Jean Kozempel to Receive 2017 Oncology Section President's Award

Jean Kozempel, PT, DPT, MS

Jean Kozempel, PT, DPT, MS

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has selected Jean Kozempel, PT, DPT, MS, as the recipient of the 2017 Oncology Section President’s Award. This award honors physical therapists who are proving themselves to be pioneers in the oncology field.

The oncology section of the APTA is comprised of licensed physical therapists that have dedicated their time and skills to advancing physical therapy practices. Their objective is to maximize lifelong health, well-being, and overall functionality of patients with cancer and HIV.

Kozempel has played a critical role in developing national standards for advanced practice in rehabilitation oncology. She has treated patients at the Fox Chase Cancer Center since 1993, where is she is responsible for having created a number of programs that meet the needs of individual patients from diagnosis to survivorship, and even throughout hospice.

Currently a manager of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Fox Chase, she has made incredible advancements in developing unique programs including specialized rehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients, lymphedema, a spinal cord compression protocol, cancer-related fatigue, and breast reconstruction.

She developed 1 of the first programs in the Philadelphia area for men with urinary incontinence. She has also contributed to several studies for developing evidence-based practices from a variety of surgeries and side effects at Fox Chase.

Kozempel also instituted a physical therapy training program for students, designed to increase cancer rehabilitation specialists. She strives to impact the availability of physical therapy services to all oncology patients both locally and nationally.