Expanding Access. Reducing Barriers. Improving Lives.
Iris Breast Cancer Rehabilitation is committed to ensuring every survivor has access to specialized care, regardless of race, identity, geography, or financial situation. Through outreach initiatives, financial support, and global partnerships, we are addressing disparities in survivorship care.
The Challenge
Significant barriers to accessing survivorship care exist across all populations but are magnified for Black, Hispanic, LGBTQ+, and rural communities. These obstacles limit access to quality rehabilitation and exercise programs that improve recovery and quality of life.
Our Outreach Initiatives
Iris addresses these challenges through community-based programs and partnerships.
Georgia Initiative
The Georgia Outreach Initiative, launched in January 2022, reduces geographic and financial barriers to rehabilitation for survivors living outside metro-Atlanta, where access to quality care is often limited.
Services Provided
With funding from the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (CORE), the program expands Iris' reach across rural Georgia. Services include:
- In-clinic and telehealth visits for physical therapy, emotional counseling, nutritional support, and exercise (with one-third of patients using a hybrid model of care)
- Lymphedema education through self-management training, promoting earlier detection and independence
- Financial aid to reduce cost barriers
- Transportation assistance for patients traveling to appointments
Impact
- Providing a geographically accessible clinic in downtown Atlanta (next to the MLK Marta station and close to Grady Hospital)
- Promoting awareness of Iris's programs and services
- Offering financial and transportation assistance to Black, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized or minority breast cancer survivors
Partnership with Georgia CORE
Georgia CORE is a unique statewide organization that builds collaboration across hospitals, nonprofits, public health centers, and national partners like the NCI. Their mission is to increase access to innovative cancer resources, research, and personalized survivorship care. Iris's partnership with Georgia CORE enables expanded services and sustainable program growth in underserved regions.
Detroit Initiative
In partnership with Oakland University, the Sisters’ Network of Greater Metropolitan Detroit and the National Association of Black Physical Therapists, TurningPoint is working to increase access to care for Black breast cancer survivors in Detroit. This initiative is funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Iris Close the GAP Initiative
Iris participates in and supports The Global Access to Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Exercise Community Partnership Initiative. This is a coalition that includes clinical and research experts in breast cancer survivorship from across the United States (Georgia, Michigan and Louisiana), Canada, Bahamas, Denmark, Ireland, and Iraq.
To work towards health justice in breast cancer survivorship in partnership with local communities.
- Promote policy and systemic change that reduces health inequity.
- Improve quality of life for persons diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Ensure sustainable long-term services within communities.
Kitiboni Rolle Adderley, PT, DPT, CLT
Handling Your Health Wellness and Rehab, Bahamas
Jill Binkley, PT, MSc, CLT , FAAOMPT
Cancer Rehabilitation Consultant and Educator,
Founder, Iris Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, Atlanta, GA
Kristin Campbell, PT, MSc, PhD
Professor, Department of Physical Therapy at University of British Columbia in Vancouver and Associate Member of the School of Population and Public Health and Director of the Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Deb Doherty, PT, PhD
Associate Professor, Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in
Oncology Rehabilitation, Oakland University, Michigan
Sheryl Gabram, MD, MBA, FACS
Chief Scientific Officer, Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education
April Gamble, PT, DPT, CLT
ACR- The American Center for Rehabilitation, Kurdistan, Iraq
Mallory Mark, PT, DPT, CLT, CES
Clinical Director, Iris Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, Atlanta, Georgia
Siobhan O’Reilly, MISCP, MPA, MSc, CLT
The O’Reilly Center, Dublin, Ireland
Bolette Rafn, PT, PhD
Cancer Survivorship and Treatment Late Effects Research Unit, Department of Oncology at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Lori Boright, PT, DPT, DScPT, CES, CLT
Associate Professor Physical Therapy, Coordinator of Graduate Certificate in Oncology/ Rehabilitation, Oakland University, Michigan
Lisa VanHoose, PT, DPT, MPH
Clinical Professor, Baylor University, Waco
Education & Research
Iris is committed to advancing the field of breast cancer rehabilitation through research, advocacy, and provider education.
Publications
Our clinicians contribute to leading research on survivorship and disparities in care:
Annual Healthcare Provider Courses
We offer continuing education designed to equip providers with evidence-based tools and strategies for survivorship care.
Financial Assistance, Complimentary Care and Reduced-Fee Services and Programs
A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event that not only affects a patient’s health but also significantly impacts their ability to work and maintain their usual roles and responsibilities. This disruption often leads to financial strain, as patients and their families face the dual burden of medical expenses and reduced income. The emotional toll is compounded by concerns about covering basic living expenses and accessing necessary care.
Mission Driven
To address these challenges, Iris is committed to easing the financial burden faced by individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment. Thanks to the generosity of donors, sponsors, and community grants, many of Iris’s programs and services are offered at no cost or at significantly reduced fees. These services are designed to ensure that every patient has access to the comprehensive care they need, regardless of their financial situation.
Patient Centered
In addition to these offerings, Iris provides direct financial assistance to those who need it most. This ensures that no woman or man facing breast cancer is ever turned away from receiving the critical support they deserve. By bridging the gap between need and access, Iris enables patients to focus on their recovery and well-being without the added worry of financial obstacles. This compassionate approach reflects the organization’s unwavering dedication to empowering individuals and their families during one of the most challenging times of their lives.
Support Our Work
Your generosity makes this possible. Through individual gifts, corporate partnerships, and grants, Iris provides equitable, compassionate care to all survivors.