The Loras Engagement and Discussion Series (LEADS) is designed to showcase the very best of our College – from the classroom to professional development, and our commitment to nurturing the whole person; spiritually, intellectually, and physically.
A special thanks to members of the Class of 1972 whose generosity made this lecture series possible.
Dr. Keith Thraen-Borowski joins us on Thursday, October 16 as the first LEADS speaker. He is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Director of the Cancer Research in Exercise Science Laboratory (CARESLab) at Loras College. In his talk, entitled “A Journey Through Cancer: From Researcher to Patient…and Back Again”, Dr. Thraen-Borowski will be discussing his research regarding the role of physical activity and exercise in cancer survivorship.
MEET DR. THRAEN-BOROWSKI
Dr. Thraen-Borowski earned his B.S. in Kinesiology from Illinois State University. He received his Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he focused on the role of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Dr. Thraen-Borowski then completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physical Activity & Cancer Epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by a fellowship in Supportive Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
In his current role as Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Biology at Loras College, he serves as the Director of the Cancer Research in Exercise Science Laboratory (CARESLab). His research agenda focuses on the role of physical activity in cancer survivorship, specifically evaluating the implementation of physical activity interventions at the community level and the effectiveness of those interventions on clinical outcomes, prognosis, and quality of life.
Currently, he serves as the Chair of the National Cancer Interest Group for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and has won the ACSM’s Cancer SIG Research Award twice. Dr. Thraen-Borowski was inducted into both the Illinois State University CAST Academy of Achievement and the D230 Legacy Hall of Fame (science/medicine category), and in 2021, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. Furthering his work in exercise oncology, he was selected as the 2022-2023 Loras College “John Cardinal O’Connor Chair for Catholic Thought”. This year, he was asked to serve on the national advisory council for the implementation of prostate cancer guidelines. In his time at Loras College, his work has been cited over 1,000 times in the scientific literature and has been featured on CBS’ Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, CNN, Reuters Heath, USA Today, and the L.A. Times.
MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US
OCTOBER 16, 2025
Loras College, Alumni Campus Center
6:30 p.m.
“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.“
— PLATO: 340 B.C.