Experts in Hair Loss, Wigs and Integrative Therapies at Small Stones

Our staff and consultants have dedicated expertise in helping cancer patients live well through cancer treatment and beyond. They include Small Stones aesthetic wellness team members, as well as consultants specializing in medical hair loss and wig guidance, cosmetology, esthetics, therapeutic massage, yoga and integrative therapies like Reiki, acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy and energy work.

Small Stones Aesthetic Wellness Team

Kristy Lavann
Aesthetic Wellness Coordinator
Drexel Town Square Health Center
Moorland Reserve Health Center

Kristy began her health and wellness career as a state and nationally certified massage therapist with her own private massage therapy practice. Her background and training includes massage, craniosacral therapy, hot stone massage, Reiki and aromatherapy.

Kristy re-joins Small Stones Wellness Center after working as an aesthetic wellness coordinator at Froedtert West Bend Hospital and Moorland Reserve Health Center locations. She returns with the additional experience of coordinating wellness services and opening onsite workplace clinics for two major employers in the Milwaukee area.

She is a Wellcoaches^® certified health and wellness coach and shares her passion for women’s wellness in the community by leading women’s wellness circles and facilitating retreats. Her background and experience help Kristy create a variety of classes and opportunities to assist individuals in finding peace and healing on their journey to overall wellness. Her passion for wellness helps her motivate others to lead a healthy lifestyle. “I am grateful for the opportunity to return to Small Stones. It is a blessing and an honor for me to walk with patients and their families on their healing journeys.”

Luanne Murray
Aesthetic Wellness Coordinator
Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital
Cancer Center at Froedtert West Bend Hospital

When human beings experience serious life stressors like that of a cancer diagnosis, it is not uncommon for their lives to take a detour for a period of time. Luanne’s great passion is to listen to people who are going through cancer treatment and to connect them with programs, products and resources that will help get them back on track to health and wellness. She is aware that no single program or product is the right one for every individual, and she has learned from her past training and experiences that providing several avenues of wellness will assist as many patients and caregivers as possible in reaching their full mental, physical and spiritual wellness potential.

Luanne graduated from UW-Lacrosse with a degree in recreation management. She received her license in massage therapy and ran her own massage therapy business at a local chiropractic office. She wanted to do more to help motivate those going through trying times, which brought her to the Small Stones Wellness Center in August 2015. “I truly feel honored and blessed to be a part of so many wonderful people’s lives by helping them through their journey to wellness.”

Consultants

Hair, Wigs, Skin Care

Barb Justman
Hair and Wig Consultant, Cosmetologist
Cancer Center at Froedtert West Bend Hospital

A graduate of Adele Ballou Cosmetology School in Milwaukee, Barb has 50 years of experience in cosmetology. She is an area trainer and presenter for the Look Good Feel Better Program. Barb is also a two-time cancer survivor, diagnosed with colon cancer in 1998 and breast cancer in 2009. Her personal experience with cancer allows Barb to personally connect with patients.

Julie McCormick
Hair and Wig Consultant, Clinical Cosmetologist
Clinical Cancer Center at Froedtert Hospital

Julie brings over 26 years of cosmetology experience to Small Stones. She received training for clinical cosmetology at the Johns Hopkins Image Recovery Center in Baltimore. She then joined Lancaster General Health's Image Recovery Center in Pennsylvania where she worked closely with cancer patients experiencing hair loss, as well as changes in their skin and nails. Having helped several close family members through their cancer journeys, Julie brings a deep level of understanding and compassion to her work.

Massage and Other Integrative Therapies

Sarhena Boyd
Licensed Massage Therapist

Sarhena received her Associates of Science in Therapeutic Massage and became a licensed massage therapist in January 2018. Since then she has provided massage therapy for different massage franchises throughout the state of Wisconsin. She later opened her own business of which she managed and also provided massage services.

Sarhena is interested in working with the cancer population because she understands the power of human touch and is passionate about delivering patience and empathy as her service to those in need. “I am very intentional with and grateful for my gift of massage. It’s my constant reminder that we are servants and vessels and that should never be taken lightly.”

Nancy Brittain, LAc, MSOM, CMT
Acupuncturist
Clinical Cancer Center at Froedtert Hospital

Nancy's approach to treating cancer patients began in 2003 when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after her mother: "I feel confident and at ease treating cancer patients because I can approach them from several perspectives – as a practitioner and as a patient. These experiences have given me so much empathy. I am honored to be a part of the Small Stones Wellness Center."

Nancy’s practice includes therapeutic massage, private yoga instruction and acupuncture. She uses a series of acupuncture points that help the body's natural ability to promote healing. Each treatment is personalized for each patient to ease recovery time, lessen fatigue and increase energy, help release and alleviate pain and speed up recovery time from surgery. Other benefits include help with: nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, changes in taste, poor appetite, night sweats, bowel issues, immunity, peripheral neuropathy, anxiety and depression.

Acupuncture helps to support the body and encourage normal function in those living with cancer. It is recommended by the American Cancer Society to help relieve side effects of therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy and can be easily integrated into a care plan to help reduce treatment toxicity and side effects.

Nancy earned her master’s degree in Oriental medicine from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine located in Racine, Wis. in 2003, an institution accredited by the State of Wisconsin. It is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States. In addition to her studies at Midwest College, Nancy completed an internship and an advanced course of study at the hospital and outpatient clinics of Guanzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicines in Guanzhou, China. She is also board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

In addition to seeing Small Stones patients, Nancy has a private practice in Wauwatosa where she continues to treat a wide range of patients and age groups. Nancy sees patients on a referral basis.

Kathy Mohar
Licensed Massage Therapist
Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital

Kathy believes that massage is an important complimentary therapy for care providers and cancer patients to reduce pain, relieve stress, reduce anxiety and improve quality of life, as well as encourage an overall sense of well-being. Massage sessions with Kathy include discussing your goals, so she can individualize the massage to best meet your needs. Kathy has trained in Swedish and oncology massage techniques and understands the necessary considerations for things like medical port sensitivity, peripheral neuropathy, sensation loss, nausea and scar tissue. Kathy graduated in 2016 from the Wisconsin School of Massage Therapy in Germantown, Wis. She was treated with both chemotherapy and radiation therapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Kathy also works for an area non-profit organization.

Cheryl Simchick
Nutritionist
Certified Eating Psychology Coach
Reiki Master/Teacher

I have been working in the health and wellness field for about 25 years. My work is about educating, empowering, and encouraging others to cultivate their authentic self by using tools like Reiki. My background is BS-Dietetics, Certified Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition Coach, Certified Nutritional Consultant, Certified Reiki Master/Teacher, Certified Wellness Coaching Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer.

Ben Strenski
Licensed Massage Therapist

My journey to becoming a massage therapist has involved healing myself from 20+ years of rheumatoid arthritis, and being passionately drawn to this second career in the hope that I may help others improve their health and well-being. I was interested in working with the Small Stones Wellness Center, as I feel everyone in a hospital setting — patients, family members, workers, etc. — can all benefit from massage therapy in some way. Working with each patient, I implement a variety of techniques to promote relaxation of the mind, restoration of the body and rejuvenation of a sense of well-being. It is an honor and privilege to be able to work in this healing industry.