POWER Program with coordinator Darren Walker
Did you know about the POWER program offered by the Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah Health? The Personal Optimism with Exercise Recovery (POWER) fitness program provides a personalized exercise plan for cancer patients based on diagnosis, treatment type and phase, and fitness goals. It includes the following:
- Medical and physical assessment by a physician
- Personalized exercise plan
- Twice weekly exercise sessions with a certified cancer exercise specialist
- Group circuit training classes
- Weight management
All sessions are approximately 60 minutes in length. We also offer telemedicine appointments.
Learn more about this amazing program from Darren Walker, the program coordinator, and come with your questions.
In this session, we will also have a guest speaker come to talk about resources for multiple myeloma patients. We are excited to see you there.
Audrey Burton-Bethke
Audrey joined the HealthTree Foundation as the Myeloma Community Program Director in 2020. While not knowing much about myeloma at the start, she has since worked hard to educate herself, empathize and learn from others' experiences. She loves this job. Audrey is passionate about serving others, loves learning, and enjoys a nice mug of hot chocolate no matter the weather.
Nico Cheek-O'Donnell
Nico joined the Multiple Myeloma Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute in 2016, as its licensed clinical social worker. Before that, he was a social worker with Intermountain, primarily at LDS Hospital on their inpatient behavioral unit. He earned his Master of Social Work degree at the University of Utah. Originally from New York & Boston, Nico earned undergraduate degrees in Psychology & Theatre from Carleton College in Minnesota. He earned most of his very modest living as a stage actor in Minneapolis and Seattle for eight years, before moving to Utah in 2006. More recently, Nico has used role-play to help train physicians how to navigate especially difficult patient conversations – and to entertain his 13 & 9-year-old kids.
Darren Walker
Darren has been involved with the POWER Program since 2006 while fulfilling an internship for the program and earning a Bachelors' degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Utah. He participates year-round in assisting with program events and enjoys all types of fitness activities in the Wellness-Integrative Health Center; cycling the Huntsman 140, snowshoeing, running with Hometown Heroes, and hiking being among the most memorable. As a Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist, his focus is providing excellent care and helping individuals stay active no matter what life has in store. Before joining the POWER program, he spent several years in cancer research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.