I graduated from Coastal Carolina Institute of Massage Therapy in Wilmington, NC in 2002.  After moving back to Lynchburg and working in two clinics, I started investigating oncology massage.  That led me to the Peregrine Institute of Oncology Massage in 2006.  This journey took me to Mesa, Arizona for the in-patient portion of this training and then to Santa Fe, NM for the rest of the training.  I graduated from the institute with a 300-hour certification in oncology massage in November of 2011.  This extensive training included a certification in manual lymphatic drainage and the Eastern Oncology Massage.  I am one of about 60 people in the United States with this certification.  In 2008, I joined the staff at Centra at the Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center where I not only provided massage, but became a fitter for both compression garments and mastectomy garments.  In May of 2016, I left Centra to start my own business feeling that I could better serve my clients and grow in my profession.  Since then I have taken many classes, including scar management, axillary cording for mastectomy patients and neuromuscular techniques.  I have found that a combination of these protocols is extremely helpful for not only oncology patients, but any patient who is recovering from surgery of any kind.  The goal is to reduce pain and swelling as well as regain range of motion and better posture.

Currently, I am working with Christi Sheffield with UVa Patient Care Services to create a sustainable massage program that provides complimentary in-patient and out-patient massage care for cancer patients.