11th International Lymphoedema Framework conference
Thank you for your participation at the 11th International Lymphoedema Framework Conference, which will be held on 13 - 15 June 2023 at the University of Nottingham, as well as online.
East Midlands Conference Centre
University of Nottingham
Institute Clinical Lead for Research and Innovation, Institute of Care Excellence, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Ellie is a registered adult nurse and nurse-researcher with a clinical background in dermatology. She works as a clinical lead within the research and Innovation stream of the Institute of Care Excellence at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. In 2012, Ellie was awarded an NIHR fellowship and completed a Masters in Research Method. She subsequently completed her PhD in Business and Management (Health) in 2022, which was funded by The Health Foundation, at the Nottingham University Business School. Ellie’s mixed-methods research explored the coproduction of care for service-users living with chronic oedema, within a context of socioeconomic deprivation. Ellie’s clinical role focusses on evidence-based practice, skin integrity and clinical academic career. Her research interests are qualitative research methods and sociological perspectives of health care, in particular chronic oedema and social deprivation. She is the Chair of the NUH Evidence-Based Practice council and leads the annual NUH Evidence in Nursing, Midwifery and ODP course. Ellie was recently awarded a place on the 70@70 NIHR Senior Nurse and Midwife Research Leader Programme, which aims to strengthen the research voice and influence of nurses and midwives in health and social care settings, and this commences in April 2023.
Vaughan Keeley Prof, PhD, FRCP
Consultant Physician in Lymphoedema, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Lymphoedema Department, Cancer Offices M & G - Level 3, Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, DE22 3NE
Vaughan Keeley Prof, PhD, FRCP is a Consultant Physician who specialises in lymphoedema. He leads the lymphoedema service in Derby, Nottingham and Mansfield, in the East Midlands of the UK. The service treats all types of lymphoedema / chronic oedema in adults and children.
In 2020, the service was designated as a “Comprehensive Centre of Excellence for Lymphatic Diseases” by LE&RN (the Lymphatic Education and Research Network).
His research interests include the early detection and possible prevention of Lymphoedema in Breast Cancer and quality of life in Lymphoedema
He is an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham Medical School.
Professor Christine Moffatt CBE, FRCN PhD MA RGN DN
Professor Christine Moffatt CBE, FRCN PhD MA RGN DN is Professor of International Clinical Nursing at Nottingham Trent University, UK, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham, UK.
She is also a Nurse Consultant at Copenhagen Wound Healing Centre, Denmark.
She is also nurse consultant at the Royal Derby Foundation NHS Trust Lymphoedema service in which she leads a research team as well as undertaking a clinical consultancy role.
Christine is currently Chair person of the International Lymphoedema Framework. She has been involved in wound healing research and practice for 25 years and Lymphoedema for 10 years. She has undertaken extensive research in this field using mixed research methods including running national and international clinical trials.
Her areas of research include compression therapy; service development and evaluation; psychosocial impact of disease; chronic wounds and lymphoedema. She has presented and published internationally.
She was awarded a CBE in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List and made a life fellow of the Royal College of Nursing that same year. She has received several life time achievement awards in recognition of her work, the most recent being presented by the World Union of Wound Healing Societies in June 2008. In December 2008 she received a Nursing Times Diamond 20 Award as one of the 20 most influential nurses in the last 60 years.
Rhian is National Researcher for Lymphoedema Network Wales, Associate Lecturer for Swansea University, Wales and programme lead for postgraduate lymphoedema education University of Glasgow, Scotland.
Her PhD produced The Asset-Based Collaborative Working model from action research of lymphoedema specialists developing an information website for patients, carers and health professionals in the community.
Her recent research has focussed on education need evaluation and genital oedema. She developed the first genital oedema specific self-report tool for men (LGUCQ) and will be presenting results of an international study of the education need of lymphoedema professionals to manage genital oedema.
Cheryl Brunelle, PT, MS, CCS, CLT
Physical Therapy Clinical Specialist, Associate Director of the Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
Cheryl Brunelle is the associate director of the Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Research Program and a clinical specialist in physical therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Cheryl earned her physical therapy degrees at the University of Toronto, Canada. She completed her lymphedema certification with Drs Albert and Olivier Leduc in London, England, and with Klose Training, in Boston, USA.
Cheryl’s clinical focus is on oncology program and staff development within the MGH department of physical and occupational therapy, and the evaluation and treatment of patients during and after breast cancer treatment, for issues such as surveillance and early intervention for lymphedema, shoulder morbidity, and deconditioning resulting from breast cancer and its treatment.
Cheryl is a strong proponent of lymphedema screening as standard of care for patients treated for breast cancer. Since 2005, over 6,800 women have been screened for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment within the MGH lymphedema prospective screening program.
Cheryl joined the Lymphedema Research Program in 2014, since which time she has published over 25 papers. She has collaborated on multidisciplinary teams to update hospital policies, including recommendations for receiving the Covid vaccine after lymph node removal for breast cancer, as well as collaborating on a recent white paper establishing measurement guidelines for lower extremity lymphedema in research studies. She presents the team’s research works regularly at national and international conferences. Cheryl’s breast cancer-related lymphedema research interests include early intervention, measurement, effects of the Covid vaccine after lymph node removal, prospective surveillance, precautionary measures and breast edema.
Alphonse G. Taghian MD, PhD, FASTRO
Professor of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School;
Chief, Breast Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital;
Director, Lymphedema Research Program
Dr Alphonse Taghian, Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School, earned his Medical Degree from Alexandria University in Egypt. He completed his residency in Radiation Oncology in France, after which he pursued clinical and research fellowships at Gustave-Roussy Institut, Paris.
After obtaining his PhD in Radiobiology from Paris XI University, Dr Taghian was appointed as staff in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is now the Director of Lymphedema Research Program and Co-Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
An internationally recognised leader in breast radiation oncology, in particular in the field of accelerated partial bBreast irradiation (APBI), Dr Taghian has published more than 180 peer reviewed articles, general reviews and chapters. He has edited two books, one of them on the multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of breast cancer. He was awarded several NIH grants totalling around $2.7 Million for research in breast cancer related lymphedema. His main interests include screening and early intervention for lymphedema, methods to minimise cardiac exposure to radiation, accelerated partial breast irradiation and indications for post-mastectomy radiation.
Dr SR Narahari
Dermatologis and pro-bono director, Institute of Applied Dermatology (IAD), Kerala, India.
Dermatologist SR Narahari is the pro-bono director at the Institute of Applied Dermatology (IAD) in the resource-poor and challenging setting of Kasaragod in Kerala, India. The world’s lead experts collaborated with IAD for morbidity management and disability prevention of lymphatic filariasis and other lymphoedemas. He pioneered clinician-led bedside integrative medicine by combining the therapeutics of Ayurveda and Yoga with Biomedicine. IAD is among the world’s leading lymphoedema centres. Currently, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recognised it as the centre of excellence for lymphoedema. With the financial grant of the BMGF, he has expanded his services of lymphoedema treatment to four centres in the endemic regions of India. He has 90 publications. ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0495-0244.
Mrs Justine C Whitaker MSc, RN,
Senior Lecturer, University of Central Lancashire; Director and Nurse Consultant, Northern Lymphology Ltd.
Justine has 30 years’ experience working clinically, educationally and actively in research, within the field of lymphologyShe is currently studying for her PhD at the University of Central Lancashire, following the PhD by Portfolio route and thoroughly enjoying the journey. She is author to many publications in the nursing and medical press, both journals and book texts. In 2007, she won the Royal College of Nursing ‘Nurse of the Year’. This was for the invention; development and bringing to the international market of the ‘Whitaker Pouch’ a compression garment for scrotal oedema.
She was appointed senior lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston in December 2007. In January 2008, she established her own company and work as director and nurse consultant, Northern Lymphology Ltd. In both these roles she works clinically, is research active and lectures nationally and internationally.
Justine sits on the editorial boards of a number of journals, and is an active member of the scientific committee of the British Lymphology Society (BLS).
Dr Linda Gibson
Professor of Global Public Health at Nottingham Trent University in the School of Social Sciences and with the NTU Eastern Africa Centre
Linda has over twenty years of experience in health promotion and working with local communities in the UK and internationally. She has worked in East Africa since 2003 running workshops on qualitative research for the British Council in Tanzania, and leading a partnership with School of Public Health, Makerere University, Uganda since 2012. Linda is currently involved in several research partnerships, networks and teaching projects in Europe, East Africa (Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia) and across Africa, including the NTU Africa Middle East Network, Pan-African Mental Health Network, and the East African PhD Hub. Her research focus is on health systems strengthening in low and middle income countries and the community health workforce in primary care in Uganda, non-communicable diseases (CVD, breast cancer, diabetes, mental health), antimicrobial stewardship, and patient safety. Linda manages several externally and internally funded international research projects with research outputs and activities that contribute to public health practice, policy and knowledge exchange. She also has a strong postgraduate supervision portfolio. Linda's research portfolio is mixed methods ranging from implementation science research to ethnography, although she considers herself a qualitative specialist. Her teaching focus is around developing international partnerships on the sociology of global health and development and early career research mentorship.
Professor Peter Mortimer
Professor of Dermatological Medicine, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George’s Hospital and the University of London; Honorary Visiting Professor, King’s College London
Professor Mortimer has developed the emerging area of lymphovascular medicine and has over 300 publications cited on PubMed. His group has been instrumental in discovering causal genes for primary lymphoedema and his current £2.5 million Medical Research Council programme grant investigates known genotypes of primary lymphoedema to understand mechanisms of pathophysiology.
He sits on the medical advisory committee for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (USA) and chairs their global oversight committee for the establishment of centres of excellence throughout the world. He is founder of, and chief medical officer to, the Lymphoedema Support Network, the UK patients' national charity. He is founder and patron of the national body for health care professionals, the British Lymphology Society.
Melanie Thomas
Clinical Director for Lymphoedema Services in Wales
Melanie is the Clinical Director for Lymphoedema Services in Wales and a physiotherapist by background. She was instrumental in developing equitable lymphoedema services in Wales and is responsible for the planning and strategic development of Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network. The Network is embedded in value-based healthcare and aims to reduce waste, harm and variation as well as enhancing learning, thus improving patient outcomes, patient experience and quality.
Melanie completed her doctorate with Swansea University in 2018. She has presented and published widely in delivering innovations in lymphoedema care and been involved in many research studies.
In 2013, Melanie was awarded a MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and a Fellowship by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. She is also a Director in the International Lymphoedema Framework.
Pr.JP. Belgrado, PhD
Lymphology Research and Rehabilitation Unit
Jean-Paul Belgrado is a renowned professor, researcher and inventor in the field of lymphology and physiotherapy. He is also a longstanding member of the European Society of Lymphology, the International Society of Lymphology and the International Lymphoedema Framework.
To better observe physiology and physiopathology of the lymphatic network and help patients suffering from lymphoedema, he developed the use of ‘lymphofluoroscopy’ in Europe since 2010. This tool allows to give scientific evidence to the diagnosis and physiotherapy approach of lymphatic diseases. He is recognized worldwide as a reference in that field.
Anita Wallace MBE
Chair, Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN)
Anita lives with lymphoedema and joined the LSN in 1996, working initially as a volunteer and trustee before being elected as hair in 2000. She works at home full time in this voluntary position and is passionate about providing information for other people living with the condition. Anita was awarded an International Lymphoedema Framework Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of lymphoedema before going on to be named as Guardian Charity Trustee of the year in 2015. In 2018, she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to lymphoedema awareness and patient support.
Marina Cestari
Medical director of Pianeta Linfedema study centre
Marina Cestari graduated in medicine and specialised in medical angiology. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the European Society of Lymphology and scientific manager of the E.S.L. website.
She is a founding member and vice-president of the Executive Committee of the Italian Lymphoedema Framework, and a member of International Society of Lymphology.
Marina is medical director of Pianeta Linfedema study centre, where she carries out scientific research on lymphoedema and lipoedema.
She has participated as a lecturer at university masters, refresher courses and training in the field of lymphology and has a been speaker at national and international conferences and congresses.
She has published numerous papers in the lymphological field and mentored experimental university theses on lymphoedema.
Francesco Boccardo, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Surgery by the University of Genoa, Head of ‘Unit of Surgical Lymphology’ by the Department of Surgery of S.Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy
Professor Boccardo is President of the ‘European Society of Lymphology’, Immediate Past President of the ‘International Society for Experimental Microsurgery’ and Past President of the ‘International Society of Lymphology’. He is Associate Professor of General Surgery by the University of Genoa, with national scientific qualification as Full Professor of Surgery. He is also Head of the ‘Surgical Lymphology Unit’ of the Department of Surgery, San Martino Hospital. His clinical activity is in surgical lymphology, reconstructive microsurgery and general surgery. His main clinical activities and fields of research are: diagnosis and surgical treatment of primary and secondary lymphoedemas and lymphatic malformations, surgical prevention of secondary lymphoedemas, prevention and treatment of lymphatic complications in oncological and cardiovascular surgery, diagnosis and treatment of primary and secondary thoracic, abdominal and peripheral chylous disorders, use of ICG Fluorescence in lymphatic surgery, reconstructive microsurgery, general and vascular surgery.
He designed and implemented an original microsurgical technique for the primary prevention of arm lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment called ‘LYMPHA technique’ (LYmphatic Microsurgical Preventive Healing Approach). The use of this preventive surgical technique has also been extended to other oncological fields (gynecological and urological tumors, cutaneous melanomas, etc.).
Professor Boccardo is author and co-author of over 250 scientific publications and chapters for 25 textbooks of general surgery, vascular and lymphatic surgery. He has been an invited speaker, president, chairman, member of the scientific committee in over 200 national and international congresses.
David H Keast BSc(Hon), MSc, DipEd, MD, CCFP, FCFP(LM)
Dr Keast is the Medical Director of the Chronic Wound and Lymphedema Consultation Clinic at the Parkwood Institute in London Canada. He is Clinical Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University (London). Dr Keast is an Associate Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute, Parkwood Institute Research. He is Co-director of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework, Secretary Board of Directors of the International Lymphedema Framework and President of the World Alliance for Wound and Lymphedema Care.
Asma Abdullatif Alderaa, PT, MSc, Phd, CLT
Asma Alderaa is assistant professor at King Saud University (KSU), Saudi Arabia.
Neuro and lymphatic rehabilitation consultant at the outpatient clinic in the Collage of Applied Medical Science, KSU.
She completed her PhD with Nottingham university in 2021 and has her master degree in Rehabilitation from St George's University in London in 2011.
She is the founder and the president of Saudi Arabia Lymphoedema Framework (SALF) that has joined the International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF) in 2021. Head of SALF Subgroup in the Saudi Physical Therapy Association. (SPTA)
Asma is a physiotherapist with 19 years clinical and academic experience
She frequently speaks at national and international conferences and passionate researcher in the field of lymphoedema and related disorder.
Project manger in the first national prevalence of disabled people with chronic oedema in Saudi Arabia (Saudi-LIMPRINT)
Marie Gabe-Walters
National research and innovation lymphoedema specialist, Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network.
MD and postdoctoral researcher at Department of Dermato-Venereology and Wound Healing Center, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Ewa is a medical doctor, graduating in 2015 from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Shortly after her basic clinical training, she developed an interest in wound healing — both as a clinician and a researcher. Previous and current research activity includes being the investigator of several clinical studies, and the author of multiple scientific papers, book chapters and guidelines, mainly within wounds, chronic oedema and related complications. Ewa is currently working as a clinician and a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Dermato-Venereology and Wound Healing Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Karen Morgan
National lymphoedema education and clinical lead, Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network
Karen Morgan is a registered nurse by background. She was appointed National Lymphoedema Education Lead in Wales in 2012 and is now National Lymphoedema Clinical and Education Lead and deputy to Dr Melanie Thomas, National Clinical Director for Lymphoedema in Wales. Karen has been pivotal in developing and delivering accredited lymphoedema education in Wales, utilising Agored work-based credits. In 2016, she led the on the ground clinical educators project funded by the Welsh Government Health Technology and Innovation Fund, developing jointly the chronic oedema ‘Wet Leg Pathway’ as an output. Karen was awarded the British Journal of Nursing Chronic Oedema Nurse of the Year for this work in 2018.
Brittany Williams
Founder/Executive Director, Brylan’s Feat Foundation
Brittany is a mother of four, wife, and the woman behind Brylan's Feat Foundation, the first and only non-profit organisation specific to paediatric lymphoedema in the world.
Brittany's relationship with lymphoedema began when her daughter, Brylan, was diagnosed with primary lymphoedema in 2014. Since that time, Brittany's goal has been to advocate and be the voice for her daughter and all children suffering from lymphoedema. The organisation has continued to grow year on year, providing access to treatment and education for children fighting lymphoedema around the world.
Currently, Brylan's Feat Foundation has recipients in 24 different countries and growing. It also hosts, Camp Watchme, the only summer camp for paediatric lymphoedema patients in North America.
Pinar Borman MD, PhD
Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) & Algology
University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara City Hospital, Rehabilitation Center, Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Algology Ward &Unit of Lymphedema, Ankara, Turkey
Dr Pinar Borman graduated from Ankara University Medical Faculty and received her PMR speciality from Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She became Associate Professor in 2003 and Professor in 2012. She received her PhD in 2011 in algology and became an algologist. Dr Borman was certified from Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy in 2013 and became a lymphoedema specialist. She has also trained in kinesio taping in the USA and is a certified kinesio taping practitioner (CKTP). Professor Borman is founder member and chair of the Turkish Lymphedema Association. She also formed Hacettepe University Lymphedema Research and Practice Center and was head of this organisation until 2020. Borman is the Turkish representative for the International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF) International Board and founder member of International Lipoedema Association (ILA). She is a member of the European Society of Lymphology (ESL), International Society of Lymphedema (ISL), World Institute of Pain (WIP), International Association for the study of Pain (IASP), International Society of PMR (ISPMR) and several national organisations and associations related to her profession. She is a member of the Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group and Cancer Rehabilitation Special Interest group of ISPRM. She is also a member of the national Cancer Rehabilitation Special Interest group of the Turkish Society of PMR.
She currently works academically at the University of Health Sciences Medical Faculty and Ankara City Hospital Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She has organised, chaired and contributed to several national and international lymphoedema as well as PMR congresses and symposiums. She has written and contributed to several national books on lymphoedema, lipedema, musculoskeletal pain therapy, cancer rehabilitation and kinesio taping. She is the author of more than 200 international and national papers and more than 250 oral and poster presentations in her area and has been cited more than 2000 times in the last 10 years.
Dr Cheryl Pike
National Lymphoedema Innovations Specialist
Born in South Africa, Cheryl trained as a physiotherapist in 1997 and immigrated to Wales in 2000. She undertook her lymphoedema training in Wales and completed her Doctorate in Professional Practice at Swansea University. Cheryl is passionate about hands-on skills and innovations in practice to improve the quality of patient care and education. Cheryl is a qualified Casley-Smith teacher who enjoys teaching patients, public and health professionals about lymphoedema and how to manage the condition. She works across Wales supporting local lymphoedema services managing the more complex and extreme lymphoedema cases. Her special interest is in connective tissue and how damage to this impacts on the lymphatics.
Dr Elizabeth Webb
Fellow, Clinical Hub for Interventional Research, John Curtin Medical School, Australian National University
Dr Elizabeth Webb is an experienced lymphoedema physiotherapist with a clinical and research interest in cellulitis and chronic oedema management. Elizabeth holds a Master of Public Health from the University of New South Wales and recently completed her PhD through the University of Canberra. Her PhD, conferred in 2023, investigated the impact of compression therapy on recurrent cellulitis and the associated costs for patients and the healthcare system, with the primary results being published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Elizabeth has 10 years of experience working within the lymphoedema and palliative care services at Calvary Public Hospital in Canberra, where she has shared the role of Lymphoedema Service Coordinator and Senior Clinician. In addition to her clinical work, Elizabeth is also a guest lecturer for physiotherapy students at the University of Canberra. In 2023 she will commence work as a Fellow in the Clinical Hub for Interventional Research within the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University.
Margaret McNeely
Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy and Oncology, University of Alberta
Margaret (Margie) McNeely is a professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy and Oncology at the University of Alberta, in a jointly funded position with Cancer Care Alberta. She is also the director of the Cancer Rehabilitation Research Clinic at the University of Alberta. Her areas of methodological expertise include randomised controlled trials, impairment-based cancer rehabilitation, exercise prescription, and implementation practice. Her primary research interests involve examining physical therapy and exercise interventions for cancer-related shoulder dysfunction, peripheral nerve injury, and lymphoedema.
Denise Hardy
Clinical nurse specialist and founder of the Kendal Lymphology Centre
Denise has had an interest in the field of lymphology since 1984 when working in a local hospice she realised that the distressing symptom of lymphoedema was widely ignored. By 1998 she had secured funding for the first purpose-built lymphoedema clinic in the UK — overseeing treatment for patients suffering from lymphoedema of any pathology and lipoedema.
She now works independently in the Northwest of the UK, setting up Kendal Lymphology Centre in 2005 where she has won numerous awards for her service and dedication to her work.
She is passionate about education and has presented widely; participated in various research trials and had numerous articles published. She is an active member of various groups including the Children’s Lymphoedema Special Interest Group (CLSIG); Lymphoedema Support Network (is a Trustee and Nurse Advisor); ILF and the BLS.
Denise is the the co-chair of the UK Best Practice Guidelines for the Management of Lipoedema, and the patient liaison responsible for the International Lipoedema Association (ILA) where she also is a member of the board.
Dr Belinda Thompson
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian Lymphoedema Education, Research and Treatment (ALERT)
Dr Belinda Thompson joined the ALERT programme at Macquarie University in 2019. Her role involves conducting and supporting research into methods for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention for lymphoedema and lipoedema. Before starting at Macquarie University, Belinda completed a PhD in exercise and sport science, investigating the effect of female hormones on body composition and training responses. Belinda has a Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) and is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with experience in providing exercise interventions in a clinical setting. She has also completed accredited lymphoedema training and works with the ALERT education team to deliver evidence-based education for lymphoedema therapists.
Tobias Bertsch has been a senior consultant at the Foeldi Clinic in Hinterzarten, Germany since 2005, specialising in lymphology and bariatric medicine. He is President of the International Lipoedema Association (ILA), the world's first and only professional association in this field.
From 2016 to 2019, he served as Secretary General of the German Society of Lymphology and he was the Congress President of the German Congress of Lymphology in 2019.
Tobias Bertsch is the leading author of the article series ‘Lipoedema — myths and facts’. These articles have spread worldwide and contribute to an essential paradigm shift we currently see in the diagnoses and treatment of lipoedema. Furthermore, he organised the International Lipoedema Forum with distinguished experts in this field from 23 nations worldwide. Together with the renowned psychologist, Gabriele Erbacher, he is the lead author of the International Consensus Document on Lipoedema which was published in October 2020 (www.magonlinelibrary.com/pbassets/JOWC/JWC_Consensus_Lipoedema.pdf).
This document is supported by renowned experts and key opinion leaders from 25 countries worldwide.
Dr Gabriele Erbacher
Senior psychologist and psychotherapist
Gabriele Erbacher is senior psychologist and psychotherapist. She has treated cancer patients, including patients with secondary lymphedema, since 1995. In the last year of her studies at the University of Freiburg, she carried out one of the first studies examining the effectivity of an integrative and holistic approach in the rehabilitation treatment of cancer patients of the Tumor Biology Center Freiburg (Germany) – the results were presented at the 3rd World Congress of Psycho-Oncology in New York in 1997.
Gabriele started her career at the institute for rehabilitation research and quality management Scheidegg and at the oncological Paracelsus Clinic in Scheidegg (Germany), where she offered psychotherapy to cancer patients as well as supervision for physio- and lymph therapists. Her special interest was — and still is — to improve treatment by practice-orientated research.
Since 2007 she has been working in her own practice providing psychotherapy and supervision and workshops for therapists of several professions. Since 2013 she has been a psychologist at the Foeldi Clinic – European Center of Lymphology. Building on the results of her study on lipoedema and pain, Gabriele implemented the first psychologically guided group therapy model for lipoedema patients. It is part of the interdisciplinary therapy concept of the Foeldi Clinic based on the paradigm shift of the European Consensus on Lipedema.
She has lectured nationally and internationally at conferences, e.g. in Poland, Switzerland, Great Britain and in the USA. Gabriele is the co-author of several articles and, together with Dr Tobias Bertsch, published the series of articles ‘Lipedema — myths and facts’. She is also author of articles on lipoedema and pain.
Since 2020 she has been a member of the steering group of the guideline commission ‘Lipedema’ of the DGP. Gabriele is a board member of the International Lipoedema Association (ILA) and its scientific committee.
Guenter Klose
Founder of Klose Training & Consulting, LLC, Lafayette, Colorado
Guenter Klose received his initial training in manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and complete decongestive therapy (CDT) at the Földi Clinic, Hinterzarten, Germany. He continued there as therapist and instructor until he came to the United States in 1990 to assist Dr Robert Lerner in training lymphoedema therapists and establishing the first CDT treatment centres in the US for patients with lymphoedema.
In 2003, Guenter established his own lymphoedema training and consulting company, Klose Training & Consulting, LLC dedicated to providing the highest quality lymphoedema therapy training available. Klose Training has since trained over 4000 therapists.
In 2010, Guenter began creating advanced online lymphoedema treatment courses and has continued to innovate in the delivery of these courses. Guenter also organises biennial lymphoedema conferences that attract lymphoedema experts from around the world.
He is a leading advocate for quality lymphoedema treatment and has videotaped opinion pieces and patient stories and lectured extensively in the United States and abroad, at National Lymphedema Network (NLN) conferences, therapist and physicians' meetings, and lymphoedema support groups.
Guenter is a member of the ISL and a founding member of the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) for which he served on the Board of Directors from 1999–2004. He is also a member of the board of the International Lipoedema Association (ILA) and its education committee.
Dr. Kristiana Gordon
Clinical Lead, Lymphoedema Service, St George’s Hospital, London
Dr Kristiana Gordon is a Consultant Physician and Associate Professor in Dermatology and Lymphovascular Medicine. She is Clinical Lead of the Lymphoedema Service at St George’s Hospital in London, where her team cares for thousands of patients with lymphoedema and lipoedema. She is also a Foeldi-certified lymphoedema therapist.
Kristiana Gordon has completed a doctorate in the genetics of primary lymphoedema and imaging of the lymphatic system. She continues to pursue her research interests within the rapidly developing field of lymphovascular medicine and lipoedema. She has been involved in several studies looking for a genetic cause of lipoedema. Her team’s recent research findings have been published and they continue to research this exciting aspect of lipoedema.
Dr Gordon is the patron of Lipoedema UK, and champions for women with lipoedema to receive an early diagnosis and management to reduce unnecessary suffering. She is involved with medical education and National Health Service (NHS)/National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) consultations to raise awareness of lipoedema among the medical communities. She is also vice-president of the International Lipoedema Association (ILA)
Robert J. Damstra
Dermatologist, Nij Smellinghe Hospital, Drachten
Robert J Damstra has worked as a dermatologist since 1992 at the Nij Smellinghe Hospital, Drachten (Netherlands) in a team with six dermatologists, two vascular surgeons and many paramedical specialists.
In 2009 he obtained his PhD with the thesis ‘diagnostic and therapeutical aspects of lymphedema’ at Maastricht University (Professor Dr P Steijlen).
In 2005 he founded the Dutch expert centre for lympho-vascular diseases (ECL) in Drachten, which expanded to a centre with 500 new tertiary referrals annually, an outpatient clinic with thousands of patients, a clinical department for 12 patients providing both interdisciplinary diagnostics, operative and conservative treatments. He was chair of the first (2003), second (2014) Dutch guideline working group on lymphoedema and in 2023 the third guideline is planned to be published.
In 2015, the ECL Drachten was recognised by the ministry of health as a national expert centre for primary and paediatric lymphoedema. The ECL became a member of the European Reference Network (ERN) in the VASERN-group (See www.vascern.eu). He is chair of the primary and paediatric working group (PPL-WG). Together with expert centres all over Europe, they cooperate to enhance cross border healthcare, improve quality of care and provide information for patients in Europe. Finally, in 2021 he became a member of the board of the International Lipoedema Association (ILA) and worked with others under the lead of T. Bertsch MD PhD on the European consensus document for lipoedema.
Marie-Eve Letellier
Kinesiologist, CDT Lymphedema Therapist, Kinesiology/Lymphedema Clinic, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal
Marie-Eve Letellier, PhD, started work as a research assistant in breast cancer studies after graduating from her BSc and MSc in kinesiology. This led her to discover the field of arm dysfunction/lymphoedema. In 2005, she trained in combined decongestive therapy (Vodder) and aqualymphatic therapy (Tidhar).
To gain knowledge in both clinical and research fields, she completed a doctoral degree in rehabilitation science at McGill University in 2016. Her thesis was on arm dysfunction after breast cancer and its impact on health-related quality of life. From 2008 to 2020, she oversaw a clinic that aimed to reduce the risks and treat arm dysfunction post breast cancer. Working in close collaboration with Dr Anna Towers for almost 20 years, she is currently combining research and clinical work at the MUHC Lymphedema Clinic. She continuously perfects her knowledge on lymphoedema by presenting and attending provincial, national and international conferences.
Dr Jonathan Gorry
Head of Department Social and Political Sciences Nottingham Trent University, England
Dr Jonathan Gorry is (interim) Head of Department Social and Political Sciences Nottingham Trent University, England.He is a political economist by training with a growing interest in issues of public health. He was co-author of ‘Global Knowledge Gaps in Equitable Delivery of Chronic Oedema Care: A Political Economy Case Study Analysis’, Lymphatic Research and Biology, 19 (5), 2021. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2021.0063.
Dr Sandrine Mestre Godin
Md, PhD
Department of Vascular Medicine of Pr I. Quéré, Montpellier University Hospital. Head of the Lymphology Unit, national reference center for the management of primary lymphoedema in France. Member of the French Society of Vascular Medicine and French Society of Lymphology. Head of the Lymphology working group of the French Society of Vascular Medicine.
Dr Gavin Hughes is a microbiologist with over 25 years experience in researching and testing medical devices.
As Director of the Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory (SMTL) he works closely with Welsh NHS Procurement Services and clinicians, assessing the safety and efficacy of medical devices tendered for Welsh NHS Contracts and investigating medical device adverse incidents for the Welsh NHS.
Gavin sits on a number of British and European Standard committees and is the editor of the BSi working group that drafted the British Standard BS 661210 on Compression Garments as well as editing the CEN revision of the performance standard for surgical dressings. Gavin represents the Welsh Government on a number of medical device groups and committees and is a member of the Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network Programme Board.
Susan Nørregaard RN, DH
Specialist nurse in wound healing and lymphoedema (Copenhagen), Co-chief investigator in the first national prevalence of children and young people with Lymphoedema in Denmark
Susan Nørregaard is a specialist nurse in wound healing and lymphoedema working at Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen and is also the co-chief investigator in the first national prevalence of children and young people with Lymphoedema in Denmark (CHILD LIMPRINT) funded by a major grant from the ELLAB foundation. With colleagues she established the Copenhagen Wound Healing Center. She has 30 years of experience in treating chronic oedema and in 2006, she established the first multidisciplinary lymphoedema clinic in Denmark, at the Copenhagen Wound Healing Center.
Together with Dr. Tonny Karlsmark she established the Danish Lymphoedema Framework in 2010 and she has been an ILF board member and treasurer since 2011.She has extensive post graduate teaching experience in wound and Lymphoedema management and has coordinated international research projects and published widely in this clinical area.
Tessa De Vrieze
Postdoctoral researcher, Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)
Tessa De Vrieze is a postdoctoral researcher at the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), affiliated to KU Leuven and University of Antwerp (Belgium). She is a board member of OEDEMA, an inter-university research group of physiotherapists with scientific and/or clinical expertise within oedema therapy. Their main goal is organising specialisation courses for health professionals within the field of oedema therapy. In addition, Tessa De Vrieze is involved as a researcher in CarEdOn, an international research group whose mission is to improve care ('Care') regarding oedema ('Edema') and oncology ('Oncology') by optimising its evaluation and treatment within a biopsychosocial context. Additionally, she is an independent oedema therapist in a clinical practice in Antwerp (Belgium).
Garry Cooper-Stanton
Deputy Head of School of Nursing, University of Central Lancashire
Garry is a clinical nurse specialist within lymphoedema and is undertaking his doctoral research focusing upon men diagnosed with non-cancer related lymphoedema and their experiences. Alongside these activities, he works as the Associate Dean at the University of Central Lancashire and has authored several articles within the subject area of lymphoedema.
Garry has also worked across a number of sectors, including public, private, charitable, and was awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse from the Queen’s Nurse Institute, for his work in primary care. In addition to his existing roles and studies, he is an active member of the BLS (British Lymphology Society) scientific committee, and the promotion of evidence-based approaches within the care of those diagnosed with lymphoedema.
Elvira Albrecht
Physical therapist, Foeldi Clinic
Elvira ‘Elli’ is a native of Kirchzarten in the Black Forest of Germany. An active lifestyle in the outdoors shaped her and influenced her career choice.
Elli received her physiotherapy degree from the University of Freiburg, Germany in 1998. Later in 1998, she joined the therapy team at the Foeldi Clinic with a focus on movement therapy and exercise. Her work at the Foeldi Clinic focuses on utilising the patient’s own ability to heal by using each person’s innate resources.
In 2000, Elli became a Certified Instructor for Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) and has gone on to teach the techniques of MLD and CDT to hundreds of therapists in Germany and around the world. Since 2007, Elli has been one of the chief-therapists at the Foeldi Clinic, always eager to develop new concepts and therapeutic approaches for patients with lymphoedema, lipedema and related disorders. Her experience and leadership has been instrumental in the recent implementation of a new therapeutic concept for patients with lipoedema.
Lorraine Brown
Trustee, British Lymphology Society
Lorraine is a clinical nurse specialist in lymphoedema at the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust, UK.
Her special interests are in equity of lymphoedema service provision and early intervention in the management of lymphoedema.
Charlotte Van Calster
PhD student, KU Leuven, Belgium
Charlotte is a dedicated healthcare professional specialising in the field of rehabilitation sciences and physiotherapy. She completed her Master's degree in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy in 2019, demonstrating a strong passion for helping individuals regain their physical well-being and optimise their functional abilities.
Following graduation, Charlotte embarked on a fulfilling career in a private practice, where she gained valuable hands-on experience working with a diverse range of patients. Recognising the importance of continual professional development, she pursued additional training in her two domains of interest: pelvic floor physiotherapy and lymphoedema.
Driven by a desire to expand her knowledge and contribute to the advancement of the field, Charlotte made the decision to pursue a PhD. She was granted the opportunity to join the esteemed KU Leuven, renowned for its research and academic excellence. As a PhD student, she is currently engaged in research, focusing on lymphoedema and urinary complaints.
With her background in rehabilitation sciences and physiotherapy, coupled with her ongoing research in lymphoedema and urinary complaints, Charlotte is poised to make significant contributions to the field, ultimately contributing to the knowledge on these topics.
Ad Hendrickx
Physical therapist and researcher, Dutch Center of Expertise for Lymphovascular Medicine
Ad works as a physical therapist and researcher in the Dutch Center of Expertise for Lymphovascular Medicine in Drachten. He specialises in lymph- and lipoedema, geriatric-related problems and chronic diseases. Related to chronic diseases, his main focus is patients with cancer-related disabilities. As a researcher and board member of the expert center, he is responsible for education, research and development.
One of his main achievements in recent years has been the introduction and implementation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in daily care in the Expert Centre and their network of care, including the use of customised clinimetrical instruments. Self-management and the optimalisation of interprofessional collaboration are other main fields of interest.
Ad has been a teacher at the Dutch Paramedic Institute since 2015. He has been a speaker and chair at conferences in Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the US. Cherry on the pie is his current appointment as a PhD candidate at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. His research topics are related to lymph- and lipoedema.
Ad was a member of the working group for the development of the Dutch guidelines for lymphoedema and lipoedema in 2013 and 2014. He is a member of the Dutch Expert Group for Lipoedema, the advisory board of NLNet, the Dutch Patient Association for lymph- and lipoedema. Since 2018, he has been closely involved in the development of the European consensus document on lipoedema. He is a board member of the International Lipoedema Association (ILA) and its scientific committee.
Karen Bock
Physical therapist
Dr Karen Bock is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience. She is faculty at the University of Kansas Medical Center’s (KUMC) Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) programme and recently completed her PhD at KUMC on the topic of ‘Sleep Characteristics of Breast Cancer Survivors with Lymphedema’. Dr Bock received her Master of Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri. She earned her Board Certification of Wound Specialist (CWS) by the American Board of Wound Management in 2005 and Certified Lymphedema Therapist 2007 by the Norton School, Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) certification in 2012.
She was recognised for excellence in clinical education instruction as the 2018 recipient of the Central ACCE Consortium 2018 ‘Kathy Johnson Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award’, and was selected as the University of Kansas DPT programme’s ‘Clinical Instructor of the Year’ for 2016.
She has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and poster presentations about complex wounds and oedema management. In Spring 2018, she was awarded the ‘Young Investigator Award’ at the Symposium on Advances in Wound Care (SAWC) for peer-reviewed poster presentations. In 2020, she was awarded the ‘Best Overall Poster Presentation’ at the Australasian Lymphology Association spring conference. More recently, she received the 2023 Journal of Wound Care ‘Bronze Award for Clinical Research’ for manuscripts with clinical impact regarding chronic oedema management.
Speaker level: International
Jane Wigg
Lead Trainer and Clinical Nurse Consultant, Lymphoedema Training Academy and LymphVision
Jane Wigg is a multi-award winning nurse consultant, who has been working in the field of lymphatics for over 25 years.
She is an innovator, publisher, author, and educator of lymphology.
She is passionate about improving the lives of those living with lymphatic conditions. Jane works clinically through providing Near Infrared Lymphofluoroscopy imaging clinics in the UK, through LymphVision and is Director of the Lymphoedema Training Academy, providing full certification in lymphoedema rehabilitation training, including the pioneering method of Fluoroscopy Guided Manual Lymphatic Drainage (FG-MLD®) or the 'Fill & Flush' method.
An-Kathleen Heroes
PhD researcher, University KU Leuven/University Hospitals Leuven
An-Kathleen’s interest in lymphoedema started at the University of Leuven while doing her Master’s thesis under the guidance of Professor Dr Nele Devoogdt. After graduating in 2016, she started a specialised course in lymphoedema for one year while gaining more experience in private practice as a physiotherapist. At this time, she also had the opportunity to become more familiar with scientific research.
In 2018, she started working as a physiotherapist in the multidisciplinary centre for lymphoedema in the University Hospital of Leuven. Thanks to Professor Dr Nele Devoogdt, she stayed involved in scientific projects until the end of October 2021 when she started her own PhD. The main topic of this PhD is the effect of regular night-time bandaging in the maintenance phase of the treatment of patients with lower limb lymphoedema.
Sandro Michelini
Chief of Department of Rehabilitative Vascular diseases, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Rome (from 2005 to 2020) and San Giuseppe Hospital Marino ASL, Rome (from 2020 to today); Adjunct Professor for Masters in Lymphology at the Universities of Milan, Genoa, ‘Magna Graecia’ Catanzaro, ‘La Sapienza’ Rome, ‘Tor Vergata’ Rome
For over 40 years, Dr Sandro Michelini has been dedicated to vascular pathologies, which he studies in all aspects, with a special focus on lymphoedema, lipedema and related pathologies. A passionate researcher, for decades he has dedicated himself to a continuous confrontation and sharing of knowledge between his own daily clinical experience and the heads of centres for the development of some basic sciences, from genetics to pathological anatomy, biochemistry, metabolomics, biotechnology, physics applied to medicine, instrumental and laboratory diagnostics; having patented some of the discoveries made in collaboration with other groups, including the first gene responsible for non-syndromic Lipedema (AKR1C1), with its clinical implications. He has always been committed to public and private institutions and to national and international scientific societies for the best possible care of patients. Together with technicians from the Italian Ministry of Health, he coordinated a commission that drew up guidelines on the care of patients with lymphoedema and related pathologies, among the most complete and up-to-date at an international level, which have contributed to the establishment of care centres, in a distributed manner throughout the territory, meeting many of the health needs of patients. All done with the constant involvement of patients' associations.
Karl Hocking
National Lymphoedema Specialist, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Karl heads a national interdisciplinary team of lymphoedema specialists with specific training in the management of lymphoedema in children and young people (CYP) for Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network. He draws on years of experience as an occupational therapist within paediatrics and mental health, blending this into his specialist training in the paediatric and family field. Karl’s passion is around engagement, shared decision-making, education and collaboration, reflecting his background as a keen sportsman and rugby player. His mission is to improve CYP lymphoedema care — enabling families, empowering young people, making therapy fun for CYP and families.
Fawzeyah Alharbi
Head of the quality and accreditation department, and assistant director of nursing at Sabah Al Ahmed Urology Center, surveyor in the Ministry of Health / Kuwait.
Fawzeyah Alharbi is currently a PhD in social sciences at Nottingham Trent University. In 2017/2018, she completed an MSc in leadership and management in health care at Bradford University, UK. She obtained her BSN in general nursing in 2012 at Nursing College, Kuwait. Her professional aim is to apply and share her experience as a registered nurse to help the public reach optimal healthcare standards, develop skills and knowledge, as well as to manage and supervise to ensure success in future endeavours in a challenging work environment.
She has eighteen years of experience as a general nurse. She was a staff nurse in ward-4, male uro-surgery and oncology at Sabah Al Ahmed Urology Center from 2013 to 2014 in Kuwait, and head nurse of the preventive medicine department from 2014 to 2018. Fawzeyah has also received several professional certifications and experienced several seminars both inside and outside Kuwait and has three publications in reputed journals.
Marize Ibrahim
Marize Ibrahim is a physiotherapist and a licensed lymphedema therapist with the Lymphology Association of North America. She works at the McGill University Hospital Centre Lymphedema Clinic, a Lymphatic Education and Research (LE&RN) Network of Excellence. Marize attended the University of Toronto and later pursued a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from McGill University. In 2020, the Physiotherapy Specialty Certification Board of Canada granted her the designation of clinical specialist oncology.
To date, she has published several peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, has been invited as a guest speaker at several national and international conferences (including India) and has been a guest lecturer at the McGill University School of Physical & Occupational Therapy since 2012.
In her spare time, she volunteers as a Canadian National Paralympic Medical Swimming Classifier working with an incredible and inspiring group of Canadian para-swimming athletes across the country, and currently working towards becoming an International Classifier with the ultimate goal of attending the Paralympic Games.
Susan Witt
Occupational therapist, advanced lymphoedema practitioner and researcher, Földi Clinic
Susan is an occupational therapist, advanced lymphoedema practitioner and researcher. Originally from Australia, she now lives in Germany and works at the Földi Clinic. Susan is currently completing her PhD through Flinders University looking at the impact of climate and climatic variations on lymphoedema. This international study is exploring both patient experiences and quantitative measures to understand why and how warmer weather and increased humidity impact people with lymphoedema.
Linda Jenkins
Clinical lead, Aneurin Bevan Lymphoedema Service
Linda Jenkins MCSP BSc (Hons) NMP is a physiotherapist who has worked across health boards in Wales since qualifying in 1994. Most recently, she has worked for Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network, initially as part of the very successful ‘On the Ground’ programme working with district nurses. In 2018, she became the clinical lead for Aneurin Bevan Lymphoedema Service and since January 2020 has been the lead within the National Cellulitis Improvement Programme for Wales, working as a non-medical prescriber offering advice and support to patients across Wales who have been diagnosed with cellulitis.
Dr Margit Eidenberger
Professor for Physiotherapy at the University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions Upper Austria, Steyr
Dr Margit Eidenberger specialises in oncology and manual lymphatic drainage.
Marie-Eve Letellier
Clinical researcher, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Lymphedema Clinic, Quebec
Marie-Eve Letellier, PhD, started to work as a research assistant in breast cancer studies after graduating from her BSc and MSc in kinesiology. This led her to discover the field of arm dysfunction/lymphoedema. In 2005, she trained in combined decongestive therapy (Vodder) and aqualymphatic therapy (Tidhar). In order to gain knowledge in both clinical and research fields, she completed a doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Science at McGill University in 2016. Her thesis was on arm dysfunction after breast cancer and its impact on health-related quality of life. From 2008 to 2020, she oversaw a clinic that aimed to reduce the risks and treat arm dysfunction post breast cancer. Working in close collaboration with Dr Anna Towers for almost 20 years, she is currently combining research and clinical work at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Lymphedema Clinic. She continuously perfects her knowledge on lymphoedema by presenting and attending provincial, national and international conferences.
Dr Sarah Thomis
Vascular surgeon, University Hospitals Leuven; assistant professor, KU Leuven
Sarah Thomis finished training as a general and vascular surgeon at the University of Leuven, Belgium in 2011. She followed additional training in the Netherlands and at Duke University, North Carolina, US. She is the responsible physician of the Lymphovenous Center of the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.
She is specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of phlebological and lymphological diseases. Besides clinical activities, she is also active as a researcher in the domain of phlebology and lymphology and has authored numerous publications. In December 2021, she finished her PhD entitled: ‘Optimization of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to influence the natural history of breast cancer-related lymphedema’. She is an assistant Professor at the KU Leuven.
She is a member of organisations such as European Venous Forum, Belgian Society of Vascular Surgery and European Society of Lymphology. She is on the advisory board of the International Compression Club and is the president of the Benelux Society of Phlebology.
Dr DiCecco
Director of the lymphedema and pelvic floor service lines for the Sports Rehabilitation Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Assistant professor, Physical Therapy Department, Georgia’s Campus for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr Shelley DiCecco, PT, PhD, CLT-LANA, CI-CS, founded LymphEd in 2017 as part of Casley-Smith International. She completed her Physical Therapy Degree in January of 2000. She became a woman’s health specialist for pelvic floor disorders in 2000 and a certified lymphedema therapist in 2001. Dr DiCecco received her PhD from Texas Woman’s University in the Philosophy of Physical Therapy in 2012. Her research involved treatment techniques for females with genital lymphedema with or without lower extremity involvement. She assisted with or led several continuing education courses, conferences, and seminars, as well as presented at community events on lymphedema, pelvic floor disorders, and other orthopedic conditions over the years, both nationally and internationally.
She has published articles on lymphedema and pelvic floor disorders and contributed to books on lymphedema. Dr DiCecco currently is Director of the lymphedema and pelvic floor service lines for the Sports Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta, Georgia and an Assistant Professor at the Georgia’s Campus for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in the Physical Therapy Department. Dr DiCecco’s focus of research is on the lymphatics and lymphedema. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and its Oncology, Pelvic Health, and Education Sections; the Lymphology Association of North America; the National Lymphedema Network, International Lymphoedema Framework; and Casley-Smith International Group with the role of President.
Margaret Anne Garner
Lymphoedema specialist, Strathcarron Hospice, NHS Forth Valley
Margaret Anne Garner is a lymphoedema specialist based in Strathcarron Hospice, NHS Forth Valley. She supports people with lymphoedema of any cause and is committed to promoting self-management strategies and person-centred care. She is particularly passionate about raising awareness of breast lymphoedema.
Dr David Doubblestein
Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at A.T. Still University, Mesa, Arizona
Dr David Doubblestein is an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at A.T. Still University, Mesa, Arizona. He received his Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Grand Valley State University and his Doctorate in Philosophy in Physical Therapy from the University of Michigan-Flint. He has predominantly worked in outpatient clinical settings, including his own private practice. Dr Doubblestein is a LANA-Credentialed Certified Lymphedema Therapist, a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, and a Certified McKenzie Therapist.
He is passionate about lymphology as it extends across all disciplines of physical therapy and fields of medicine. He is the author of the book Manual Lymphatic Techniques for the Orthopedic Manual Therapist. His research interests are in lymphology, lymphatic disorders, and orthopaedics. Dr Doubblestein’s research interests have focused on lymphology education. He has published a few articles related to this topic and continues to progress toward knowledge translation of his recent findings. He is also spanning his research interest in lymphology into orthopaedics, where he is investigating the neuromuscular effects of chronic oedema.
Eline Hoogstra
Patient advocate
‘An experienced and driven project manager with over 20 years of experience in the online industry and patient advocacy.’
Since 2019, Eline has represented the Dutch patient organization, NLNet, for primary and paediatric lymphoedema in the ERN (European Reference Network) Vascern as the Dutch patient advocate.
She has met many passionate fellow patient advocates, patients and doctors and with whom she has worked closely on numerous European projects. For example, the patient journey for primary lymphoedema patients’ poster presentation (ILF poster presentation 2021) and several worldwide lymphoedema campaigns, which have resulted in a new partnership among several European patient organisations and the website www.compressionineurope.org. Eline is proud and honoured to present this initiative at the 2023 ILF event.
Jane Phillips
Lymphoedema physiotherapist
Jane is a lymphoedema physiotherapist with a particular interest in paediatric and primary lymphoedema, having worked with both adults and children in public and private services for 20 years. Jane recently completed her PhD at Flinders University investigating fluid distribution in primary lymphoedema and its response to compression.
Currently, Jane runs a small private practice for paediatric and primary lymphoedema in Melbourne Australia, is a clinical advisor for Haddenham Healthcare and for the State-Wide Equipment Program for compression garments in Victoria, Australia. Jane is a member of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.
Nadiv Shapira
Medical director, Lipedema Treatment Network, Delaware, USA
Nadiv has been a cardiac surgeon for over twenty years, developing expertise in electrophysiological cardiac surgery, and ablation of atrial fibrillation. He later focused more on thoracic surgery and phlebology.
In late 2014, he was intrigued by lipoedema, and after learning how few US physicians had the knowledge of how to diagnose and treat the condition, decided to get involved. After studying with Dr Stutz, in Germany, he founded the first State lipoedema that offers diagnosis, conservative treatment and water-jet assisted liposuction (WAL), to women from all over the US. In 2022, he founded the Lipedema Treatment Network, a physician management organisation which aims to connect patients, providers and insurance carriers. LTN is a national network of qualified lipoedema physicians that improves patients’ access for diagnosis and treatment in their geographical region, and assists providers in receiving proper and fair reimbursement.
Throughout his medical career, he has been interested in clinical research and published many peer-reviewed articles in the fields of cardiac surgery and interventional pain management. Recently he has focused on how to apply the water jet technology to lipoedema while preserving the lymphatics and the role of the different layers of the subcutaneous fat and fascia in the disease.
Nadiv is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Member of the American College of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and the American Venous Forum.
Joanne Browne
National Lymphoedema and Cellulitis Improvement Lead Wales, Lymphoedema Network Wales, Swansea University
Joanne Browne is a registered advanced paramedic practitioner by background with extensive clinical experience within emergency and unscheduled healthcare. She joined Lymphoedema Wales in 2020 to help create, develop and implement the Cellulitis Improvement Programme as part of a new NHS Wales initiative to reduce cellulitis incidence in Wales. She was one of the first cohort of paramedics in the UK to gain non-medical prescribing status in 2019 and has used this to jointly create new comprehensive guidelines for NHS Wales in the antimicrobial treatment of cellulitis in people with lymphoedema. The Cellulitis Improvement Programme were winners for the coveted Medi Wales Innovation Award for Scaling up Innovation and Transformation 2022, as well as the Advancing Health Care award for Value-based Care in 2021.
Dorit Tidhar
Physiotherapist, National Director of Research and Development, Maccabi healthcare services
Dr Dorit Tidhar is a physiotherapist who was trained in lymphoedema management by Professor Judith Casley-Smith in 1999 and was certified by her as a teacher in self-management and exercise for lymphoedema in 2003. Dorit designed a programme of aqua lymphatic therapy to help people who suffer from lymphoedema maintain and improve the results of conventional treatment. She is working in Maccabi healthcare services as the national director of research and development and finished her PhD in the school of nursing of Missouri University with Professor Jane Armer as her adviser. She is now teaching the course of lymphoedema management by the Casley-Smith method.
Anita Sundrasekaran
Senior physiotherapist, Oncology and Lymphedema Physiotherapy Department, National Centre for Cancer Care & Research, Hamad Medical corporation, Doha, Qatar
The unmet needs of people living with cancer, breast cancer lymphoedema and other forms of lymphoedema propelled Anita’s interest to pursue and excel in this field. The challenges in delivering conservative treatment of complex lymphoedema and paediatric lymphoedema cases, as well as lipoedema, has kept her up to date with current evidence-based developments in this field. Undertaking the certified lymphoedema therapist course under Klose training in 2019 in Toronto, Canada, helped her to specialise in the field. Anita also has a keen interest in promoting education and raising awareness of lymphoedema and lipoedema among healthcare professionals, health science universities and the community.
Anita spearheaded the first, ‘People Living with Lipoedema’, a patient awareness programme in the state of Qatar in January 2023. She co-authored the revised lymphoedema clinical guidelines as part of the clinical practice guideline of the hospital corporate in 2022.
Currently, she is leading the female team in the Oncology and Lymphedema Physiotherapy Department, and is co-chair of the educational committee, continuing professional development and department research committee.
She was chosen as clinical practice educator for the second and final year physiotherapy students, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University.
Anita is also representative lead for the recent 2022 joint commission international survey of the facility.
Besides being a full-time clinical therapist, Anita is also passionate about translating research questions arising in clinical scenarios into research papers with a keen interest primarily in the field of lymphoedema, lipoedema and breast oedema following breast surgery in patients with cancer. Current projects include body image in patients with lipoedema.
Mierra Robinson
Student, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) Georgia
Mierra Robinson was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. As a first-generation college student, she completed her undergraduate degree in biology with a minor in psychology from Georgia Southern University. After graduating, she attended graduate school at the Georgia Campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine during the pandemic and received a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Currently, she is working as an intern research assistant in a medical office and gaining experience conducting human clinical trials under the supervision of rheumatologists. Simultaneously, she is applying to medical school to become a physician. Apart from her studies, she enjoys engaging in research projects, such as Keep the Spark, a funded community-based research project she co-founded and co-leads, and research involving the lymphatic system with her research mentor, Dr DiCecco. In addition, she also enjoys spending time with her family and taking care of her plants as a ‘plant mom’.
Charlotte Joergensen
Lymphoedema Nurse Practitioner, Copenhagen Wound Healing Centre, Bispebjerg Hospital
Charlotte has been a nurse since 1996. She worked for eight years in orthopaedic surgery with a special interest in wound care. She has been employed at Copenhagen Wound Healing Center at Bispebjerg Hospital since 2004. In Her daily work as a clinical nurse with expertise in complex wound care and lymphoedema, she treats both children and adults. Part of her work includes telemedicine, where community nurses get advice and treatment plans for wound care and compression therapy.
Gillian Buckley
Lymphoedema physiotherapist
Gillian Buckley is an Lymphoedema Physiotherapist from Australia who has worked in the area of lymphoedema management and post cancer physiotherapy care for more than 20 years. Gillian is a titled lymphoedema physiotherapist (as conferred by the Australian Physiotherapy Association) and is an Australasian Lymphology Association Accredited Lymphoedema Therapist. She has been involved in many committees for the Australasian Lymphology Association over the years and helped establish the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s Cancer Palliative Care and Lymphoedema Special Interest Group in 2015. Gillian has also been involved in training lymphoedema therapists in Australia. Gillian works in private practice in Melbourne. She has a particular interest in the management of breast cancer-related lymphoedema and in mentoring newly qualified lymphoedema therapists.
Nele Devoogdt
Physical therapist and professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven
Nele Devoogdt is physical therapist and professor at the department of Rehabilitation Sciences of KU Leuven and is doing research in the topic of clinical evaluation, prevention and treatment of lymphoedema and lipoedema. Besides that, she is coordinator of the center for lymphedema of the University Hospitals of Leuven (in Belgium). There, she performs coordinative tasks and clinical evaluations and guides treatment of patients with lymphoedema and lipoedema. On a regular basis, she gives and organises courses in the topic of lymphology and oncology in Belgium and the Netherlands. She is founder of Oedema, an interuniversity group that organises courses for physical therapists in the domain of oedema (www.oedema.be). Recently, she cofounded CarEdOn, a research group that aims to improve care in oedema and oncology (www.caredon.org).
Ayla Cagliyan Turk
Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Hitit University, Turkey
Ayla Cagliyan Turk graduated from Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine and received her PMR expertise from Health Sciences University Hamidiye Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She became an assistant professor in 2017 and an associate professor in 2019. Lymphoedema, lipedema musculoskeletal pain therapy, and cancer rehabilitation are among her areas of interest. She is a member of the Turkish Lymphedema Society. She is still working as an academic at Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic. She works in the field of lymphoedema and lipedema.
Janet Massey
Research MB ChB, Dr med (Frankfurt), MRCGP
Janet qualified at Liverpool Medical School where questions were encouraged. A brief time in Hoechst AG in Frankfurt led to the opportunity to do a German Medical Doctorate and be recognised as a German doctor. She continued with the American Army in Friedberg until the base was closed in 2002. She then completed her GP training in the UK, working as a partner in a Felixstowe Practice. She is now doing research in lymphatics in Friedberg with Dr Willi Jungkunz.
Yolande Borthwick
Lymphoedema specialist, NHS Forth Valley; university lecturer, University of Glasgow
Yolande is a physiotherapist by training but has been working in lymphoedema for over 20 years. Clinically, she is a lead lymphoedema specialist in an NHS service based in central Scotland where, as well as a clinical caseload, she is responsible for service development and education. Her other role is as a lecturer for the University of Glasgow, predominantly on the lymphoedema programme. She is passionate about promoting a rehabilitative approach to lymphoedema and lipoedema management, especially encouraging self-management and active involvement from the person living with these long-term conditions.
Increased awareness, early intervention and improved education for both healthcare professionals and people who are at risk of developing lymphoedema are also special interest areas. She is a trustee with the British Lymphology Society and member of Casley-Smith Lymphoedema Education UK.
Ioan Humphreys
Senior research officer and health economist
Ioan Humphreys is a senior research officer and health economist. He is also the research co-ordinator for the Health and Wellbeing Academy in the School of Health and Social Care in Swansea University. Ioan has worked in health services research for 14 years and has led and co-lead on numerous health economic projects across the UK. Since 2016, Ioan has worked closely with Lymphoedema Wales, conducting several economic evaluations and service evaluations, and has published this research widely.
Michelle Rhodes
Chief Nurse and Director of Infection Prevention and Control, University Hospitals of North Midlands
Michelle qualified as a registered nurse from Nottingham School of Nursing in 1989 and has worked in acute and community settings in Nottingham, Leicester, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire and now back to Nottingham.
She has worked as a Director of Commissioning and Executive Nurse in Nottingham City PCT, as Chief Operating Officer at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and as Interim Chief Operating Officer for Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and Director of Operations and Director of Nursing & DIPC at Lincolnshire Hospitals. More recently, she has been the Chief Nurse and Director of Infection Prevention & Control at the University Hospitals of North Midlands.
She has a Master’s degree in Health Policy and a dissertation looking at the reliability of pressure ulcer risk assessment tools. She has also spent a number of years as a nurse specialist in tissue viability, which she is still very passionate about.
Michelle is very proud to be a nurse and is delighted to be back in NUH as Chief Nurse and Director of Infection Prevention & Control. Michelle is dedicated to ensuring patients and their families get the best possible care available to them.
Alex Munnoch has been a consultant plastic surgeon at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland for the past 20 years. A graduate of Dundee University, he is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He has been providing a surgical treatment option for lymphoedema patients for 18 years, and has presented his results at numerous national and international conferences. He has also treated patients with lipoedema for the past 10 years and has a particular interest in quality of life outcomes for these patients. He helped develop the surgical lymphoedema service at Macquarrie University Hospital in Sydney, where he held the position of honorary professor for seven years. He is a former chair of the British Lymphology Society, and a former member of the executive committee of the International Society of Lymphology. He is currently a medical adviser to the LSN, and is Patron of TalkLipoedema and MLD-UK. His areas of interest are breast reconstruction, microsurgery, vascular malformations, lymphoedema and lipoedema.
Misako Dai
Professor, Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University
Professor Misako Dai is a nursing scientist specializing in lymphoedema. Currently serving as a professor at Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University in Japan, she has made significant contributions to the field of lymphoedema management.
Professor Dai's research primarily centres around the development and implementation of assessment methodologies for lymphoedema management, particularly utilising ultrasonography techniques. Her pioneering work in this area has the potential to revolutionise clinical practices globally. Further information about her research can be found at: https://researchmap.jp/misakodai?lang=en.
In addition to her academic role, Professor Dai holds a prominent position as a board member of the International Lymphoedema Framework Japan and the president of the 12th ILFJ annual meeting in September (https://www.congre.co.jp/ilfj2023/program/index.html). Through this platform, she has actively participated in various international collaborative projects, including LIMPRINT, ILF-COM, and initiatives focused on improving the quality of life for children with lymphoedema.
Her expertise and dedication to advancing lymphoedema research and management have garnered recognition within the academic and professional communities. Her multidimensional contributions continue to shape the field and provide valuable insights for both researchers and clinical professionals alike.
Peter Mortimer
Professor of Dermatological Medicine, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute (Dermatology Unit), St George's, University of London, and Honorary Visiting Professor, Kings College, London
Professor Mortimer is Professor of Dermatological Medicine to St George’s Hospital and St George’s, University of London. He has worked in the field of lymphoedema and lymphatic disease for 40 years and has extensive research experience with over 300 publications cited on PubMed. His group has been instrumental in discovering causal genes for primary lymphoedema and his current £2.5 million Medical Research Council programme grant investigates known genotypes of primary lymphoedema to better understand mechanisms of pathophysiology.
He is founder of, and Chief Medical Officer to, the Lymphoedema Support Network, the UK patients' national charity. He is founder and Patron of the British Lymphology Society, the national body for healthcare professionals. He sits on the Medical Advisory Committee for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (USA) and chairs their Global Oversight Committee for the appointment of Centres of Excellence for lymphatic clinical practice throughout the world.
Stanley Rockson
Allan and Tina Neil Professor of Lymphatic Research and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
Dr Rockson is the Allan and Tina Neill Professor of Lymphatic Research and Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. After earning his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine, Dr Rockson completed his internship and residency training in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts, and fellowship training in the cardiac unit of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Society of Vascular Medicine, American College of Angiology, and American College of Physicians, as well as a member of the International Society of Lymphology, American Society of Internal Medicine, and the Paul Dudley White Society, among others. As a principal investigator or co-investigator, he has been involved in numerous clinical trials researching various aspects of lymphatic disease, vascular biology and cardiovascular medicine. His basic research involves the investigation of disease pathogenesis and identification of biomarkers of lymphatic diseases, as well as research into molecular and pharmacologic therapeutics. As a Professor of Medicine, Dr. Rockson serves concurrently as the Stanford’s Chief of Consultative Cardiology and the Director of the Stanford Center for Lymphatic and Venous Disorders. Dr. Rockson is Editor-in-Chief of Lymphatic Research and Biology and sits on the editorial board of Angiology. Dr. Rockson works closely with National Institutes of Health, in an advisory capacity, to advance the agenda for lymphatic research. He has been a frequent invited lecturer at national and international meetings, congresses, and societies. He is a co-founder of the Lymphatic Education and Research Network (LE&RN) and has served as Chair of the inaugural Gordon Research Conference, entitled ‘Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease’. He is the co-author of Lymphedema: A Concise Compendium of Theory and Practice now in its second edition. Dr. Rockson has authored more than 200 scientific papers, reviews, book chapters and books devoted to various aspects of lymphatic biology and disease, vascular biology, and cardiovascular medicine.
Peter Franks
Professor, Centre for Research & Implementation of Clinical Practice
Professor Peter Franks works at the Centre for Research & Implementation of Clinical Practice in London. His background is in human biology, epidemiology and medical statistics. He has been working with Professor Christine Moffatt CBE in tissue viability research since 1988.
Over the past 10 years he has been working on the problem of lymphoedema, with publications on the epidemiology of lymphoedema and evaluations of quality of life in patients with the condition. In 2002, he was a co-applicant on a successful bid to the King’s Fund to develop and evaluate services in lymphoedema in south-west London. He is a former director of the International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF). He has authored over 150 original articles in refereed journals and presented over 120 papers at national and international meetings. He is past-President of the European Wound Management Association.
Corrado Campisi MD, PhD, MRM
Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Lymphatic Surgery and Microsurgery
Katie Riches
Advanced practitioner in lymphoedema, UHDB Lymphoedema Service, Royal Derby Hospital
Katie has worked with Professor Keeley and the Derby lymphoedema team for over 15 years where she has been involved in lymphoedema research. She currently works as the advanced practitioner in the team. Her research interests include the genetics of primary lymphoedema, breast cancer-related lymphoedema and quality of life. In 2020 she completed her PhD which focused on the assessment of breast lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment.
Katie has had several roles within the British Lymphology Society and is the current vice chair.
Jane Armer
Professor Emeritus, Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri
Dr Armer is founding director of the American Lymphedema Framework Project. As principal investigator (PI) for three NIH-funded grants in breast cancer survivorship and lymphoedema (LE) occurrence and impact, Jane has conducted extensive qualitative and quantitative work in the area of breast cancer survivorship, LE prevalence, signs and symptoms, self-management among breast cancer survivors, and self-management of chronic illness.
She was PI on two consecutive multi-year studies which followed breast cancer survivors prospectively (from pre-op through 84 months post-diagnosis) to assess limb volume changes and other post-treatment outcomes over time. She was subcontract PI on an NCI-funded grant prospectively examining lower limb LE following gynaecological cancer. She is/has been lead on multiple alliance cooperative group LE sub-studies. She has a strong record of research productivity (>150 publications) and mentoring doctoral students. Her mentees and she have focused on pioneering topics such as: breast cancer survivors’ return-to-work, stress, spirituality, and cortisol levels in breast cancer survivors, an interactive theatre intervention to enhance LE management, LE self-management among Latina survivors, limb volume measurement changes in the context of the development of a national LE management database, and other LE self-management topics.
Over the course of her programme of research, Jane has worked with students and faculty in nursing, pre-nursing, pre-medicine, biology, family studies, pre-dental, social work, journalism, physical therapy, data science, and engineering fields of study.
Martina Sykorova
Doctoral researcher, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham
Martina is a doctoral researcher at the School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK. Before starting her PhD, she worked as a research associate on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project that looked into current issues in wound care within Nottinghamshire, UK. Between 2014 and 2017 she was involved in the LIMPRINT study led by Professor Christine Moffatt that aimed to estimate the impact and prevalence of chronic oedema worldwide. When working on this project Martina developed her passion for researching lymphoedema which led to her decision to pursue a PhD in this field. Prior to starting her PhD she studied public health, and business and management. Her PhD aims to identify enablers and barriers to a successful chronic oedema and wet legs care pathway implementation in the community.
Martina has worked on several LIMPRINT and other health-related research projects as a part-time researcher in the UK and Denmark.
Martina joined the ILF Board (Young Researcher Member) in June 2019.
Kathleen Francis MD
Dr. Francis received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UMDNJ/Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.
Until her retirement in 2020, Dr Francis was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and had a private practice, Lymphedema Physician Services PC, in Livingston, NJ, specialising in evaluation and management of lymphoedema, venous oedema and other forms of peripheral oedema. She also served as Medical Director of the St Barnabas Lymphedema Treatment Center at the St Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center in Livingston, NJ.
Dr. Francis continues to serve as Medical Director of Klose Training and Consulting LLC, a training and certification school for lymphoedema professionals. She is also a member of the steering committee of the American Lymphedema Framework Project. In 2021 she became a founding member of the International Lipoedema Association. She was a long-time member of the Medical Advisory Committee of the National Lymphedema Network and served as Chair in 2009–2010.
Dr Francis has frequently appeared as an invited lecturer at lymphoedema meetings and conferences throughout the United States.
Jørgen Rungby
Jørgen Rungby serves as Chief Physician and Professor at the Department of Endocrinology, Bispebjerg Hospital and University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jørgen Rungby graduated as MD in 1984, specialised in internal medicine and endocrinology and, in 1990, completed his doctorate in neuroscience.
He is past chairman of the Danish Endocrine Society and has served on national and international committees and boards within the field of endocrinology.
He has supervised more than 25 PhDs and authored or co-authored more than 220 publications. More recently, his research focuses on metabolic and hormonal regulation of central nervous system functions in diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.
Isabelle Quéré
Physician and professor of vascular medicine, University of Montpellier, France
Isabelle is a physician, and professor of vascular medicine at the University of Montpellier in France where she is also head of the Vascular and Lymphology Medicine Department.
Her main research areas include venous thromboembolism (VTE) disease, lymphatic and venous post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), and rare vascular diseases. She has published internationally. She also teaches in a range of other subjects at the university.
Isabelle has experience working closely with international societies and charities, for some of which she has been chair or an active member.
Since 2011, Isabelle has been the head of the French Lymphoedema Framework, Partenariat Français du Lymphoedème (PFL). She was the organiser and president of the last ILF Conference held in Montpellier in 2012 where she also ran a one-week camp for nine children and young adults with lymphoedema, from four different countries.
Hildur Skuladottir is a plastic surgeon at Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital in Bergen, Norway. Since graduating from medical school (The University of Bergen) in 2008, she has finished her residency programme in plastic surgery and has been involved in clinical and epidemiological research. She has a PhD in plastic surgery and epidemiology (2016). In 2013 she worked as a guest researcher at the National Institutes of Health in the US and Stanford University.
Jayne Williams
Lymphoedema Support Network Wales
Dr Jayne Williams has recently joined the Lymphoedema Network Wales to lead on the development of a psychological service across Wales for people with lymphoedema and lipalgia syndrome.
Jayne has over twenty years’ experience of working with adults, children and young people in NHS, social care and charity settings, and has a key passion for ensuring that services have psychological thinking embedded through them, so that every interaction and intervention can make a positive difference.
Her previous experience leading teams supporting people who have experienced complex trauma, has helped her to understand the impact that life events can have upon all elements of our wellbeing. She is excited to join the lymphoedema community to establish improved access to psychological support for people who feel that this condition is inhibiting their ability to live their life.
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