Cancer Survivor Earns Master's While Fighting Leukemia

When Tammi Keitsock crosses the graduation stage at Neumann University this Sunday, she'll be celebrating two victories: a master's degree in athletic training and beating cancer twice.

The Perkasie, Pennsylvania native had just finished her undergraduate degree at Thomas Jefferson University in May 2022 when strange symptoms appeared. Random bruises covered her body, and exhaustion hit her without warning.

Her doctor's visit during Memorial Day Weekend 2023 brought shocking news. Her bloodwork showed signs of leukemia, and she needed to get to the emergency room immediately.

Keitsock was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She endured chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and two lengthy hospital stays that left her without hair but not without determination.

In summer 2024, she enrolled in Neumann's master's program for athletic training. Hubert Lee, assistant dean for the School of Health Professions and Biological Sciences, watched her keep pace with every other student in the program.

Then came February 2025. The cancer returned.

Instead of dropping out, Keitsock joined her classes via Zoom from her hospital bed while undergoing chemotherapy. Her classmates saw her face on screen as she participated in lectures and discussions, tubes still attached to her arm.

"They set me up on Zoom. I was on the screen, and everybody was in class, but I was still part of it," she explained.

July 2025 brought another milestone. After her final intravenous chemotherapy treatment, Keitsock rang the bell at the hospital, a tradition that marks the end of cancer treatment.

Why This Inspires

Keitsock's journey shows what perseverance looks like when life throws its hardest punches. She didn't just survive cancer while pursuing her degree. She thrived, completing the same rigorous coursework as her classmates despite being tethered to hospital equipment.

Her professors at Neumann say she's special among an already accomplished group of graduates. Lee hopes she'll return to campus someday to share her story with future students who need to hear that obstacles can be overcome.

Keitsock has simple advice for anyone facing their own battles: "It does get better, even though everyone says that. You have to keep looking at the finish line and you can get there."

After graduation, she plans to become an athletic trainer for a college, turning her hard-won education into a career helping student athletes stay healthy and strong.