November 12, 2026: When Lisa Matras arrived at UT Southwestern’s Zale Lipshy Pavilion – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital in June 2025, she was using a walker and wondered if she would ever feel like herself again.
Three months earlier, the Lewisville resident was at her doctor’s office expecting to prepare for hip replacement surgery when bloodwork revealed she had B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Mrs. Matras, 71, underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy and achieved remission, but the intensive treatments took a toll, causing low blood platelet counts that led to an intracranial hemorrhage, or brain bleed. A successful procedure to repair the damage at Clements University Hospital brought relief – but her body still felt weak and unsteady.
Mrs. Matras was then transferred to the UTSW inpatient Cancer Rehabilitation Specialty Program at Zale Lipshy Pavilion. Soon she began to regain her strength, her mobility, and her confidence.
She recalled one physical therapy session as a turning point.
“My therapist told me I no longer needed the walker – and I was unsure, but he was right!” Mrs. Matras said. “I felt like I could jump for joy.”
UT Southwestern’s inpatient Cancer Rehabilitation Specialty Program, the first in Texas to earn accreditation from CARF International, is designed specifically for the fast-growing population of patients like Mrs. Matras who are fighting their way through or back from cancer.
The program’s three-year accreditation, which extends through Nov. 30, 2029, makes UTSW one of only 21 accredited inpatient cancer rehab programs in the United States to achieve this distinction from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). UTSW’s overall Inpatient Rehabilitation Program also earned reaccreditation from CARF, along with specialties in inpatient rehab for stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury.
“The accreditation demonstrates that our patients and families are going to find the highest levels of quality and consistency in their care,” said Amar Patel, M.D., Medical Director of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Program. “And it’s not just whether someone can get from point A to point B. We want to improve their quality of life.”
Tailored patient rehab
UT Southwestern has treated patients with cancer in inpatient rehab for years, but the effort to establish a formal cancer specialty accelerated in late 2024.
Under the leadership of Heakyung Kim, M.D., Chair of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the Department made a strategic commitment to developing a comprehensive inpatient Cancer Rehabilitation Specialty Program. To advance that effort, UTSW recruited Dr. Patel, a fellowship-trained cancer rehabilitation physiatrist from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, to lead development of the program and its successful pursuit of CARF accreditation.
Unlike rehabilitation for a single injury, cancer rehab must adapt to a disease and treatment course that can change quickly and often. Patients in the program may be preparing for cancer surgery, recovering from it, dealing with weakness, pain, or fatigue caused by chemo or radiation, or recovering from neurological complications. Many still undergo treatment during rehab.
“The biggest difference is how dynamic the disease process is,” Dr. Patel said. “There are varying stages and treatments, and a lot of coordination across oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, and rehabilitation. At the same time, patients need to get stronger so they can tolerate the treatments they need.”
That coordination is strengthened by the proximity of UTSW’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in North Texas. Rehab physicians can work directly with a patient’s oncology team as treatment plans evolve. UT Southwestern also can facilitate radiation treatments for some patients while they are receiving inpatient rehabilitation at Zale Lipshy, allowing rehab and cancer treatment to proceed concurrently.
The goal goes beyond improving mobility.
Psychological and psychiatric care, recreational and music therapy, chaplaincy, and other support services can complement physical, occupational, and speech therapy, depending on a patient’s needs and stage of cancer.
“Our CARF accreditation and cancer specialty designation carry a deeply personal purpose: helping people find their way back to life during and after cancer,” said Cynthia Hill, M.S.N., RN, Nursing Director at Zale Lipshy. “Whether that means holding a grandchild, sharing a meal, or simply feeling more like themselves, we build rehabilitation around what matters to each person.”
Measurable and meaningful gains
The patients receiving that care often have significant medical needs. In 2026, UTSW’s inpatient program recorded 112 stays in which cancer was the primary rehab diagnosis. More than 80% had at least one complex medical condition that also had to be managed during rehab.
Yet the average cancer inpatient rehab stay was 9.5 days versus the 15.4-day industry benchmark. Patients in the program, whose average age was 58.4 years, showed improvement in measures of self-care and mobility, meeting or slightly exceeding the program’s expected performance. Cancer patients averaged 17.1 therapy hours in the first week, and 80% were able to go home and continue with outpatient therapy.
The interdisciplinary approach to providing cancer rehabilitation depends on a team of more than 20 therapists, nurses, patient care technicians, and other support staff. The three inpatient rehab attending physicians are Dr. Patel, Shelby Tesdall, M.D., and Ellen Sloan, M.D., all Assistant Professors of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
Staff also underwent extensive education on the unique needs of patients with cancer as the program prepared for specialty accreditation, said Erin Wuerz, PT, D.P.T., RAC, CLSSGB, Inpatient Rehabilitation Program Manager.
During a September site visit at Zale Lipshy, CARF surveyors observed clinical care, spoke with patients and front-line employees, and assessed the program against more than 2,700 standards.
“The final findings were exceptional,” Ms. Wuerz said. “Our program achieved 99.9% overall conformance with CARF standards. Earning a first-of-its-kind distinction in Texas for inpatient cancer rehabilitation is something our entire organization can be exceptionally proud of.”
CARF’s report cited a “dedicated and highly engaged leadership team,” strong interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to patient-centered care, among other strengths.
“As people with cancer live longer, the need for rehabilitation to restore mobility and function is paramount,” said Terrence Carolan, Managing Director of Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services at CARF International. “UT Southwestern has demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing the lives of patients living with cancer.”
Getting back to her life
For Mrs. Matras, the value of specialized rehabilitation became apparent one step at a time. She progressed from needing assistance with mobility and everyday activities to walking and performing daily tasks independently.
Since her discharge from Zale Lipshy, she has continued weekly outpatient rehab at Simmons Cancer Center, improving her endurance, balance, and coordination while easing her hip pain. She remains in remission and lives at home with her supportive husband.
Mrs. Matras admits that when she arrived at Zale Lipshy, she was frightened.
“The important part was realizing I could get back to where I was before,” she said. “I’m so grateful, because I don’t think I would be who I am today if I didn’t get that care.”
