The Institute for Therapeutic Massage, Inc, New Jersey’s largest massage therapy school with 6 classroom locations, including 4 hospital affiliations, is proud to announce that it has been named a recipient of Biotone’s 2008 Community Outreach Award Program. This award is given to massage therapy programs that help individuals in their community and at the same time help to educate the public about the benefits of massage therapy. ITM’s Oncology Massage Certification Program offers students the opportunity to provide massage to patients at UMDNJ’s University Hospital, located in Newark, New Jersey (Essex County). Many patients at University Hospital are charity care patients who would not be able to afford the cost of a massage, were it not offered free of charge, through this program.

Sue Walther, a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner at UMDNJ’s University Hospital made this comment “I have had the distinct pleasure of being a minor liaison between the students from the Institute for Therapeutic Massage and patients throughout University Hospital. The surprise and smiles from the patients I approach regarding their interest in having a massage student visit them, compares to nothing I have seen. When I first discovered that the students were visiting patients on the oncology floor, my first thought was ““There are patients all over the hospital who would greatly benefit from this type of healing intervention.””  I have even had physicians order massage for their patients on days when the students are not here, leaving the nurses to wonder why there is not a full time massage program on-site.”

“Little did I know the impact that this program would have on the lives of patients, their family members and healthcare workers, when I put this program together, but to see the look on the patient’s faces when they’re receiving a massage and hearing the comments from the massage therapists shows the tremendous benefit that this program has for everyone involved” says James T. Zazeski, the program’s developer and director.

Individuals interested in learning more about this program, what it takes to become a massage therapist, shiatsu practitioner, or personal trainer in New Jersey, or other community service projects involving The Institute for Therapeutic Massage are encouraged to call 973-839-6131 for more information.