Meet the Team
Colin E. Champ, MD, CSCS
Founder and Exercise Oncologist
Colin Champ, MD, CSCS, has designed and consulted multiple exercise oncology programs around the country. He is a board-certified radiation oncologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Drexel University College of Medicine. He was previously an Associate Professor at Duke University Medical Center, prior to designing, building, and leading the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute Exercise Oncology and Resiliency Center. He is also a diplomat of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has an active patient clinic, specializing in the treatment of patients with breast cancer and lymphoma and has been voted by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America.” His research focuses on both cancer treatment with radiation therapy and the interaction of nutrition and exercise in cancer prevention and treatment.
Dr. Champ received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his medical degree and specialty training was from Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed studies, wrote three books on nutrition and exercise, and has contributed to multiple textbooks.
He has trained individuals for over two decades and spent the last decade tailoring workout and nutrition regimens for cancer patients, creating a recipe that gives patients greater strength during treatment while improving body composition and quality of life after treatment.
Chris Peluso, CSCS
Exercise Physiologist
Christopher Peluso, MS, CSCS is integral in the design and implementation of the exercise programs prescribed at the Exercise Oncology Center. He graduated from Mercyhurst University with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise physiology where he also played football. He received his Master of Science in clinical exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. Chris has coached everything from weekend warriors to high-level athletes, providing high level and effective exercise programs to maximize hypertrophy, strength, conditioning, and functional capacity.
David Carpenter, MD, CSCS
Exercise Oncologist
David Carpenter, MD, MHS, CSCS, is a radiation oncologist at Wellstar in Hiram, GA and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has over 20 publications, including the high impact journals Nature Communications and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Dr. Carpenter has an undergraduate degree in statistics and is integral in the design and analysis of our exercise oncology research studies, along with outcome assessments.
Alexander K. Diaz, MD, Ph.D, CSCS
Exercise Oncologist
Alexander K. Diaz, MD, PhD, CSCS, is a radiation oncologist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Georgia and both his Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. In graduate school, his research focus was on pediatric brain tumors under the mentorship of Dr. Suzanne J. Baker at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
He helps design and review exercise protocols, research studies, data analysis, and manuscript development. Dr. Diaz currently runs the Department of Radiation Oncology at Regional Cancer Center in Murray, Kentucky. He has 20 publications, including the high impact journals Nature Communications and Nature Genetics.
Parker Hyde, PhD, CSCS
Consulting Exercise Physiologist
Dr. Parker Hyde, PhD, CSCS is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Georgia and Military College of Georgia where he currently serves as the Human Performance Lab Director. His translational work in oncology, insulin resistance and athletic performance has contributed to the robust scientific support for the therapeutic use of nutritional ketosis and has been featured in numerous media outlets including U.S. New and World Report. Additionally, Dr. Hyde served as one of the key Scientific Editors and was responsible for project development for the American Nutrition Association Certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist certification. This research line has helped to establish the pleiotropic effects of ketones and underscores the importance of carbohydrate restrictive and resistance training for management of numerous clinical pathologies and physical performance.
Dr. Hyde has been PI of Co-Investigator on millions of dollars in research funds from industry and foundations. His scholarly work includes 50+ peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and abstracts as well as numerous textbook chapters on macronutrient metabolism and clinical exercise physiology.
His current research agenda includes multiple projects focused on both the physical and cognitive effects of exercise oncology as well as the effects of ketosis in both warfighter and athletic populations.