Healwell

Healwell aims to improve quality of life for people affected by acute, chronic, and serious illness. We aim to create and support a meaningful shift in the body of knowledge and experience that will open the door to greater access and reimbursement for massage therapy as a healthcare intervention. Healwell aims to build a massage therapist workforce that is trained to meet the clinical and educational demands of the healthcare setting and complexities presented by human illness.

Healwell brings research, education and service together to make massage therapy matter.
We develop partnerships to conduct clinical research about the feasibility of meaningful integration of massage therapy (MT), about MT’s effect on patient experience, opioid use, pain, anxiety and other factors.
We provide advanced training for licensed massage therapists to work with people affected by serious illness. Our courses include clinical content, but also communication with healthcare professionals and how to come into closer contact with one’s own mortality, biases and limitations. A clinically excellent MT is never as useful as a clinically excellent MT who also possesses deep, accessible self-knowledge. We cultivate curious, well-rounded practitioners who are prepared to meet real humans in real places in real ways.
We also develop and staff integrated service programs providing massage therapy as part of a healthcare team in integrated environments.

Healwell harnesses the energy and experience of its three primary staff members, Executive, Operations and Service Directors, to address its three program areas and to deliver on a vision that changes healthcare not only in the DC metro, but throughout the US. Each has a strong background in MT and MT education. In addition, they bring excellent written and spoken communication skills, a keen interest in healthcare trends and barriers and experience in policy change and service delivery.
Our board of directors adds valuable resources ranging from large-scale and community-based fundraising to association and non-profit management, education, finance and research. Each trustee has a connection to the need for change in healthcare. Healwell’s financial health, clarity of communication and community outreach all benefit from this mix of experienced and passionate professionals.
Healwell has also mobilized an impressive fleet of physician and allied health champions.

Healwell has
- developed service programs in 5 of the DC metro area’s largest hospitals.
- taught more than 1,000 MTs and allied health professionals from all over the world.
- published clinical MT research with our partners
- secured large-scale community grants in partnerships
- been instrumental in creating a national standard for oncology massage training
- grown steadily in both service reach and revenue, since 2010

Within the next 5 years, Healwell will:
- conduct and publish at least 3 clinical studies
- partner directly with at least 2 more DC metro hospitals/hospital systems
- become an active voice and advisor in the conversation with policymakers about increased access and reimbursement
- develop new educational offerings that build on interdisciplinary care and interprofessional training
- have at least 30 MTs working in 12 service programs through the DC metro
- include clinical program development consulting as a mission-driven revenue stream