Carly Bailey, MA, ACSM-CEP; NBC-HWC, is the program director for Get Real & Heel, a unique exercise program designed for cancer patients and survivors in North Carolina.
A certified exercise physiologist, Bailey is the liaison between physical activity programs, the cancer center and the community.
Here’s a few minutes with Carly Bailey.
Tell us about your journey to this point in your career
I always knew that I wanted to work in oncology. I went to college thinking that I was going to be an oncologist, but then I discovered exercise science and totally fell in love with helping people become healthier through exercise.
I went to graduate school at UNC and focused on exercise oncology and actually did my master’s thesis with Get Real & Heel participants. I enjoyed research, so I got a job as a research coordinator and was lucky enough to stay in the exercise oncology field.
My family and I moved to Los Angeles for a few years, and I moved out of research and more into the cancer survivorship program management and development space.
I feel I now have the best of both worlds and do a little research and a lot of program management and development, which is perfect for me! I feel really lucky to have landed on a career path where I do work that brings me joy, makes a difference to individuals and makes an impact in the research, too.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in physical activity and medicine, in particular in the cancer space?
I don’t really know what made me decide to pursue oncology. I guess I have just always been interested in it.
When I was in college, I did a research program on body fat analysis in pediatric patients with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia). That was my first real experience in the oncology world. I loved the people, the care teams and the families. It seemed so collaborative, like they were all in it together. It was such a different approach to care.
When I started learning more about cancer and its treatment, it really motivated me to stay in the exercise oncology field. I love helping people understand their potential. Even when they feel like they can’t yet do things that feel hard, they can do something, and that something is going to be so much more beneficial than doing nothing.
The exercise oncology literature is so clear — inactivity is detrimental. I love watching our patients become empowered through movement!
Why is serving this patient population important to you?
There are so few interventions that the patient has control over, especially in the oncology world, but exercise is one of them. When a patient starts exercising, they start feeling better, their symptoms improve, they gain self-efficacy, so they start moving more, and that cycle just continues.
Exercise is so powerful for patients with cancer for so many reasons. I love being able to help people understand what wellness looks like in the context of their illness.
What is your most memorable moment so far in your current role?
Oh, wow. There are so many. I meet so many amazing people who have changed me and keep me motivated to keep doing this work.
Most recently, I was working on a grant for the Get Real & Heel program, and I sent an email to our past participants asking for program testimonials. I expected to get maybe a dozen or so. I ended up with almost 20 pages of testimonials! These aren’t short “I love your program” kind of things. These are heartfelt letters, many from people who graduated from our program more than 10 years ago, about how Get Real & Heel has changed their life.
It was the most humbling experience in my career to know that this little program I direct makes such a huge, lasting difference for our participants.
What advice do you have for someone entering this career?
This kind of work takes a lot of “hustle.” I am still training patients at Get Real & Heel, but I am also helping to write grants and managing our team; so you have to be ready to do all different levels of work and not be afraid to just jump in and help where you can to keep things running.
What was your very first job?
My very first job that was related to my career was working as a research coordinator with Bill Wood, MD, MPH, on one of his first exercise studies! We had a lot of fun and learned a lot. It was a great experience. We still work together on the HealthScore Health Coaching study!
What is your favorite hobby outside of work?
I am runner. I am currently training for my third marathon and am really excited about it. (Only people who like to run say they are excited about marathon training!)
What helps keep you motivated?
Having a job I love really helps. Also, every day is different and there are always new problems to solve and new successes to celebrate! There are always new projects to work on. Get Real & Heel just received a Duke Endowment award to expand our program to six sites across the state and culturally adapt our program into Spanish! I am excited to learn how to implement this program at rural and community sites and start to reach our Spanish-speaking community more effectively!