PITTSBURGH – Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., exercise oncology researcher at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, has been selected by The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition to receive a 2024 Lifetime Impact Award. Schmitz is a nationally and internationally known scientist in exercise oncology. In her more than 25-year career, her evidence-based research on the value and implementation of physical activity programs as part of cancer treatment plans has helped to transform the standard of care in cancer to include exercise. In nominating Schmitz for the award, Anantha Shekhar, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice chancellor, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, called her a ‘scientific powerhouse.’
“Not only has Dr. Schmitz been successful at changing oncology standards to include exercise oncology, but she has played a central role in developing the 2010 and 2021 exercise guidelines for cancer survivors, which have been endorsed by 17 key professional organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American College of Sports Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute and Society of Behavioral Medicine,” said Shekhar. Schmitz has been awarded more than $35 million in external funding for her research, much of it from the National Cancer Institute. She has over 350 peer-reviewed publications, many appearing in top academic journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and Journal of Clinical Oncology. Her work has been cited over 44,000 times placing her in the top 1% of scientists worldwide.
He is a leading expert in the field of immunotherapy, particularly in the study of CAR T-cell therapy. Schmitz’s research focuses on developing and optimizing CAR T-cell therapies for various hematological malignancies. He has made significant contributions to the safety and efficacy of these therapies, including the development of novel CAR T-cell constructs and strategies for improving their manufacturing process.
She currently serves as the principal investigator of three large NIH-funded trials that extend from the use of exercise for primary prevention of cancer (PA Moves), through assessing whether exercise may improve treatment tolerance in older breast cancer patients (THRIVE-65), to determining if a tablet-based supportive care platform will improve survival or quality of life in advanced cancer patients in the rural setting. “I am so honored to be the first exercise oncology researcher to be awarded the President’s Council on Fitness Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Schmitz. “The benefits of exercise on cancer outcomes is clearly reaching the mainstream.” Since 1956, the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN) has played an important role in educating people about the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating. The Council consists of athletes, physicians, fitness and nutrition professionals, and entrepreneurs who are appointed by the U.S. President and serve in an advisory capacity through the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
**A. Lifetime Achievement in Physical Activity**
**B.
28th. The Lifetime Impact Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of physical activity, fitness, sports, or nutrition. It is a prestigious award given annually by the Professional Congress on Sports and Fitness Nutrition (PCSFN). The award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to promoting physical activity, fitness, sports, or nutrition, and have had a positive impact on the lives of others.