Geri's Educational Training
Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. ~ Aristotle
Education
Graduate, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School, Austin, TX (550 hours), March 2006 – April 2008
Graduate, Peregrine Institute of Oncology Massage Training (300 hours) at the Scherer Institute of Natural Healing (now the Santa Fe School of Massage), Santa Fe, NM, June 2010 – December 2011. Instructors: Gayle MacDonald, M.S., L.M.T., Dr. Sandy Canzone; director: Lonnie Howard Oncology Massage Therapist, certified through the Peregrine Institute. (OMT)
- Massage for People Living with Cancer
- Oncology Massage Intensive: An Eastern Medical Perspective
- Manual Lymph Drainage (Vodder technique) - Klose Training Consulting, LLC, Toledo, Ohio
- Massage in the Oncology Setting: Hospital Intensive, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Working at Home and in One’s Community: Clinical Work, Community Work, Research Literacy
- Advanced Supervision and Closure
Graduate, Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) and Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) - (Vodder Technique) - Certification Programs from Klose Training & Consulting, LLC, Austin, Texas (training/education: 135 hours; Instructors: Leslyn Keith, Nicola McGill and Guenter Klose, 2013) Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), certified through Klose Training Consultants LLC as well as Manual Lymph Drainage training in Toledo, Ohio (training/education: 45 hours, Instructors: Klose Training, 2011) Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist (CMLDT), certified through Klose Training Consultants LLC.
Advanced Massage Training, Experience
Additional Training
Oncology Massage Therapy: Caring for Clients with Cancer (4-Day Intensive Course), Austin, Texas (training/experience: 32 hours; instructor: Tracy Walton, L.M.T.), 2011.
The Healwell Massage Therapy Hospital Stewardship Program and Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington, Virginia (training/experience: 63 hours; instructors: Lauren Muser Cates, C.M.T. and Lucille Eddy, C.M.T.), 2011.
The Lillian and Benjamin Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York City, New York, “Hospital-Based Massage Therapy for Seriously Ill Patients.” (training: 12 hours), 2012.
Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Course: Axillary Web Syndrome, Scapular Winging, Soft Tissue/GHJ Hypomobility, by Jodi Winicour, PT, CMT, CLT-LANA, Klose Training & Consulting, LLC, Boulder, Colorado. (training: 32 hours). 2012, 2016.
Day-Break Certified Level 1, Day-Break Geriatric Massage Institute, Austin, Texas (training/experience: 17 hours; instructor: Dr. Sharon Puszko), 2010.
Introduction to Compassionate Touch, Eldercare and Hospice Massage Therapy, Corpus Christi, Texas (training: 12 hours; instructor: Ann Caitlin, O.T.R., L.M.T.), 2013.
Infusion Center Massage, Newport Beach, California (training: 13 hours; instructor: Jacki Sellers, Greet the Day), 2013.
Opening to the Mystery: Presence in Caregiving at the End of Life, Austin, Texas (training: 21 hours; instructor: Lauren Muser Cates, C.M.T.), 2015.
Massage for Special Needs: Autism, Cerebral Palsy and More, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School, Austin, Texas (training: 12 hours; instructors: C. Allan, L.M.T. & M. Powers, L.M.T.), 2013, 2016.
Burn Scar Massage Therapy, Austin, Texas (training: 12 CEU hours; instructor: Jennifer D. Hartley, LMT), 2017
Compassion Fatigue and Massage Therapists, Austin, Texas (training: 3 hours; instructor: Michelle Burns, Advanced Holistic Healing Arts), 2019.
Experience
Two Roads Massage Therapy (my private practice) - I have supported people living with cancer in various stages: between 1-20 years post treatment, currently in chemotherapy or in radiation, and those who are in palliative care or end of life. I have also provided customized oncology and geriatric massages in people's homes, hospitals and assisted living centers. I am skilled in massage modalities that can be healing, relaxing and restorative; I offer massage therapy to everyone. My client base ranges from young people to folks in their eighties.
Oncology Massage Alliance (OMA) - OMA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; I am the Director of Operations as well as a Founding Board director.
OMA's Mission is to reduce stress, promote healing, and provide emotional support for cancer patients in infusion rooms, as well as increase public awareness of the benefits of oncology massage.
I volunteer with OMA where we offer complimentary hand and foot massages to people receiving chemotherapy and other types of infusions at infusion centers in Central Texas (Texas Oncology, Baylor Scott & White and Austin Cancer Centers) along with providing chair massages to caregivers and medical staff. http://www.oncologymassagealliance.org
Conferences/Presentations/Publications
Sarasota, Florida: Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) National Visioning Conference, October/November 2014.
Tucson, Arizona: ESCAPE Conference, a cancer advocacy leadership conference held at the Miraval Resort. ESCAPE - Encouraging and Sustaining Cancer Advocacy Programs and Efforts. This conference brought together cancer advocates from around the country. The agenda included interactive workshops and breakout sessions that included being able to network with others, develop skills and techniques to improve one’s organization and efforts, learn new ways to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue as well as experience the integration of mind, body and spirit for balanced living. August 2014.
Minneapolis, MN: The Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) Healing Summit, April 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018.
Houston, TX: MD Anderson Annual Oncology Training Three-Day Conference for Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists and Mind Body Teachers, July 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.
Denver, Colorado: Klose Lymphedema Conference, May 2017, 2019 (22 CEs).
Temple, TX: Baylor Scott & White Healthcare Continuing Education: Massage Therapy Conference - "Therapeutic Massage for the Cancer Patient," July 2013. Scott & White Healthcare Continuing Education: Massage Therapy Conference - "Chronic Pain Techniques for the Massage Therapist," July 2015.
Austin, TX: 2012 Ovarian Cancer Survivors Course Conference, March 2012.
Austin, TX: Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas - After Breast Cancer (ABC) Program. Co-presentation with Kazuko DeVirgilio, LMT and discussion with audience: "Finding out about Oncology Massage Therapy and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy." July 2015.
Austin, TX: Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas - After Breast Cancer (ABC) Program. Presentation and discussion with audience: "Finding out about Oncology Massage Therapy." April 2018.
Austin, TX: Austin Community College Presentation to Honors Class, "Helping People Move Beyond Cancer" Panel presentation and discussion with students and oncology healthcare team (Cancer Rehab Austin), March and November 2012, March 2016.
Austin, TX: Cancer Support Community Central Texas Presentation “Frankly Speaking about Cancer Treatment: Side Effects from Cancer." Panel presentation and discussion with audience and oncology specialists, September 2012.
Austin, TX: US TOO Prostate Cancer Austin Support Group (local chapter of US TOO International). Presentation and discussion with audience: "What is Oncology Massage and How Can It Help Prostate Cancer Survivors?" December 2012.
Austin, TX: Once called "HandsFeetHeart," local Texas chapter of the Neuropathy Association, it is now called the Neuropathy Alliance of Texas. Presentation and discussion with audience: "Peripheral Neuropathy - How Can Massage Therapy Help?" August 2013. Presentation is shown on HFH website, which is http://www.neuropathyalliancetx.org
Austin, TX: HandsFeetHeart, local Texas chapter of the Neuropathy Association. Co-presentation by Oncology Massage Alliance (OMA) with Madeline Brock, LMT, along with follow-up discussions with audience: "Massage and Neuropathy." August 2014. Presentation is shown on HFH website, which is http://www.neuropathy alliancetx.org
HealthMonitor Chemotherapy Guide, Spring 2013, "What I Learned from My Oncology Massage Therapist," Page 21. http://guide2chemo.com
Cure Magazine Fall 2015, "A Touch of Healing: Massage Can Alleviate Symptoms of Cancer, Treatments," by Maria Prato. http://www.curetoday.com/publications/cure/2015/fall-2015/a-touch-of-healing-massage-can-alleviate-symptoms-of-cancer-treatments
Awards
Top Ten Therapist (in Austin) Award by MassageSchool.org, 2012
Published Work
Cancer Connection, The Inspirer, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2012. “Reflections of an Oncology Massage Therapist” by Geri Ruane
As you can see, the learning never stops!
Contact me for more details regarding my massage therapy education/trainings/experience.