Fit to Fight Partners
Alpine Physical has been serving the greater Missoula community since 2004. Alpine Physical Therapy's goal is to "Lead innovation in health and wellness for our community, deliver compassionate care, and inspire through education." They have been providing quality physical therapy services through their five locations and strong community engagement. Alpine Physical Therapy continues to expand to meet the growing needs of the Missoula community, including the oncology population. They have been providing services to the oncology community through their lymphedema screening and prevention program, sponsorship of Fit to Fight and their growing oncology rehabilitation program. Alpine Physical Therapy offers one-on-one hour long physical therapy sessions that can be covered by your medical insurance.
.jpg)
The Cardiopulmonary and Cancer Rehabilitation Laboratory (CCRL) conducts clinically directed research designed to leverage the many strengths of lifestyle medicine as a countermeasure against chronic disease including cancer, heart, and respiratory conditions. Run by Dr. John Quindry (PhD Biomedical Sciences) and a team of graduate students (Amanda Alfaro-Chaverri MS, Ron Michalak MD, and Mariam Rojas-Ledezma BS) and undergraduate research volunteers, this NIH funded lab initiative includes complementary arms of teaching, research, and outreach. The CCRL is located in McGill Hall on the University of Montana main campus. Local partners in research and outreach include Alpine Physical Therapy, Silver Lining Foundation-Montana, and St. Patrick’s Hospital
The Silver Lining Foundation was founded in 2017 in Missoula as a 501c3, originally to help support a dragon boat team. As the years have evolved and more emerging research about the benefits of EXERCISE AS MEDICINE for cancer patients, the group has evolved into a community that helps provide education related to cancer survivorship, they train together both on and off the water, and partake in research opportunities at UM. The group paddles and races in dragon boats and outrigger canoes, out of the Montana Canoe Club in Big Arm on Flathead Lake. Led by trainer, Mike Rankin, they train together in their gym 3-4x/week. They believe in the power of sisterhood and community and have seen firsthand how empowering survivors with knowledge can lead to improved survivorship and greater quality of life.
Our Team
NANCY CONDIT, MS
Nancy (Nan) Condit helped found and is the president of the Silver Lining Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to help empower breast cancer survivors through exercise as medicine. Her own personal breast cancer journey and belief in movement as medicine has been a primary driver for collaboration with the University of Montana's newly appointed Cardiopulmonary and Cancer Rehabilitation Laboratory. She is passionate about improving the standard of care for all cancer patients in regards to exercise prescription, and knows firsthand the importance of exercise for survival and improved quality of life.
Aspen McHugh, PT, DPT
Aspen McHugh is a physical therapist at Alpine Physical Therapy South and Clinical Director for Fit to Fight. Aspen grew up in Missoula, Montana and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Montana in 2018. Aspen has seen the positive impact this program offers for participants in rebuilding confidence in movement, strength and ability to return to life's activities. She is excited to be a part of Fit to Fight in order to share her passion for exercise and movement in this unique setting and provide individualized care for oncology patients through Alpine Physical Therapy's Oncology Rehabilitation Program.
RONALD E. MICHALAK, MD, MS, FAAOS, CSCS
Ronald Michalak is a board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who has currently stepped away from clinical practice to pursue a PhD in Integrative Physiology and Rehabilitation Sciences as part of the University of Montana's Cardiopulmonary & Cancer Rehabilitation Laboratory. He brings a passion for lifestyle and exercise-based approaches to counter the effects associated with aging, cancer, and other chronic diseases.
JOHN QUINDRY, PhD, FACSM, FCVS-APS
John Quindry (PhD) is a Professor of Integrative Physiology at the University of Montana. With training in exercise physiology and biomedical sciences, he uses his long history in clinical and rehabilitative research to advance lifestyle-based countermeasures to cancer. This work is based out of the University of Montana’s Cardiopulmonary & Cancer Rehabilitation Laboratory, where newly diagnosed cancer patients can enroll in NIH funded research studies focused on therapeutic exercise as a way to combat the fatigue that accompanies both a cancer diagnosis and its treatments.
SAM SCHMIDT, PT, MPT, NCPT
Sam is a physical therapist and co-owner of Alpine Physical Therapy in Missoula, MT. Sam is the co-founder of Fit To Fight and is currently serving on the Fight To Fight Board. Sam has witnessed the positive impact the program provides not only to the participants but to all the volunteers and staff. The program’s unique model of exercise, education, and group support offers a successful journey in renewing one’s trust in their body from strength to endurance to pursuits in all aspects of life. It is why Sam continues her commitment to the board and the organization.