Andrea Leonard is an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of oncology exercise and the founder and president of the Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI). She earned her BA from the University of Maryland (1990) and her MS in Health and Wellness Coaching from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (2023). In 2019, Andrea was honored as PFP/Club Industry Personal Trainer of the Year for her groundbreaking contributions to cancer rehabilitation and functional exercise programming.

Since 1992, Andrea has held multiple advanced credentials, including Corrective Exercise Specialist and Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and Personal Trainer certifications through NASM, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She is also recognized as a Special Populations Expert by the Cooper Institute.

A 42-year cancer survivor, Andrea’s life and work are deeply personal. Having lost her father to multiple cancers and now supporting her mother through metastatic breast cancer after a 23-year remission, she has experienced cancer from every angle – as survivor, daughter, and advocate.

A Personal Journey of Resilience and Purpose

At just eighteen, Andrea was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, leading to a complete thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine treatment. The aftermath – a sluggish metabolism, fatigue, and weight gain – ignited her passion for health and fitness. Determined to rebuild her strength and confidence, she pursued a career as a personal trainer to help others reclaim their vitality after illness and trauma.

Andrea began her career in 1992 at the National Capital YMCA in Washington, D.C., where she quickly rose to Director of Personal Training. During this time, she launched Leading Edge Fitness and later, EMPOWER (Energizing, Mobilizing, Post-Operative Workout Enhancing Recovery) programs designed to restore physical function following surgery.

Her mission became profoundly personal in 1996 when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. Witnessing her mother’s physical and emotional challenges inspired Andrea to collaborate with a medical advisory team from Georgetown University, George Washington University, and Johns Hopkins University Medical Centers. Together, they authored Essential Exercises for Breast Cancer Survivors, published by Harvard Common Press in 2000.

Shortly thereafter, Andrea founded The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for survivors and their families. Recognizing the limitations of one-on-one work, Andrea established the Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI) in 2004 and developed the OncoVie® Cancer Exercise Specialist certification to educate health and fitness professionals globally.

Global Impact and Education

Through CETI’s OncoVie® Cancer Exercise Specialist coursework, offered via workshops and online study, participants gain in-depth knowledge of 26 types of cancer and pediatric oncology, including surgical interventions, treatments, side effects, lymphedema prevention and management, reconstructive procedures, and contraindications. Graduates who pass the comprehensive examination earn the OncoVie® Cancer Exercise Specialist Advanced Qualification, empowering them to safely and effectively train cancer survivors at every stage of recovery.

Andrea has delivered CETI workshops and keynote lectures across North America, Europe, and Asia, including appearances at IDEA World, Healthy Aging Summit, Asia Fitness Conference, CPTN Personal Training Conference, IRHSA, TSI Summit, Medical Fitness Tour, Kaiser Permanente Thriving with Cancer Conference, Winona State University – Survivors Unite, McHenry Community College, New York Institute of Technology, OHSU School of Nursing, Edwards Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital, Suburban/Johns’ Hopkins, Mennonite Cancer Foundation, South Georgia Medical Center, Cary Medical Center Lynchburg General Hospital, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, Sibley Hospital, Memorial Hermann, Sandford Health System, Avera McKennan Prairie Cancer Center, Baptist Hospital East, Patricia Neal Rehab. Center, St. Mary’s, Baptist Health System, Southeast Georgia Cancer Coalition, and Fort Bliss Army Installation.

Andrea’s visionary work has inspired countless organizations, universities, and medical fitness programs worldwide to model their own cancer exercise and survivorship initiatives after CETI’s evidence-based framework. Her leadership and curriculum have shaped an entire generation of health and fitness professionals, redefining how post-treatment recovery and exercise oncology are approached in both clinical and community settings.

Publications and Media Contributions

Andrea is the author of 23 books on cancer and exercise and a sought-after international speaker and educator. Her expertise has been featured in PFP Magazine, ACE Certified, Club Solutions, NASM’s Training Edge, The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Bethesda Today, and numerous other publications. She has also appeared in dozens of educational videos - including Heartflex Breast Cancer Recovery, and was a regular fitness expert on AM Northwest.

Legacy of Leadership

Under Andrea’s leadership, the Cancer Exercise Training Institute has become the global gold standard in oncology exercise education, having trained nearly 20,000 OncoVie® Cancer Exercise Specialists in 60 countries, more than any other organization worldwide. Through her work, Andrea continues to transform survivorship care by redefining movement as medicine and empowering professionals to help survivors rebuild strength, confidence, and hope.