David chats with Mandy Bartovolich, the first paediatric oncology massage therapist at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mandy shares her incredible work with children and young adults undergoing cancer treatment and blood disorder management, and how as a massage therapist she woks alongside doctors as an integral part of the health care team.

We explore the role of massage therapy in reducing pain, stress, and anxiety, the role of human touch and humanity and how care towards the child is combined with care for the adult too, who also benefits from compassionate touch.

Mandy has contributed to research with a paper published in 2023, and she shares how a child whom she cared for is now a doctor in New York, and is now embracing massage in her own hospital for paediatric care.

This episode is a heartfelt look into how human touch has a role in far more than just sore and tired muscles, but using multi-disciplinary bodywork principles can provide effective medical care in one of the most challenging environments.

Research: UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital a National Leader in Massage Therapy for Paediatric Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease Patients

Connect with Mandy: Mandy.Bartolovich@UHhospitals.org

🎧 Listen now and take your massage practice to the next level!

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Theme Music: Simon Pettersson "All Alone" (2020), Licensed use through Audio Hero Inc