To reduce these challenges, associate professors of health sciences Michael Rovito and Keith Brazendale in UCF’s Department of Health Sciences are conducting a 6-month intervention study, which is funded by the Florida Department of Health Cancer Innovation Fund.

The National Cancer Institute estimates survival rates for testicular cancer are high, as about 10,000 men are diagnosed each year and fewer than 5% die from the disease — underscoring the need to improve quality of life for these patients.

“Our focus is on finding ways to improve the quality of life for these survivors, and to improve their mental, emotional and social health,” says Rovito, who has researched testicular cancer and men’s health for nearly two decades.

A New Approach to Survivorship Care

Previous survivorship programs have often focused on high-intensity exercise, which can be difficult for patients managing recovery, work and family demands. To develop a more sustainable path to recovery, Rovito and Brazendale are testing a uniquely designed intervention in Florida, known as the Physical Activity and Connectivity for Testicular Cancer Survivors (PACT) program.

PACT combines low-impact, remote, physical activity with an online support network to help survivors navigate psychosocial challenges. Participants engage in regular low-intensity physical activity, such as walking or taking the stairs, and track their progress using Fitbit devices. The devices provide real-time feedback, allowing researchers to set weekly goals and offer personalized guidance. This feedback loop helps participants stay engaged while building sustainable habits.

“We’re seeking an intervention they can do for the rest of their lives,” Brazendale says. “We want these healthy supports to become habit.”

Support Beyond Physical Recovery

Connected through Zoom sessions, PACT program participants receive personalized counsel and encouragement from the researchers directly. They also take part in virtual peer-support sessions led by a social worker and a survivor advocate trained in trauma-informed care. Monthly sessions include breathwork, meditation and discussions on common concerns such as fertility, relationship changes and fear of recurrence.

“The online support session provides coping strategies and tools for the participants to use during the day, when they can feel anxious or depressed or overwhelmed,” Rovito says.

Outside of the meetings, researchers stay in touch regularly with individual messages to participants, sending tailored motivational text messages.

“Our hope is that we are providing realistic physical activity changes that are sustainable when the monitoring ends,” says Brazendale. “We want these survivors to have adopted habits and skills that result in them being healthier over the long-term.”

The researchers say they hope to expand the program to other cancer survivor groups and integrate it into broader survivorship care across Florida, while securing additional funding for larger-scale trials.

The Feasibility of the Physical Activity and Connectivity for Testicular Cancer Survivors (PACT) program is supported by a grant from the Florida Department of Health Cancer Innovation Fund grant number 25C33. 

He wants to increase education about men’s health issues that often go overlooked. With the Men’s Health Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthy behavior and habits in the male community, Rovito is pushing for policy creation or change in regards to cancer screenings.

Currently, the United States Preventive Services Task Force, an institution that is influential in clinical practices and the driving force in many medical policies, advises against self-exams for testicular cancer because it may cause unnecessary anxiety surrounding the issue. However, the benefits of these exams outweigh the risks, Rovito said.

On a local level, Rovito and the MHI have been helping men in the Central Florida area through outreach events designed to educate both men and women on men’s health issues.

“You can actually almost see that change from a position of powerlessness to one of empowerment, that switch when you start talking to (patients) and they get a little bit more relaxed and they become more confident,” Rovito says. “That’s really a fulfilling feeling. The best part is you’re instrumental in helping that change in someone.”

Over the years, Rovito says he has seen a shift in the men’s health field and during these events toward a bigger emphasis on educating fathers about health and exploring their role in developing healthy behavior.

Learn more about men’s health and the Men’s Health Initiative.

Rovito was invited to attend following his longstanding efforts to raise awareness of health issues facing men.

The purpose of the event was “to elevate the conversation about men’s health in this country,” said Broderick Johnson, White House Cabinet Secretary and chair of My Brother’s Keeper Task Force.

There are “very important issues that men don’t talk about,” Johnson said in his opening remarks. “We need to cultivate a dialogue that resonates but that is also stainable and accessible … and we need the help from all of you in this room.”

The three-hour event included presentations on “Why Men’s Health Matters,” “Strategies for Helping Men Address Their Health” and “Men and Mental Health.” Concurrent breakout session topics were “Get Covered,” which focused on health insurance enrollment,” and “Men’s Health & Sports – Partnerships for Men’s Health Awareness.”

At the conclusion, Johnson reminded the participants that Jan. 18 marks the beginning of Men’s Week of Action. He asked them to return to their communities and take action to elevate the conversation about men’s health across the country.

Rovito thought the event “was a fantastic opportunity.” “Networking with the top scholars, advocates and policymakers in the field allowed me to disseminate and promote my research and outreach agenda to key stakeholders,” he said. “I look forward to next year’s event and the chance to continue working with others to bring about a true public health policy for boys, men and their loved ones.”

Watch a videotape of the event at 

Rovito is a member of the Men’s Health Caucus of the American Public Health Association, which works to improve the health and well-being of men, boys and their families. He has collaborated on projects with members of the Men’s Health Network, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., including the development of the first national policy agenda for men’s health in 2011. Rovito is also the founder and chairman of Men’s Health Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to promoting healthy behaviors among men while advancing the academic and scientific fields of men’s health.