Photo courtesy of Michael Power
Start your Journey to Wellness
Join us at Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth, Washington for this dynamic educational opportunity!
EASE Cancer Foundation educators are experts in their fields and offer a wealth of valuable information on a range of meaningful topics for anyone whose life has been affected by cancer. Survivors, caregivers, friends, and family are all welcome to join.
Workshop Overview
The 2024 Journey to Wellness is a one day workshop featuring five breakout sessions in which multiple classes are taught concurrently. When you register on Eventbrite, you'll be able to choose which breakout sessions you’d like to attend.
Group presentations and smaller breakout class sessions culminate in the creation of individualized personal wellness plans, and you'll take home a detailed syllabus containing cutting-edge information, delicious whole-food recipes, and realistic strategies to thrive as a cancer survivor.
We look forward to seeing you!
What your registration fee covers
Continental breakfast and lunch
Syllabus and all supplies for the workshop.
Please note: Lodging is not included (see details below).
Lodging
This event will be held at Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth, WA.
As a single day event, overnight accomodations are not required. Attendees interested in overnight stays are responsible for booking their own lodging.
To make a reservation at Sleeping Lady
Call (509) 999-0998 or (509) 548-6344
Mention that you are with the EASE Cancer Foundation.
Workshop schedule
Saturday, October 19
8:00 am - Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 am - Introductions & Announcements EASE Cancer Foundation Faculty
8:45 am - Keynote: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Cancer Prevention - Ensi Voshtina. MD
Breakout Sessions
10:00 - 10:50 am - Breakout Session 1
Optimizing Sleep to Maximize Health - Katie Kemble, DNP
Expressive Art - Amanda Jacobs, PhD
GBA: Gut Brain Axis - Chandra Villano, ND
Restorative & Therapeutic Yoga - Jenn Crawford LeRoy, CYT, CAWC
Benefits of Exercise on Mind & Body - Tim Burnham, PhD
Supporting Lymphatic Health - Tamara Wells, OTR/L, CLT
11:05 - 11:55 am - Breakout Session 2
Optimizing Sleep to Maximize Health - Katie Kemble, DNP
Whole Food Nutrition & Cancer Fighting Foods - Natalie Harris, MS, RD, CD
Body Image and Intimacy Changes - Maggie Ellings, DNP
Restorative & Therapeutic Yoga - Jenn Crawford LeRoy, CYT, CAWC
Demystifying Cancer Genetic Counseling - Heidi Holmes, MS, CGC
Supporting Lymphatic Health - Tamara Wells, OTR/L, CLT
12:10 - 01:00 pm - Breakout Session 3
Physical Well-being & Symptom Management - Maggie Ellings, DNP
Expressive Art - Amanda Jacobs, PhD
GBA: Gut Brain Axis - Chandra Villano, ND
Massage Therapy for Furry Friends - Pat Vetter, PharmD
Demystifying Cancer Genetic Counseling - Heidi Holmes, MS, CGC .
Healthy Weight Strategies - Tim Burnham, PhD
01:00 - 02:00 pm - Lunch at Kingfisher Restaurant
02:00 - 02:50 pm - Breakout Session 4
Optimizing Sleep to Maximize Health - Katie Kemble, DNP
Expressive Art - Amanda Jacobs, PhD
Body Image and Intimacy Changes - Maggie Ellings, DNP
Restorative & Therapeutic Yoga - Jenn Crawford LeRoy, CYT, CAWC
Benefits of Exercise on Mind & Body - Tim Burnham, PhD
Supporting Lymphatic Health - Tamara Wells, OTR/L, CLT
03:05 - 03:55 pm - Breakout Session 5
Physical Wellbeing & Symptom Management - Maggie Ellings, DNP
Whole Food Nutrition & Cancer Fighting Foods - Natalie Harris, MS, RD, CD
GBA: Gut Brain Axis - Chandra Villano, ND
Massage Therapy for Furry Friends - Pat Vetter, PharmD
Demystifying Cancer Genetic Counseling - Heidi Holmes, MS, CGC .
Healthy Weight Strategies - Tim Burnham, PhD
4:10 pm - Cancer Survivor Perspectives - Stories of Meaning, Resilience, and Persevering - Connie Bailes, Karen Williamson, Gretchen Littler
5:15 pm - Closing & Adjourn - EASE Cancer Foundation Faculty
Workshop details
Group Presentations
Keynote: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Cancer Prevention with Ensi Voshtina, MD.
Dr. Voshtina will discuss the most updated evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle guidelines for cancer survivors, while providing realistic strategies to incorporate into daily routines. She will discuss the “why” behind specific guidelines and the evidence-based research behind them.
Panel discussion: Cancer Survivor Perspectives - Stories of Meaning, Resilience, and Persevering with Connie Bailes, Karen Williamson, and Gretchen Littler.
This panel will discuss their experiences, resources, and their course of action despite difficulties and delays in achieving optimum physical functioning, quality of life, and overall wellbeing.
Breakout Sessions
Journey to Wellness features five breakout sessions in which multiple classes are taught concurrently. When you register, you'll choose which class you attend for each session. Not all classes are available for each breakout session.
Demystifying Cancer Genetic Counseling
This session will provide an overview of cancer genetic counseling, including who may benefit from genetics consult, the process of genetic evaluation and genetic testing, and how this information may inform cancer treatments, screening and prevention for patients as well as their family members.
Benefits of Exercise on Mind & Body
Explores the relationships of exercise on fatigue and stress, and provides tips to improve cognition, memory, and promote neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s way of reorganizing itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
Optimizing Sleep to Maximize Health
Sleep improves mood, physical functioning, regulates hormones, and reduces disease risk. Learn strategies for mastering a good night’s sleep.
Physical Wellbeing & Symptom Management
Explores strategies to manage fatigue, anxiety, hormonal disturbances, neuropathy, bone health and osteoporosis.
Supporting Lymphatic Health
The lymphatic system is important for the optimal functioning of our immune responses, which defend our bodies against infections and disease. Tamara will explore ways to support your lymphatic system for overall health promotion.
Body Image and Intimacy Changes During and After Cancer Treatment
Impaired body image and decreased intimacy are common, long-lasting, and complex side effects of cancer treatment. Maggie will explore the impact on our physical body and view of ourselves; defining some of the most common symptoms associated with sexual dysfunction and altered body image- such as pain, lower self-esteem, vaginal dryness, erectile dysfunction, and hot flashes- and how these symptoms are managed. In understanding our body, we can improve connection to ourselves and our partners.
GBA: Gut-Brain Axis
Overviews the important connection between our brain/nervous system and gastrointestinal system/microbiome, extending to immunity, bowel movements, mood, anxiety, cognition, and more. Your ability to digest food has a significant impact on your comfort and every aspect of your health. Learn initial self-care steps for optimal wellness.
Healthy Weight Strategies
Weight management will discuss common myths and marketing around weight loss. Learn why many diets don’t work and evidence-based methods that do.
Whole Food Nutrition & Cancer Fighting Foods
will explore healthy eating habits and . phytochemicals that may reduce carcinogens and block the development of new cancers.
Therapeutic & Restorative Yoga
Therapeutic yoga utilizes yoga postures and practice to treat health conditions, where restorative yoga enables deep relaxation. Benefits to both may include alleviating pain and tension, stress and anxiety, and improving overall wellbeing. Mats, bolsters, blocks, and yoga straps will be provided to support our practice together.
Massage Therapy for Furry Friends.
A pet maybe an important member of your support team. Learn basic skills for massaging your pet and discover how the experience is mutually beneficial for physical and emotional wellness.
Expressive Art.
In Tibetan tradition, when prayer flags are decorated with images and words, they transmit healing energy into the world through the power of the wind. This tradition is adapted to create personal prayer flags that symbolize our healing and recovery.experience required.
Workshop Faculty
Connie Bailes has experience with both sides of cancer, as a caretaker of a loved one with terminal cancer and a Survivor of Ovarian Cancer. Her goal is to share her experiences with cancer warriors and their caretakers, in hope that her experiences will help others.
Tim Burnham Ph.D. Dr. Burnham is a Professor of Exercise Science at Central Washington University. His research interests include cancer survivorship issues and developing cancer survivorship rehabilitation programs. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed journal publications, which look at the interaction between physical activity and physical and psychosocial function.
Jenn Crawford LeRoy, CYT, CAWC has been teaching yoga since 2000 to multiple populations. Well-trained in multiple therapeutic yoga lineages, traditions, and developments, Jenn is also an Ayurvedic Wellness Coach and brings a breadth of yoga therapeutic principles to her students.
Maggie Ellings, DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, AOCNP. Dr. Ellings is an oncology nurse practitioner with a special interest in cancer survivorship. Her doctoral research focused on sexual health and intimacy discussions for those with cancer. She serves as Affiliate Faculty for the Family Nurse Practitioner track at the University of Washington.
Natalie Harris, MS, RD, CD. Natalie is a Registered Dietitian in Oncology at Confluence Health. She has been a dietitian for 12 years working in a variety of settings; but Oncology is her favorite area of nutrition. Natalie enjoys developing relationships with patients and encouraging them towards health lifestyles.
Heidi Holmes, MS, CGC Heidi is a Genetic Counselor with particular interest in hereditary cancer. She enjoys working with and empowering patients and their families to understand their cancer risks and to guide an individualized approach to cancer care, screening and risk management. Heidi joined the Oncology team at Confluence Health in 2019. In addition to cancer genetics, she also sees patients for other adult and pediatric genetic indications.
Amanda Jacobs, PhD has a doctorate in Educational Psychology and specializes in learning environments. She is a professional composer, playwright, and artist educator. As a composer, she is recognized for her award-winning work on AUSTEN'S PRIDE, A Musical, which made Carnegie Hall last June and swept the New York Musical Theater Awards.
Katie Kemble, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C, AOCNP, FAANP. Dr. Kemble is an oncology nurse practitioner at Confluence Health, Associate Teaching Professor at the UW, and Oncology Committee Co-Chair for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Katie’s special interest in improving the quality of life in cancer survivors.
Jill LaRue, FNP, MSN. Jill is a retired family nurse practitioner of 30 years. She believes that healthy lifestyles are crucial to our sense of wellbeing. She loves spending time outdoors biking, hiking, Nordic skiing, gardening, or bird watching. Jill is the administrative assistant for the EASE Cancer Foundation.
Gretchen Littler is the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Wenatchee Wild, a junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League. She handles everything from group tickets to corporate partnerships – outside of the office, she wears many other hats, including those of a wife and a mom. She is a two-year cancer survivor and takes great pride in her role in her team’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer and helping to organize the annual Chelan/Douglas Relay for Life.
Chandra Villano, ND. Dr. Villano is a Naturopathic doctor with clinical specialty in mindful living, whole foods, and environmental/personal detox. She has a passion for neuroscience, epigenetics, and the endocannabinoid system, with a background in exercise physiology in cardiopulmonary rehab. She is a co-founder of the EASE Cancer Foundation and on the Board of Directors of Wellness Place.
Pat Vetter, BS, PharmD, BCPS, LSAMT. Dr. Vetter received her BS in Pharmacy at the University of Montana and Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Washington. She’s a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and worked with Oncology Infusion. Pat is a licensed small Animal Massage Therapist. She believes massage enhances the quality of life for both the pet and the person giving the massage.
Ensi Voshtina, MD. Dr. Voshtina is board certified in Hematology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine and joined the Oncology team at Confluence Health in 2022 after completing her fellowship in Milwaukie, WI. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast, enjoys the culinary arts, and loves to travel. Dr. Voshtina also provides outreach oncology care in Omak.
Tamara Wells, OTR/L, CLT. Tamara is an Occupational Therapist. She is certified both as a manual Lymphedema Therapist and Neurodevelopmental Therapist and specializes in lymphedema and rehabilitation. Tamara has extensive training and experience working with cancer survivors.
Karen Williamson. After a career in Information Technology, Karen rediscovered her passion for astronomy. Returning to college, she studied astrophysics and received her MA at the age of 63. Alongside her research, she developed and led programs as part of a Girl Scouts/NASA collaboration. She will share how the EASE Cancer Foundation helped her go from depression to a life of peace and joy while living with terminal cancer.
Special Thanks
We'd like to extend our gratitude to Michael Power for the use of his photo in this event's cover image.