should, that’s impacting us on the rehab side and the side effects and the impairments that they might be having or might not be having based on that. again, like.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (20:14)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Absolutely.
Alex Hill (20:36)
There’s like you said, it’s this like inception of just so many layers to this that we just aren’t even aware of until something like this where, you know, we have these conversations and talk about them and bring them to the forefront.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (20:43)
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
⁓ And dear friend, if you’re listening, you’re like, well, kidney cancer is kind of rare. Like I was just in the NCCN guidelines last week for renal cancer. Like they are well-established friend. We’re not talking about some
crazy rare diagnosis. These are diagnoses that people are getting every single day that are well established. These are still barriers that patients are facing day in and day out to getting standard of care. I love what you said, Alex, and I’m going to have to go back and make sure that I get that quote right. But access to quality of care or quality care, not just the bare minimum, but again, we are all striving or should be.
Alex Hill (21:06)
Mm-mm.
Mm-hmm.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (21:34)
striving to provide the best level of care possible for our patients. And our patients should expect that. They should expect when they walk in or roll in to however they get to come see us, they should expect and know that they are going to get the highest level of care that considers this intersection of all of these factors that are ultimately contributing to their health and ideally longevity.
however long that is for them, but as long as it can be for that person.
Alex Hill (22:10)
Yep, absolutely.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (22:15)
Obviously this is going to be a jam-packed session. I’m really, really excited for it. What will attendees walk away with from your session?
Alex Hill (22:28)
I think just I’m hoping a more clear understanding of not just social determinants of health of this just like umbrella term that we keep. Like I don’t, this should not be a buzzword. This should be an actionable phrase or topic that you are utilizing in your clinic, right? So like I’m also a firm believer in education should not be passive. Education needs to be actionable.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (22:45)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Alex Hill (22:54)
Same thing
with learning about something like this. Like, yes, absolutely, you have to learn about the topic and understand it, but like, what are you gonna do with that? So I want people that are attending the session to have a clear understanding of what it is, apply it to their patients or their community, and then like try to take that next step on how can we do better about this, even if it’s just a conversation or understanding who are different resources in your community.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (23:15)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Alex Hill (23:24)
Maybe you’re in an area that has a food desert and it’s hard for people to access good quality, healthy fruits and vegetables and food. then now SNAP benefits are getting cut or things that are qualifying for that. So what are your patients options? We know that nutrition is key. That’s in our scope of practice. Obviously check your state practice act, but I mean, this is in our scope, Like sleeping good, eating good, exercise. This is all part of it.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (23:37)
⁓ huh. ⁓ huh.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Alex Hill (23:53)
at a minimum even just looking to see who are resources available in your community or in your clinic or your hospital system that you can recommend for your patients.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (23:58)
Right.
Mm-hmm. And I do want to just pause here because I know as a formerly young, wide-eyed, bushy-tailed OncopT, I was like, I’m going to do all the things for my patients. And right, right, I love, and I totally steal this from Alex, I think OncopT has a fabulous role of being a connector. ⁓
Alex Hill (24:15)
Yeah, we all do that. Choose one.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (24:30)
And a lot of times we want to be the quarterback. This is what I stole from Alex. We want to be the quarterback, right? Like we want to, okay, team, here’s the play, do the thing, score the touchdown, right? But focusing in on maybe one thing that you can, one action area that you can get started with. That is game changing for that person. And maybe that one thing like Alex talked about, nutrition, sleep.
Oh my gosh, how am like, I talk about sleep all the time with my patients. That could be the thing that absolutely changes that person’s life of when they’re, I mean like, oh God, when I don’t get sleep, I’m a horrible human being. When I get sleep, I’m a better human being. Like that conversation that you’re having with your patient could be the thing that changes everything for them. And this session is going to equip you with
Alex Hill (25:04)
Mm-hmm.
Me too. Right.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (25:30)
Here’s a whole toolbox. Pick one to get started with and see what kind of a difference that makes for your patients. Gosh, I’m so excited about it. ⁓ Good, good. Without giving everything away, what is one mic drop moment or maybe surprising insight that you’ll be sharing at your session?
Alex Hill (25:41)
I am too.
I know.
I think we honestly, we’ve touched on a lot of them. think really like equal treatment is just, it’s not enough in oncology care and rehab. Like equitable access and care is really what is saving lives and helping people to live their lives.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (26:09)
Mm-hmm.
Yes. Yes.
Alex Hill (26:21)
I had to it up in one little baby mic drop.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (26:26)
Mm, I love it. I can’t wait for the big mic drops at the actual session. It’s gonna be so good.
Alex Hill (26:28)
the
There’s gonna be some gifts with
mics dropping throughout. and Mattychak better watch out with the gifts.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (26:38)
Hear that Adam, she’s coming for you. ⁓ man, can we like, listen, we’ve been talking about some really important, really serious stuff. ⁓ Some people maybe were not at the first Cancer Rehab Community Conference and didn’t get to experience the magic. Would you mind just like pulling back the curtain on some of the insanity that was popping off in the chat at that first conference?
Alex Hill (26:52)
I’m
So one of the things I love about this conference is it’s fun. talk about, as Elisa, we talk about lot of very serious topics, right? ⁓ But you got to have some fun with it. You’ve got like, this is such a supportive community and group. And so myself and Adam, who’s a fantastic PT out in California. ⁓
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (27:14)
Yeah, have some fun.
Alex Hill (27:24)
would just go back and forth in the comments with these gifts, like just supporting other people or like a mic drop gift or like a fire gift. Like it’s just, it was fun. So I hope that we continue this this year and get everybody involved with all the gifts.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (27:39)
I was going to say I have
some pretty high expectations. And that was one of my favorite things because I’m so I’m the MC at the conference. So I’m, you know, introducing people, you know, transitioning, guiding just the flow of the conference and whatnot. so getting to see the excitement generated in the chat and how people are engaging with it and sharing those mic drop moments. think that’s what really takes us from a like.
Alex Hill (27:45)
you
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (28:07)
staring at a screen kind of experience to actually engaging with the speakers and the material. And then that transition from learning to application with your own patients in your own community, that’s where the magic really happens. And I think it is through this community that we building in the cancer rehab, we called it cancer rehab community for a reason. That’s where we’re really changing.
Alex Hill (28:09)
Mm-hmm. ⁓
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (28:34)
how oncology physical therapy and oncology rehab, right? Because this is a multi-disc conference. How oncology rehab is applied and implemented in all of our communities. Because as Alex said, equal is not really what we’re going for equitable. What Alex’s patients need in Jacksonville, Florida may be different than what my patients need in Fort Worth, Texas versus our occupational therapist in rural New Mexico.
and what their patients need. But being able to come to this conference and pick out the gold nuggets or the pearls to take back to your patients on Monday morning to start implementing, this is how we change oncology rehabilitation for each of our patients and how we are therefore changing the world. And that’s a big thing that I’m a believer in and what we believe in here at the cancer rehab community. ⁓ Alex, what are you most excited about?
for the Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2025.
Alex Hill (29:36)
Besides the gifts, obviously. I would say, honestly, one of the things that I love about this conference, and again, I’m really excited about, again, this year is the diversity of the topics and also the speakers, because we have such amazing leaders and pioneers in oncology rehab and…
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (29:53)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Alex Hill (30:03)
We’ve all learned from them, whether it be at a conference or from their textbook or their research paper, but how we really get this profession to move forward and be inclusive and stay fresh and hit on these different areas like pelvic health or sports and oncology. I know that that’s one of topics coming up in the conference, is amazing.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (30:26)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Alex Hill (30:29)
But how we do that and move forward is having different voices. And so, you know, for this conference, you don’t have to be this like international speaker and world renowned professional to speak out it. Your voice matters. And that’s what I’m most excited about is that every voice is listened to. Every voice matters. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new grad, if you’re seasoned. feel like, do I count a season now in past 10 years?
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (30:34)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
You can be whatever
you want. You could be queen and I’d be like, yes.
Alex Hill (31:00)
You know, like it doesn’t…
Like it doesn’t, like this is where we get that community from is being inclusive, bringing people, everybody deserves a chance at the mic and this conference allows it in cancer rehab and I think that’s incredible.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (31:21)
Okay, I’m gonna actually like use that whole clip as promo for the conference because that was incredible. I could not have said it better myself.
Alex Hill (31:24)
hahahaha
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (31:31)
Alex, where can people follow, connect with you and continue to learn more from you?
Alex Hill (31:31)
you
Loco Pelvic PT on all the socials.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (31:43)
all the socials.
Do not forget YouTube. She is incredible on YouTube. Super powerful presence there. It’s amazing. It’s really inspiring. And then of course, you can come to the Cancer Rehab Community Conference 2025 to watch Alex’s presentation titled once again, Tackling Social Determinants of Health and Reducing Cancer Care Disparities in Oncology Rehab. This is super important topic. This is timely.
Alex Hill (31:53)
Thank you.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (32:13)
more timely than ever. And again, like I said, when this publishes in October, I bet it’s gonna be even more timely and it’s gonna be even more timely when we get to the actual conference in November. So mark your calendars, y’all. This is going to be an incredible session, one of a fabulous lineup of speakers, variety of topics, variety of perspectives that you definitely don’t want to miss. So we’ve got the link.
Alex Hill (32:18)
We’re good.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (32:39)
to join now to register to save your seat for the Cancer Rehab Community Conference in your podcast player as well as in our show notes. And we cannot wait to see you there. Alex, is there anything else you’d like to leave the listeners with today before we sign off?
Alex Hill (32:55)
Keep on keeping on.
Dr. Elise K. Cantu (33:00)
Well, thank you so much, Alex, for your time and your expertise on this. We are very excited to get to watch your session at the Cancer Rehab Community Conference. Cannot wait, and we hope to see you all there. And until next time, this is Elise with the Onco PT. And remember, you are exactly the physical therapist that your patients with cancer need. So let’s get to work.