2026 MPATH Cohort
The 2026 MPATH Cohort
The 2026 MPATH Cohort hails from all across the United States with massage therapists from Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, Illinois, California, New York, and Pennsylvania.
In addition to their classroom coursework, these dedicated and talented massage therapists will be working with palliative care programs in their own communities from May to October to complete a six-month externship in addition to traveling to Washington, DC to spend six days with Healwell instructors learning about in-hospital palliative care in both the adult and pediatric settings.
Kate (she/her) trained in Swedish and Deep Tissue massage, graduating in 2021. Since then Kate has focused continuing education in energy work...
myofascial techniques, and is currently challenging herself to learn the Vodder School of Manual Lymphatic Drainage, having completed Level 1 (and still needs a lot of practice before she is ready for MLD prime time.)
Kate has another facet of life that deeply informs her massage work, having been a Case Manager in Washington, DC for roughly 17 years, and having spent the last 10 years focusing on collaborating with people oppressed by systemic poverty and pathology to get approved for SSA benefits.
Kate also trained as an Art Therapist and has found a common theme from that work, SSA benefits work, and case management, to this; her goal in all her work is to collaborate with individuals to feel at home in themselves, and to welcome the stranger, no matter how strange.
Now in the throes of perimenopause, Kate has learned that the stranger is often calling from inside the body, so getting to know them and making peace through self-care and radical acceptance is a new practice she intends to get good at, and hopefully work with others to do the same through intentional bodywork.
Emilie has a background in nursing (RN) and elementary education (MEd). Massage therapy is her third career. Who knew the dream massage job...
would find her carrying dog biscuits in her pocket and learning all the pets' names, blowing bubbles, clapping and singing, playing dress up - and more - as well as massaging kids?!
As an LMT, Emilie is part of the interdisciplinary team for Notre Dame Healthcare's Pedi Pals Program, based in Worcester, MA, part of the Pediatric Palliative Care Network of Massachusetts, which provides in-home support services to children (ages 0 to 22) who live with life-limiting diagnoses and their families.
Outside of work, Emilie finds joy in spending time outdoors, with family, hiking, swimming off the coast of Maine and singing with her church's choir. Emilie is the proud Mama of six fabulous humans. She lives in a small town with her patient and supportive partner, some of their kids and Pearl, the farmhouse dog.
Tara Dixon, LMT, CLT has been dedicated to the art and science of massage therapy since 2018. She is certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage...
and trained in Oncology massage. She brings gentle, healing touch to every client she serves. Currently running her own practice, she has a background in mobile massage, spa settings, corporate and chair massage. She believes we should never stop learning.
Tara feels deeply that massage therapy should be embraced as a vital part of the medical profession, advocating for its wider acceptance and integration. Her approach is not just about technique but about creating a nurturing experience that supports wellness and healing in every session.
Mary first became a Nationally Certified, Licensed Massage Therapist in 2006, as well as a Reiki Master Teacher and Kripalu-trained Yoga...
Instructor. She LOVES to learn, especially about the profound benefits of modalities like massage, yoga, nervous-system regulation, somatic experiencing, and energy work of all kinds to support every person in removing barriers to ease and joy-filled BEING!
Mary intends to continue consciously nurturing trauma-responsive, gender-affirming, compassionate containers where people feel safe enough to experience whatever bubbles up for them. Her intuitive approach follows the principle of “meeting people where they’re at” and she sees her role as being an “empathetic other,” a consistent presence, to support her clients’ finding pathways of freedom from suffering. MK intends to deepen her personal practice by integrating everything she'll be learning with MPATH.
Mary's grand dream is to compose a musical for Broadway! In the meantime, I'll keep following the energy pouring from my heart reminding me to practice BEING LOVE in the world.
Jeri Frederickson focuses on tender care for hard realities. Jeri strives to use her training and knowledge basis in modalities such as oncology...
massage, lymphatic drainage, and trauma-informed care together to provide care that listens.
She teaches massage therapy foundation courses at the school where she received training.
Jeri is a cozy slipper enthusiast, butler to two cats, and friend to the neighborhood dogs.
Sarah Jo Fridley...
More coming soon.
Lynette is an oncology massage therapist who currently works at the Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence St. Joseph in Burbank...
CA and at Norris Cancer Center at Keck Medicine of USC.
Before becoming a massage therapist, Lynette volunteered as an Integrative Therapist at the Ronald Reagan UCLA hospital. Then in 2020, Lynette became the first paid in-patient Integrative Therapist the Ronald Reagan and Santa Monica UCLA Hospitals.
Lynette spent two-and-half rewarding years bearing witness and sharing mindful meditation, mindful movement, essential oils and Reiki with patients at UCLA.
But sometimes she felt patients would benefit from a little more than was in the scope of the integrative practice. Lynette attended massage school and absolutely fell in love with massage and anatomy. Lynette also became certified in Vodder MLD (which she also loves.)
Lynette strongly suspects that everyone, in every condition, benefits from compassionate attention to body, soul and mind. She is passionate about using ALL her integrative and massage skills to facilitate patients finding any amount of ease whether it be on a massage table or in a hospital bed.
Debra Jay (she/her) has been a licensed massage therapist since 2017 and is a certified end-of-life doula based in Anchorage, Alaska. Her...
calling to end-of-life and palliative care became clear while walking her mother through hospice in 2021. She is the founder of the Alaska Palliative Massage Initiative, offering in-home and facility-based massage for seniors, individuals with life-limiting illnesses, and the caregivers who walk alongside them.
Debra brings a gentle, compassionate presence to each person she supports, helping individuals and families find comfort, connection, and peace during life’s most meaningful transitions.
Jess is a massage therapist, outdoor enthusiast, hospice volunteer, and advocate for those approaching the end of life. She graduated from...
the Colorado School of Healing Arts, where she has also spent time as a teacher's assistant in the Palpation of Anatomy program. She then went on to pursue NCBTMB certification before joining the 2026 MPATH cohort.
As an up-and-coming force in her field, Jess hopes to bring massage therapy into the spotlight as a powerful tool for patient health and a vital ancillary service within the hospice and palliative care setting. She is passionate about advancing our knowledge and understanding of the human body and integrating conscientious and compassionate deathwork into American culture and allopathy as a whole.
When she isn’t busy running her private practice in Lakewood, Colorado, you can find her hiking or skiing, caring for a plethora of houseplants, or cooking a delicious meal at home.
Susan Scarpinito...
More coming soon...
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