Living Well Beyond Cancer: Tips for Thriving During the Holidays 

The holiday season can be a joyful time, but it can also leave you feeling overwhelmed and a little stressed – especially when managing the challenges of cancer.

Join ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation occupational therapist Jessika Wheeler and our panel of cancer survivors as they discuss how to thrive during the holidays and discuss areas of challenge.

 In this session of LWBC, Jessika and our panel of survivors will:

• Give tips related to time management, energy conservation, asking for help when you need it, and staying active
• Discuss how to socialize and set boundaries, plan for religious/family traditions
• How to find time for yourself

You will leave this session with a toolkit that will help to make your well-being a priority while also enjoying special traditions and time with those you love. 

Speaker: Jessika Wheeler, MOT, OTR/L, CLT

ReVital Program Director at NovaCare

Jessika is a program director for ReVital, Select Medical’s national cancer rehabilitation program.  She is responsible for providing support, resources, and mentorship to a multi-disciplinary team of 32 cancer rehabilitation specialists as well as developing relationships with oncology practices to increase access and utilization of cancer rehabilitation services in Minnesota.

In addition to her work with ReVital, Jessika was instrumental in the initial development and rollout of the Recovery and Reconditioning Program addressing long-haul COVID-19 and other debilitative illness issues.  She is also a mentor in Select Medical’s cognitive rehabilitation clinician development program.  Prior to joining Select Medical, Jessika worked at the Rosenberg Center, a pediatric developmental and behavioral needs clinic.

Jessika graduated with a master’s degree from the University of North Dakota in 2017 and has been interested in the role of rehabilitation in cancer care prior to this.  She completed her thesis on expanding the role of occupational therapy in oncology where she helped develop a holistic treatment guide and screening tool that she later presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s annual conference.