There are some real giants in the field of oncology rehab – there’s probably a few that just popped into your head. It can be really hard to imagine how we’re going to get there, with all their expertise & knowledge. But they had to start somewhere once upon a time.

Friend of the podcast, Shai Sewell, stopped by today’s episode to discuss how he navigated oncology rehab as a student, is educating fellow students & peers, & changing the world as a new professional. He provides great strategies to become the oncology professional you want to be, no matter the stage you’re in right now!

Shai’s interest in oncology rehabilitation began prior to starting physical therapy school, when his mom was was diagnosed with cancer. Seeing the effects of exercise not only on her physical health, but mental well-being drove Shai to explore the benefits that rehabilitation and exercise can have throughout the cancer care continuum. 

While studying at the University of Miami to obtain his Doctorate in Physical Therapy, he was fortunate to intern at the University of Florida, Shands Medical Plaza where he assessed and treated breast, and head and neck cancer patients undergoing a multitude of cancer treatment related sequela. After graduating from PT school in 2018, Shai began his career at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami where he worked with the hematological oncological population undergoing stem cell transplants. With experience in this setting, his love for cancer rehabilitation only further grew.

During this time, he began a Special Interest Group for University of Miami students to help highlight the importance of cancer rehabilitation, and to spark curiosity in an ever-growing field. He has also been active in the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy, where he hopes to educate students, clinicians, and physical therapy schools across the country on the importance of cancer rehabilitation. Shai has recently moved to the University of Florida, Shands Cancer Center where he continues to work in the bone marrow transplant unit and with hematological malignancies during inpatient chemotherapy. With his passion for raising awareness to new therapists and improving access to care for those diagnosed with cancer, Shai hopes to create a field where empowerment takes reign over a life-changing diagnosis. 

During his free time, he likes to bike, run, hike, camp, explore what the great outdoors has to offer, cooking, throw clay on the potter’s wheel, and transform his van Zooba into an adventure-mobile. 

Find Shai on email or Twitter!

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Patients who finish their treatments & are cancer-free receive a cancer survivorship care plan. This plan helps patients navigate what comes after treatment & for the rest of their lives. But what’s an often missing & crucial part of this plan? Cancer rehab!

Scott Capozza & his team at Smilow Cancer Hospital Survivorship Clinic are rewriting these plans to care for patients more wholly & holistically. In the process, they’re also educating pros like us to start doing this in our own backyards. And yes, yes we can!

Scott Capozza, PT, MSPT earned his degree from Ithaca College.  He has been the physical therapist for the Smilow Cancer Hospital Survivorship Clinic at Yale Cancer Center since its inception in 2006.  In this setting, he works in unison with a dietitian, social worker and physician assistant to address the concerns of adult cancer survivors as they transition into long term survivorship.  Through this collaborative team approach, common survivorship themes such as cancer-related fatigue and fear of recurrence are addressed.  Scott also works as Yale New Haven Hospital’s first dedicated outpatient physical therapist in oncology rehabilitation.  Scott is among the first class of board-certified clinical specialists in oncologic physical therapy in the country and serves on several national committees within the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy.   He has presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Cancer Survivorship Symposium on the benefits of oncology rehabilitation and exercise for all cancer survivors.  Scott & his team most recently presented at CSM 2020 on his facility’s survivorship model, which is part of what we’re talking about today!