Getting Patients Back on Their Feet
Oct 27, 2026
Read Time: 2 Minutes
Takeaways: Summer Jackson, DPT, CLT, helps people with cancer rebuild strength, mobility, and independence during and after treatment. One woman’s positivity throughout multiple surgeries inspires the compassion and encouragement Summer brings to every patient interaction. Impact: Through compassionate, patient-centered care, Huntsman Cancer Institute helps people recover from the physical effects of cancer and treatment while supporting their goals for life beyond cancer.
Summer Jackson, DPT, CLT, helps people with cancer get back on their feet, literally. As a physical therapist at Huntsman Cancer Institute, she works with patients to manage many of the physical side effects of cancer or its treatment. It’s work that she says she was born to do. “My mom was a physical therapist assistant, and she actually went into labor while working with a patient,” she says with a laugh. “I always joke that I was born and raised to be a physical therapist. It was part of me from the start.”
The Power of Small Steps
That early connection turned into a lifelong passion for helping patients regain the strength and mobility needed to move forward.
After nine years at the University of Utah Hospital, Summer joined the cancer rehabilitation team at Huntsman Cancer Institute, where she has worked for more than a decade. The team helps people rebuild skills many may take for granted. They teach people with cancer how to safely transfer from a bed, navigate stairs, use mobility equipment, and return home as independently as possible.
Summer works closely with patients to help them reach their goals, whether they are recovering from surgery, rebuilding strength between treatments, or experiencing side effects such as weakness, fatigue, joint pain, and more.
"I can never get over the reward of seeing the gains patients can make, sometimes in just 24 hours. Watching someone who couldn't get out of bed eventually go home and continue living their life is incredibly fulfilling."
“Physical therapy can be an avenue to get you back to living your life to the fullest. We’re the people who get patients moving again after they’ve been through something life-changing,” she says. Those small steps can make a tremendous difference. "I can never get over the reward of seeing the gains patients can make, sometimes in just 24 hours," she says. "Watching someone who couldn't get out of bed eventually go home and continue living their life is incredibly fulfilling."
The People Behind Her Purpose
Summer helps Ellie use a walker after surgery
When she thinks about what makes her work so rewarding, Summer points to the people. “It’s such a privilege to work with people with cancer. I get to help them gain strength back and that just always amazes me,” she says. Over the years, Summer has cared for countless people at Huntsman Cancer Institute, helping them work through setbacks and accomplish things they once thought were impossible. One person in particular often comes to mind. Ellie Lofgreen has undergone multiple surgeries at Huntsman Cancer Institute over the years, and Summer has helped her recover after many of them. When she thinks of Ellie, what she remembers most isn’t the long recoveries from difficult surgeries. It’s her positivity. “Every time she comes in, she has this big smile on. No matter how bad her day is, she just keeps smiling and exuding positive energy,” she says.
That outlook has left a lasting impression on Summer. “She’s been through so much, but she still brings that kindness to everyone around her. That’s so inspiring to see,” she says. Patients like Ellie inspire Summer to bring that same encouragement and compassion to every interaction she has, whether it’s helping someone take their first steps after surgery or helping them build enough strength for their next round of treatment. Summer says she is grateful to work alongside people who bring that same level of compassion to patients every day. “We have such amazing, caring staff that take so much time with each patient and family,” she says. “What stands out most to me is what a special place Huntsman Cancer Institute is. It’s a place where we truly put patients first.”
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