Prehabilitation Model of Care for the Patient with Breast Cancer

Karen is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and also a Master of Science degree. Karen has been a certified lymphedema therapist through the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) since 2005 and a member of the LANA Board of Directors since 2017. Oncology Rehabilitation has been her career focus and passion for over 30 years. Karen has authored several publications as well as the Venous and Lymphatic Disorders chapter for the physical therapy text Therapeutic Exercise. She is involved in several research projects focused on lymphedema and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. She is an adjunct instructor for The Ohio State University Physical Therapy program lecturing on oncology rehabilitation and lymphedema. Currently, Karen is the Associate Director of the James Ambulatory Oncology Rehabilitation Department at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

Cari’s passion for working with the oncology lymphedema population began during a clinical rotation with a certified lymphedema therapist. She began her professional career at The OSU Comprehensive Spine Center in 2011, where she treated patients post laminectomy, post discectomy, post lumbar fusion, patients with thoracic outlet syndrome, and Parsonage-Turner’s syndrome. She has been a Credentialed Clinical Instructor with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 2012 and is an APTA member. She transitioned to The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center in 2013. She currently serves as Program Director for the developing OSU-CCC James Oncologic Physical Therapy Residency. Her clinical and research interests include lymphedema, shoulder dysfunction post-mastectomy, axillary web syndrome, and aromatase inhibitor arthralgia.