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D’Youville University and Roswell Park Partner on Innovative Wellness Program for Cancer Survivors
June 5, 2026
The open gym space at Thrive Medical is designed to support everything from high-energy kettlebell training to the focused movement work of our RESTORE participants.
D’Youville University and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center have joined forces to launch RESTORE, a free 12-week exercise and nutrition program designed specifically for cancer survivors and their caregivers.
The collaborative initiative, led by Dr. Jeffrey Podraza of D'Youville and Dr. Andrew Ray of Roswell Park, serves a triple purpose: enhancing post-treatment survivorship, providing physical therapy students with clinical experience, and gathering crucial research data on how diet and physical activity impact long-term cancer recovery.
Each two-hour session combines personalized guidance from physical therapists and registered dietitians with education on health topics, including:
- Muscle strengthening, Cardiovascular conditioning, Balance and Stretching
- Tai Chi, yoga, and Breathing exercise
- Balanced nutrition and Meal preparation
- Future incorporation of sleep hygiene, acupuncture and meditation
Bridging Education and Community Care Fully funded by the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, the program is hosted within the D’Youville Health Professions HUB’s Thrive Physical Therapy Clinic and the D’Lish Kitchen. “We wanted to expand our reach so people didn’t necessarily need to travel to the main Roswell Park campus,” said Dr. Ray. The assessments will be done by first- and second-year D’Youville physical therapy students, who typically do not encounter clinical settings so early in their education.
"Students will get hands-on experience conducting actual assessments, collecting and documenting data, and analyzing it from a research perspective," explained Dr. Podraza. "It’s an excellent addition to their resumes and provides foundational research experience for those considering advanced graduate training or research-driven clinical careers."
By blending structured exercise, biomechanics, and nutrition into a clinical oncology framework, this partnership firmly establishes D’Youville as a regional leader in oncology rehabilitation and wellness design.
Interested participants should contact Andrew Ray, PhD, PT at 716-845-1300 ext. 7830 for Virtual YMCA or 716-845-1300 ext. 5001 for D’Youville RESTORE or Andrew.Ray@RoswellPark.org
