About Leslie J. Waltke

• More than 20 years dedicated to clinical oncology rehabilitation 
• Coordinator of one of the world’s largest integrated cancer rehabilitation programs 
• Oversees cancer rehabilitation programs at CoC and NAPBC centers of excellence holding the Outstanding Achievement Award. 
• Award winning author 
• International speaker and educator 
• Beloved by thousands of her patients and survivors 

Since earning her degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin in 1988, Dr. Waltke has dedicated most of her career solely to treating the cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, integumentary and functional needs of persons during and after treatment for cancer.  Over the past decades Dr. Waltke has cared for thousands of people with cancer and has a following of beloved patients. She is respected nationally and internationally as an oncology physical therapist, cancer rehabilitation key opinion leader, author, educator and consultant.   

Since 2005 Dr. Waltke has been the Cancer Rehabilitation Coordinator for Advocate Aurora Health Care, one of the United States’ largest CoC and NAPBC accredited cancer programs and proud holder of the rare Commission on Cancer “Outstanding Achievement Award.” Her role, in addition to treating patients with cancer, includes cancer rehabilitation program development, program integration, education and training, and best practice and clinical standards development.  

A gifted and impassioned speaker, Dr. Waltke teaches and lectures throughout the world to rehab professionals, universities, medical and oncology providers, cancer organizations as well as cancer patients and survivors. She recently spoke at the 2014 China Cancer Congress and the 2015 and 2017 World Cancer Congresses.   

Dr. Waltke is the founder of the Facebook and YouTube channel “The Recovery Room,” a platform of short, positive, medically accurate educational videos followed globally by thousands of cancer patients and survivors.  

Dr. Waltke is a former Board Member of the Oncology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor, on the Specialization Academy of Content Experts and a is a founding and current board member of ABCD, Inc After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Recent honors include the “2014 Article of the Year Award” from the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, the 2015 Academic Excellence and Leadership Award from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, and the 2015 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education Recognition scholarship.