Women's Health and Cancer Conference

Age Well

Age Well is a nonprofit organization and a designated Area Agency on Aging, we are the leading experts and advocates for the aging population of Northwestern Vermont. We serve older adults 60+

For over 40 years, we have provided individuals with healthy meals, (including Meals on Wheels) care coordination, and community resources they need to remain at home, where they want to be. Most of our services are provided at no charge. Age Well's mission is to provide the support and guidance that inspires our community to embrace aging with confidence.

Helpline: 1-800-642-5119
Website: agewellvt.org
More information about: Meals on Wheels
More information about: Health and Wellness Resources

Dragonheart Vermont: Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival

Dragonheart Vermont strives to strengthen and empower breast cancer survivors & supporters through the challenging sport of dragon boating instilling in its members the values of teamwork, fitness & community giving.

Our organization provides year-round wellness programs to its members both on and off the water. We host the annual charity event, the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival. We support local cancer wellness programs through our fundraising and volunteering.

Website: DragonheartVermont.org 

Hyperbaric Vermont

Hyperbaric Vermont is a 501c3 nonprofit committed to making affordable hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) available throughout Vermont. We provide HBOT at treatment centers in Montpelier and S. Burlington, and at affiliated treatment centers in East Hardwick, Middlebury and Brattleboro. We educate the public and physicians as to the clinical applications of HBOT and provide training to health care providers who wish to offer it to their patients.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a powerful anti-inflammatory, natural anti-microbial (kills viruses, bacteria and other microbes) and speeds tissue healing. Research shows that it enhances the effects of chemo and radiation, reduces nausea, fatigue and weight loss, and heals radiation damaged tissue. It can be very effective for brain injuries, cognitive impairment, autoimmune disorders, complications of diabetes, and resistant infections such as Lyme disease.

Website: hyperbaricvermont.org

Inspired Closets Vermont

We are a locally owned and operated small business offering creative storage solutions for every area of the home. With a Free Virtual or In-Home Design Consultation, it's easy to get started. We have proudly supported the University of Vermont Cancer Center since 2012 as The Presenting Sponsor of the Rally Against Cancer at UVM Athletics.

Website: Inspired Closets Vermont

South Burlington Vet Center

Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. Readjustment counseling is offered to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military. Individual, group, marriage and family counseling is offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services. Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are Veterans themselves, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief and transition after trauma.

We are located at 19 Gregory Dr., Ste, 201 in South Burlington. Our phone number is 802-862-1806. We provide individual counseling, couple's/family counseling, and group counseling. Also, we have several other groups, such as craft group, maple sugaring, equine group (please note that availability of these groups might be impacted due to the COVID-19). Please give us a call if you are a veteran or family member wanting to know about our services.

Website: VetCenter.va.gov/

Steps to Wellness: Oncology & Hematology Rehabilitation

Steps to Wellness is a FREE oncology rehabilitation and exercise program that serves the unique needs of cancer survivors. The program is designed to help participants achieve renewed levels of strength, and wellbeing, and to provide practice tools to create life long health benefits.

Trainer Bios:

Lucian Benway, CPT, ETS

Lucian joined UVM Medical Center’s Oncology & Hematology Rehabilitation program, Steps to Wellness in 2018 as a rehabilitation exercise trainer.  He leads exercise and movement training of the program participants before, during and post-cancer treatment. Lucian holds certifications as a Personal Trainer, Exercise Therapy Specialist, Group Fitness Instructor, and Emergency Medical Technician. Before joining the Steps to Wellness team, Lucian worked at Vermont area fitness studios/gyms as the lead trainer and group fitness instructor. Lucian has a deep-seated interest in fitness and believes that evidence-based approaches to exercise are the foundation to physical and emotional rehabilitation, performance, and longevity.  

Rebecca Reynolds, BS, CES/CPT

Rebecca graduated from UVM in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Science in Athletic Training.  She joined UVM Medical Center’s Oncology & Hematology Rehabilitation program, Steps to Wellness, as a rehabilitation exercise trainer, in 2012. She has continued her education and has become a certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Cancer Exercise Specialist (CES).  This has helped her to gain higher levels of knowledge and specialized skills to provide survivors with safe and effective exercise programming during treatment, recovery, and long-term survivorship. She believes that training, supporting, and encouraging cancer survivors to rediscover their physical and mental strengths is the most rewarding opportunity she has experienced as a health care professional.  

Website: UVMHealth.org/StepsToWellness 

Cancer Patient Support Foundation (CPSF)

We serve Vermont cancer patients and their families in a time of extraordinary need by providing financial assistance and support during diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

CPSF provides financial support to remove barriers to treatment and to meet patient's basic needs including food, housing, utilities, transportation, prescriptions, and medical costs not covered by insurance. In addition, CPSF offers the Maggie Card which offers discounts for cancer patients at local businesses.Website: CPSFVT.org

Eleanor B. Daniels Fund at the UVM Cancer Center

The Eleanor B. Daniels Fund at the University of Vermont Cancer Center is dedicated to supporting education, research and development efforts for gynecologic malignancies and other women’s cancer-related health topics.

Platinum Supporter of the Women’s Health and Cancer Conference
Sponsor of the Gynecologic Cancer Support Group
Sponsor and host of the Cancer Survivors Social (first Sunday in June)
Free educational programs several times a year
Scholarship Award for education and travel for staff

Website: UVMHealth.org/EBDFund

Mahana Magic Foundation

We emotionally and financially support the children of cancer patients in Vermont. We give back what a parent’s cancer has taken away.

In response to COVID-19 we have created the Urgent Child Needs Fund to support families negatively and financially impacted by cancer and COVID-19. For more information contact: Monica@mahanamagic.org

Website: MahanaMagic.org

UVM Cancer Center: Transitions to Wellness Program

• January 2021 the UVM Cancer Center will offer a 6 session group visit to help transition cancer survivors from cancer treatment to optimal self care.
• Topics covered include: 
  • Late/lingering side effects of cancer
  • Establishing healthy habits
  • Nutrition and culinary medicine
  • Exercise
  • Stress management 
  • Sleep
• Interested survivors will have a one-on-one session to discuss individual wellness concerns and goals prior to the group sessions.  
• The 6 group sessions will meet every other Wednesday, 4-6pm.  
• There is no cost for participation at this time.
• If you have completed cancer treatment in the last 5 years and are interested in participating, contact: kristie.grover@uvmhealth.org

Website: UVM Cancer Center

Our Community's Health: What's Important to You?

This project seeks to gain input from the community about setting health priorities and is a partnership with Vermont United Ways and the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. A note from the project team: 

Many factors affect personal and community health, and we would like to know which of these you see as particular strengths or weaknesses in our Vermont communities. 

We are particularly interested in changes since March 2020 when Covid-19 changed our lives. On behalf of the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine and United Way, THANK YOU for giving us your opinions. 

We anticipate it will take you about 15 minutes to complete this survey. This is totally voluntary, and no information will be asked that could identify you or your family. Summary results will be made publicly available in December 2020.

Link Directly to Survey https://redcap.med.uvm.edu/surveys/?s=YD3AEMKFNF

Link to United Way Page (scroll down) https://unitedwaynwvt.org/

Link to Press Release Larner College of Medicine http://med.uvm.edu/com/news/2020/09/24/uvm_vt_united_ways_survey_puts_health_priority-setting_in_hands_of_community

Susan G. Komen - New England/Northeast Region

Komen New England's mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. Experts estimate that as many as one-third of women dying of breast cancer today could be saved without a single new medical breakthrough. That’s why we take a two-pronged approach: first, ensuring that all people have access to, and receive, timely, high-quality breast cancer care. And second, funding the research that will drive new treatments, and ultimately, the cures.

Susan G. Komen® offers the Komen Treatment Assis tance Program to help eligible, underserved (underinsured,uninsured) breast cancer patients in treatment. To learn more about this financial aid program and other helpful resources, if you or a loved one needs more information about breast health or breast cancer, call the Komen Breast Care Helpline at 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636). All calls are answered by a trained specialist or oncology social worker in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET (6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT). You can also email the helpline at helpline@komen.org.

Website: KomenNewEngland.org

Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center

The Norris Cotton Cancer Center is one of the nation's premier facilities for cancer treatment and research. It is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. We provide a positive environment for treatment, cure, and recovery for patients with all forms of cancer. Our patients receive technologically advanced cancer treatments and access to clinical trials of new treatments. Each patient is seen as an individual, which means our specialists develop a specific treatment plan and then work directly with the patient, their family, and the referring physician to implement care. We are also a proud leader in improving the comfort and quality of life of patients.

The Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC) is looking to pilot a new program in Fall 2020, and we are looking for cancer survivors and caregivers who may be interested in participating. The proposed pilot program is called Community REsearch Ambassadors Together Ending Cancer (CREATE). CREATE has two main goals: 1) To give cancer survivors and caregivers an opportunity to have a positive impact on cancer research by serving as Community Research Ambassadors 2) To teach the public about the importance of cancer research Want to learn more? Click on the link for additional details about the program and how to get involved. https://cancer.dartmouth.edu/scientists-researchers/community-research-ambassadors

See enclosed brochure about a study entitled "Randomized Control Study of Behavioral Activation/Problem-solving Rehabilitation Intervention for Breast Cancer Survivors" 

Do you live in NH or VT? Are you a cancer survivor who has completed cancer treatment? If so, we would like to hear about your experiences during and after cancer treatment for a research study. You can earn $40 in gift cards. Complete our  Online Survey

UVM Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office

Clinical trials connect patients with cutting-edge treatment options while also advancing knowledge and care for cancer patients everywhere. Your physicians, nurses and staff make up the clinical research team that collaboratively focus on offering the very best care for you and your family. Nearly all current prevention, detection, treatment, and supportive care options available today have come to us thanks to clinical trials research.

The University of Vermont Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office (CTO) supports ground-breaking cancer research advancements by facilitating collaborative, high-quality clinical and translational research (applying what we've learned in the lab to clinical trials) aimed at enhancing the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.

The CTO upholds the highest standards of clinical research by ensuring patient safety, regulatory compliance, and data integrity, while enhancing the lives of those at risk for and affected by cancer.

To learn more visit VermontCancer.org

Experience Yoga

Experience Yoga studio offers an opportunity and reminder to pause and to experience your own natural state of being, joy and wholeness through meditation, breath and movement.  

Presented by Lonnie Poland, Physical Therapist, Yoga, Reiki & Meditation Practitioner & Teacher. 

 *Experience Yoga has provided free gentle yoga and meditation experiences for the 2020 Women’s Health and Cancer Conference. You can find these options on the virtual conference agenda.

To learn more visit https://www.experienceyoga.com

https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceYogaVT

Feldenkrais with Gillian Franks

I aim to teach people of all abilities and health to find effective ways to make their lives easy.

A free, in person or over Zoom, Introductory consult introduction to the Feldenkrais® Method, and a chance to experience a short lesson, focused on information from you!

Feldenkrais practitioners do 4 years of training and I graduated in 2015.

Website: Free Consult with Gillian Franks

Mind-Body Practice Vermont LLC

Stress relief and health optimization through mind body practices, with a focus on Qigong.

Movement, Meditation, and Massage, a pilot program that blended Qigong and oncology massage, took place during the spring of 2020. This series was generously supported by the Victoria Buffum Endowment Fund at the University of Vermont Medical Center. The link below allows for people to see a short video and sign up for future sessions if they occur.

Website: Movement, Meditation and Massage

Vermont Reiki Association (VRA)

The Mission/Vision of the VRA is to increase the understanding, acceptance and accessibility of Reiki. We offer support, promotion and education to practitioners and teachers. We provide resources, and offer the experience of Reiki at community events and clinics across Vermont, including many years at the UVM WHCC.

The VRA will be hosting its 9th Annual Conference on November 15th via Zoom. This event is open to the public and no experience is needed. We are thrilled to be welcoming Frans Stiene, keynote and Michelle Courtney Berry, guest speaker.
For more information: https://www.vermontreikiassociation.org/2020conference.html

Website: vermontreikiassociation.org

Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer

Created in 2005, VTAAC is responsible for putting the Vermont Cancer Plan into action by preventing overlap and directing resources to where they matter most in our state. Our activities are focused on reaching our ultimate goal: reducing the burden of cancer for all Vermonters. VTAAC is a growing network of groups and individuals that speaks with one voice about reducing cancer risk, detecting cancers earlier, creating better access to quality cancer treatment, and improving the quality of life for cancer survivors.

Website: VTAAC.org