Team

Dr. Michael Stubblefield from ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation at Select Medical presented on the essential role of cancer rehabilitation in restoring function and quality of life for Hodgkin Lymphoma survivors. He explained that cancer rehab addresses impairments caused by treatments at all stages, from diagnosis to end-of-life. Pain is a common issue, which can be neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, or nerve-related. Understanding each patient’s treatment specifics is crucial. Radiation Fibrosis (RF) is defined as the hardening of tissue in the radiation field, while Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome (RFS) refers to the clinical manifestations of this condition, which can affect various tissues, including nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. These issues tend to worsen over time and require a comprehensive approach for effective management. Dr. Stubblefield highlighted that despite 60-90% of survivors needing rehabilitation, only 5% receive it. The multidisciplinary approach covers various health aspects such as cardiac, pulmonary, and endocrine. He also discussed barriers to care such as lack of awareness, access issues, and adherence challenges. The ReVital program addresses these needs effectively, providing specialized care for cancer survivors. Don’t miss this insightful presentation on enhancing survivor care.

Access Dr. Stubblefield’s presentation, Living Well Beyond Cancer – The Role of Comprehensive Cancer Rehabilitation in Restoring Function and Quality of Life to Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors

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Dr. Michael D. Stubblefield is the Medical Director for Cancer Rehabilitation at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, National Medical Director for Select Medical’s ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation Program and National Medical Director for Complex Medical Rehabilitation for Select Medical’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital Division. He is the former Chief of Cancer Rehabilitation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), Internal Medicine, and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. His primary clinical expertise is in the identification, evaluation, and rehabilitation of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, pain, and functional disorders resulting from cancer and its treatment, particularly those caused by radiation and neurotoxic chemotherapy.

Dr. Stubblefield is an accomplished researcher who has published extensively, not only in the rehabilitation literature, but in oncology, pain management, palliative care, neurophysiology, and other journals. He has authored numerous review articles and book chapters in the field of cancer rehabilitation and is the editor of Cancer Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice, the only comprehensive textbook in this emerging field now in its second edition. Dr. Stubblefield is a fierce advocate for the development of cancer rehabilitation and survivorship programs and champions their role in restoring function and quality of life to cancer patients.

Dr. Tonorezos from the National Cancer Institute discussed cancer survivorship, defining it from diagnosis through the balance of life. She discussed the growing prevalence of cancer in the U.S. and the stages of survivorship: early, advanced, and end-stage. Dr. Tonorezos highlights the Office of Cancer Survivorship, formed by survivor advocates, focusing on enhancing survivors’ health and well-being. The office supports research, collaborates with advocacy groups like NCCS, and conducts survivorship studies. Their goal is to fund researchers to address the multifaceted challenges of survivorship, involving various disciplines. More information is available here.

Access Dr. Tonorezos’s presentation, The State of Cancer Survivorship

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Emily S. Tonorezos, MD, MPH, serves as director of the Office of Cancer Survivorship, part of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In this position, Dr. Tonorezos leads NCI’s efforts to address the challenges facing cancer survivors and their families – to prevent or mitigate adverse effects and to improve the health and well-being of cancer survivors from the time of diagnosis through the remainder of their lives.

Dr. Tonorezos came to NCI from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Weill Cornell Medical College, both in New York, NY, where she served as director of the Adult Long-Term Follow-Up Program for survivors of childhood and young adult cancers. Her research, which has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, the American Institute of Cancer Research, and others, focuses on cardiometabolic consequences of cancer therapy, childhood and young adult cancer survivorship, diet and nutrition, and care coordination for this population. She serves as Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus Silo leader for the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines and as co-leader of the International Guideline Harmonization Group for the metabolic syndrome. She also has served on the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Committee on Childhood Cancer and Disability and on the Cancer Survivorship Committee, the Adolescent and Young Adult Task Force, and the Clinical Guideline Committee for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). In addition, Dr. Tonorezos led a recent international effort to develop recommendations for adult survivors of heritable retinoblastoma.

Dr. Tonorezos earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed internal medicine residency and chief residency at Columbia University Medical Center, as well as a general internal medicine fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Erin has been a cancer survivor for more than 50 years. Diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s in 1972 at the age of 15, Erin underwent surgery, radiation, and MOPP chemotherapy. She had two recurrences of the disease and has had multiple late effects over the years. Erin holds a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) and is a Licensed Clinical Social worker (LCSW). She worked for many years as a volunteer and instructor with the Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program in Lincoln, MA. She lives with her family on Martha’s Vineyard island in Massachusetts.

Karla was diagnosed with HL as a teenager in 1976 and treated with surgery and mantle radiation. She has experienced a variety of late effects and explored allopathic solutions and complementary therapies in order to live a healthy life. Karla is an educator with a lifelong career in New York State public schools. She has been involved with HL survivorship advocacy and support since 2013. She lives in New York State’s Capital District.

Diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 17, I’ve carried a deep sense of purpose ever since to improve the lives of others facing cancer. Over the years, I’ve been actively involved in Canteen and Youth Cancer advocacy at both state and national levels across Australia. Through my work with Canteen, I’ve had the privilege of traveling the world to speak about the importance of youth cancer support, and I remain deeply passionate about the AYA (adolescent and young adult) cancer space.

Today, I continue to serve as a consumer representative on various advisory groups—ranging from health system committees to research grants and academic publications. I hold a special interest in survivorship, with a focus on fertility, late effects, and the long-term challenges people face after treatment.

Cancer has taken a lot from me—but it has given me so much more in terms of purpose and perspective in life.

Tricia Hernandez, MS is a survivor, advocate, mom, and adventurer, preferring she/her pronouns. Her career has been spent in leadership in nonprofit organizations. After earning a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Georgia Southern University, she worked for the State of Georgia with a focus on psychological testing of children with severe emotional/behavioral differences. She went on to lead the foster care program, then served as Director of Operations for a small Atlanta community based mental health advocacy organization. Tricia’s operational knowledge supported roles as operations manager at a national mental health organization and co-executive director of her own nonprofit foster care agency. Following some time at home with her son, Tricia returned to nonprofit operations, advocacy, community outreach, and program delivery at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She spent six years as the Patient & Community Outreach Manager for the Georgia Chapter and now serves as the Director of Community Engagement in LLS Education, Services and Outcomes Research, where she manages the LLS online patient community, represents LLS on national collaboratives and leads AYA services and resources efforts. Tricia was named SWOG Lymphoma Committee Patient Research Advocate in 2022, NCI Lymphoma Committee Patient Advocate in 2023, and is a member of the Comprehensive Cancer Control National Partnership. She is a twenty-two year Hodgkin lymphoma survivor and lives in Atlanta with her wife, son, and pups.

After receiving her degree in nursing from the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1969, Susan Leigh served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Seven months after completing a tour of duty in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and treated with some of the earliest forms of chemotherapy and radiation. This experience influenced her decision to enter the newly founded field of oncology nursing and began this phase of her career working as a research nurse in the new Department of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Arizona Medical Center.

For the past 35 years, Susan has focused her efforts on national advocacy work with special emphasis on the long-term and late effects of cancer treatment. Her most cherished involvement has been with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) as a founding member and past president. She has also been actively involved with many professional organizations, including the Oncology Nursing Society and the National Cancer Institute.

Susan also worked as a Survivorship consultant and educator with Arizona Oncology, a multi-site community practice in Tucson, until multiple treatment-related cardiac complications made it difficult to fulfill work obligations and accelerated her decision to retire.

While studying law in 1983, Sandi was diagnosed with HL. After a lymphangiogram and a staging laparotomy, she was treated with radiation and went on to finish her education and start a career. Twenty-five years later she began her ongoing struggle with a series of late effects. Sandi continues to practice law since 1985, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Kiran is a second-year medical student at St. George’s University School of Medicine. He is interested in how the values of Hodgkin’s International especially the emphasis on long-term survivorship can help shape more thoughtful, patient-centered care. He hopes to encourage more students and physicians to engage with these ideals in their approach to medicine. Outside of his studies, Kiran enjoys sailing and photography.