Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Crystal Champion, PT, DPT, CLT-ALM, Cert. DN.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dr. Champion. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a Physical Therapist and a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. I am also the owner of my own physical therapy practice, Eminence Physical Therapy, LLC.
And I am the Executive Director and Founder of Champions Can! Foundation for Cancer Wellness, Inc.
At the age of 12 years old, I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist. This was inspired by my maternal grandmother, who had bilateral total knee replacement surgery. I admired my grandmother. She was a woman with a very strong will and determination. I would watch her physical therapist come to her home to rehabilitate her after her surgery. I thought, “if this person can help my amazing grandmother recover from a difficult surgery, then that’s what I want to do, to be able to help people!” The desire for a physical therapy profession was further cultivated by a Health Occupations Class I took throughout the high school years that offered me more exposure to the profession of physical therapy. In that program, I had the opportunity to rotate to different departments in my local rural hospital, to include nursing, pharmacy, radiology, etc. However, the most profound impact was made when I entered the physical therapy department. I saw a physical therapist teaching a man how to walk with a prosthetic leg. I was amazed. this further solidified that I wanted to become a physical therapist in order to help people improve their quality of life by enhancing their physical functioning.
I am a native of White Plains, Georgia and I have over 12 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Upon graduating from Greene-Taliaferro Comprehensive High School in Greensboro, Georgia in 2000 as Valedictorian, I attended Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia where I graduated Cum Laude and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Education with a Concentration in Exercise Science in 2004. I was also initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc in which I remain an active member in the Upsilon Alpha Omega Chapter in Gwinnett County, Georgia. I also attended the Medical College of Georgia where I obtained a Master of Physical Therapy degree in 2006 and a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree in 2008.
I have served on various committees to include the Cancer Committee, Oncology Continuous Quality Improvement Team, Unit Practice Council, and the Palliative Care Team. I have also served as a host committee member for an Atlanta signature fundraiser, Jeffrey Fashion Cares, which supports Susan G. Komen Atlanta and the Atlanta AIDS Fund. In my career, I have received accolades to include the Innovators Award for Quality/Patient Safety, a Clinical Excellence Award, and was nominated for the American Health Council Best In-Patient Care Award. I am also an American Physical Therapy Association Credentialed Clinical Instructor in which I helped to facilitate clinical experiences for students in Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. I have a special interest in oncology rehabilitation and was instrumental in developing the oncology rehabilitation program as well as the outpatient lymphedema treatment program for Emory Johns Creek Hospital. I obtained my certification as a Lymphedema Therapist from the Academy of Lymphatic Studies and completed also recently my certifications in Advanced Lymphedema Management as well as Dry Needling. I have also lectured to breast surgery fellows at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory Univerisity and participated in various community events to spread awareness about cancer survivorship.
I have had family and friends that have been affected by cancer and have endured horrible side-effects, leading to declining physical functioning and poor quality of life. My passion for providing quality care for patients who require cancer rehabilitation and lymphedema therapy led me to start my own practice, Eminence Physical Therapy, LLC. Also, in my experience as a healthcare practitioner, I saw the need to serve cancer patients on a larger scale and encourage patients to take a more holistic approach to restore their psychological well-being, physical functioning, and quality of life as often the physical, psychological, spiritual, and emotional impairments resulting from cancer treatment are often not addressed or are improperly addressed. This led me to establish Champions Can! Foundation for Cancer Wellness, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes and advocates for cancer survivorship.
I am also a published author of “The Elements of Cancer Survivorship: A Guide to Navigating the Journey”, a body of work that highlights the elements of cancer survivorship while educating readers on essential questions to ask and consider when being faced with a cancer diagnosis. This book explores definitions of cancer survivorship while instilling hope in individuals who have been affected by cancer.
Through my journey, I have gained more awareness surrounding the gaps in cancer education as well as the limited focus on cancer survivorship once cancer treatment has been completed. Her organization hopes to be the leader in the promotion of cancer survivorship.
Has it been a smooth road?
Overall, I can say my journey as a physical therapist and healthcare practitioner placed in a purposeful position to help others has been a smooth journey. The universe aligned things in my favor to bring me to this point in my life today, including my college career, success in the physical therapy profession, and regarding the ability to obtain several high-quality certifications in my profession. However, I have had some challenges along the way. Working primarily with individuals with cancer can be very emotionally taxing. My patient treatments are 60-90 minutes several times a week. In that amount of time, I really bond with patients and their families and have a deeper insight into their lives and their cancer journeys. I have suffered some devastating losses with my patients, however, I constantly have to find the strength within to be a cheerleader to help my patients fight for their lives and their health. I was tired of the “politics” of healthcare when it came to patients receiving the care they deserved. I was fed up with my patients telling me over and over again how they were told by other medical professionals that nothing else could be done and the physical and emotional deficits that they were left to face were just “a part of the process, so just deal with it.” I took a step of faith to launch my own business and non-profit foundation. Because I took that leap, I am now afforded the freedom to choose to do things on my own terms and in a way that I feel is most beneficial to those I serve. In the process of providing quality care to patients with lymphedema and cancer as well as launching my non-profit organization. I am currently faced with a close family member potentially with a colon cancer diagnosis as well as a dear close friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer while working continuously on my business and non-profit organization. However, this experience is only helping to prepare me further for the huge mission and purpose I have left to fulfill to restore hope and healing to those in need who have had cancer journeys or who live with lymphedema. Because of this, I am reminded daily that I am needed and I can truly make a life-changing and life-saving difference in this world for those who are hurting and suffering.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Champions Can! Foundation for Cancer Wellness, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that advocates for cancer survivorship by striving to provide services to unite, support and educate individuals before, during, and after their course of cancer treatment with the goal of promoting cancer survivorship and improving quality of life, regardless of the cancer diagnosis. The organization’s slogan is “Unite, Strive, Educate, Survive!”
The organization’s purpose is to provide a comprehensive cancer wellness program with a holistic approach to overall wellness that will provide and achieve the following:
– Restoration of physical functioning through the promotion of physical fitness and physical activity
– Restoration of psychological/spiritual well being through counseling, chaplaincy, energy healing, meditation,
etc.
– Promotion of healthy eating and nutritional counseling to aid in physical healing
– Coordination and referral of other community resources per individual need
– Community education regarding cancer care and post-cancer care, cancer survivorship, and cancer recovery
– Improvement of self-esteem through improving physical appearance and referrals to appropriate resources
– Support of cancer survivors and their families through the recovery process
– Evidence-based research and backing for services that are offered
Champions Can! is different from other cancer organizations because the focus is on individuals with all types of cancer, not just one particular type and also focuses on both men and women.
Eminence Physical Therapy, LLC currently provides specialized one-on-one home care for cancer rehabilitation and lymphedema treatment. When receiving treatment for cancer or lymphedema, having to attend numerous appointments can be a taxing effort as well as extremely time-consuming. Eminence Physical Therapy eliminates the need to travel to crowded clinics, have long wait times, or split the amount of time spent with a physical therapist due to being double-booked. All clients receive exceptional care from a doctor in the privacy of their own home. Also, insurance constraints are not a factor when receiving services from Eminence Physical Therapy due to the cash-based service model, which sets the company apart from other clinics that offer lymphedema treatment or cancer rehabilitation.
Services Provided include:
– Lymphedema Therapy
– General Cancer Rehabilitation
– Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
– Head and Neck Cancer Rehabilitation
– Treatment of Axillary Cording
– Elastic Taping
– Measuring and Fitting for Compression Garments
– Evaluation of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Pumps
– Myofascial Mobilization
– Scar Tissue Management
– Balance Training for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
– Customized Home Exercise Programs
– Dry Needling
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel that Atlanta is a great place to start a business of any kind. If you have a business idea, go for it! Atlanta is full of entrepreneurs and motivated individuals who want to be successful with a purpose!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eminencept.com and www.championscanfoundation.org
- Phone: 706-631-1030
- Email: info@eminencept.com and info@championscanfoundation.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/eminencept and www.instagram.com/championscan
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/eminencept and www.facebook.com/championscan
Image Credit:
Kelly Photography, Keylun J. Cruz
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