Denise is a Professor of Family Medicine and the Associate Dean in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the

University of Alberta. Her portfolio includes the Office of Lifelong Learning and the Physician Learning Program, which she co-leads with Dr. Thomas Raedler from the University of Calgary. Her research is on evidence-based health care with a focus on how to translate evidence to advance clinical care using complexity and implementation science.

Her 5As Team research group ( https://obesitycanada.ca/5as-team/) has focused on advancing primary care for people living with obesity. The 5As Team tools are being used in 44 countries and translated into 5 languages. She served on the Executive Committee for the Canadian Obesity Guidelines ( https://obesitycanada.ca/guidelines/) and has supported their adaptation for Chile and Ireland in 2022. Her Illuminate Lab focuses on innovative applications of sensemaking methodologies for complexity, with the receipt of the 2022 Outstanding Research Paper Award for the College of Family Physicians of Canada (https://www.cmaj.ca/content/193/31/E1203/).

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Keynote Presentation: Why Weight? What you need to know about the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: An overview of this patient-centred framework for healthcare professionals, patients, and policy makers.

This presentation is made possible in part through the generous support of our Diamond Partner, Bauerfeind.

Workshop: The 5As Team approach to holistic obesity assessment and management.

Presented together with: Melanie Heatherington

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Dr. Koryzma is a clinical health psychologist in the Endocrinology and Metabolism Program within Alberta Health Services in Calgary, AB. She works with an interdisciplinary team to help patients with chronic health conditions make sustainable health behaviour changes. Dr. Koryzma’s background includes advanced training in interpersonal and health psychology. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Victoria in 2013 and completed a portion of her residency training with the Calgary Adult Bariatric Surgery Clinic. She was previously employed as medical psychologist for the Pediatric Centre for Weight and Health at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Dr. Koryzma is also a Clinical Lecturer for the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary where she teaches about communication skills and mental health treatment in primary care. Her clinical interests include the psychosocial determinants of diabetes and cardiometabolic risk and the role of motivational and relationship-centered interventions in behaviour change.

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Keynote Presentation: Motivating patients to make meaningful and sustainable health behaviour changes with relationship-centered care

Workshop: Overcoming barriers to body acceptance and health behaviour change through mindfulness and self-compassion.

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Dr. David Keast is Founding President of the Canadian Wound Care Foundation and Centre. He is also the Director of Aging, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care Research Centre at the Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario. He was part of an international working group appointed to produce a white paper for the World Health Organization on the management of lymphedema in countries with scarce resources. Dr. Keast is a Founding member of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework and Co-Chair of the CLF’s Board of Directors.

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Breakout Session Topic: International Perspectives in Lymphedema

Breakout Session Topic: Wounds and Lymphedema: Prevalence and Management

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Anna Towers, MD is Director, Lymphedema Program, Supportive and Palliative Care Services, McGill University Health Centre, and Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal. Her main academic interest since 1994 has been in the development of lymphedema services for cancer patients, an area in which she is recognized as a national and international leader. Dr. Towers is a founding member and former Co-Chair of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework.

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Breakout Session Topic: How should we treat palliative cancer patients who have uncontrolled edema?

Breakout Session Topic: New ILA recommendations for diagnosis of lipedema

Breakout Session Topic: How does lymphedema and its care impact body image and sexuality?

Panel Discussion with Marie-Eve Letellier and Sandra Rotholc, RP RSW RMFT CST

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Catherine McCuaig is a pediatric dermatologist working at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center Sainte-Justine, and clinical professor at the University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her medical doctorate was obtained at Queens University, Kingston, residency training at University of Toronto 1982-1984, dermatology at McGill University, 1984 - 1987, and dermatology fellowship in paediatrics and laser under Dr James Rasmussen at the University of Michigan, 1987 - 1988. Her special interests include neonates, vascular anomalies (Hemangioma Investigator Group and the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies), lymphedema, epidermolysis bullosa, laser and teaching. She is an active member of local, national, and international dermatologic societies. Her leadership has been seen in the Society for Dermatology of Montreal as president nine years, as well as the chair of the Atlantic Dermatology meeting 2014, co-chair of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework, fellowship director since 2013, and presidency of the Canadian Dermatology Association 2021-22, chair CDA conference June 2023. She has spearheaded two multidisciplinary clinics in epidermolysis bullosa and lymphedema. Catherine has authored over one hundred peer reviewed articles and 10 dermatology textbook chapters.

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Breakout Session Topic: Discoveries in genetics and primary lymphedema

Breakout Session Topic: Skin changes in lymphedema and risk reduction

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Dr. Shirin Shallwani is a physiotherapist and certified lymphedema therapist, who is currently completing a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Her research interests include exploring physical activity and rehabilitation strategies in oncology, as well as investigating lymphedema risk reduction and management approaches.

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Breakout Session Topic: Lymphedema prospective surveillance and risk reduction

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Marie-Eve Letellier, PhD, obtained her bachelor and master’s degree in kinesiology from Sherbrooke University. After graduating, she started to work as a research assistant in breast cancer studies. This led her to discover the field of arm dysfunction and world of lymphedema. In 2005, she trained as a therapist, 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, including lymphedema. From 2008 to 2020, she was in charge of the “Kinesiology clinic”, Breast Clinic (MUHC), which 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 Lymphedema Clinic (MUHC). She also has a private practice. Since 2019, she has been teaching the theory section of Level 3 course (lymphedema) for Vodder School International. She also has been accredited to be an instructor of the aqualymphatic therapy (Tidhar method). She continuously perfect her knowledge on lymphedema by presenting and attending provincial, national and international conferences.

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Patient Workshop in the Pool: Aqua Lymphatic Therapy for lower body

Patient Workshop in the Pool: Aqua Lymphatic Therapy for upper body

Professional Workshop in the Pool: Aqua Lymphatic Therapy

Co-facilitated by: Marize Ibrahim, PT, CDT

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Breakout Session Topic: How does lymphedema and its care impact body image and sexuality?

Panel Discussion with Dr. Anna Towers and Sandra Rotholc, RP RSW RMFT CST

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ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATION

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Independent prospective follow-up of lymphedema patients who have undergone lymphatic surgeries

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Maryse Beaumier, BNSc, MSc in Nursing sciences, and PhD in biomedical sciences. Maryse is a Professor in the Department of Health at the University of Quebec at Rimouski (UQAR), Campus Lévis since August 2020 after 11 years in the Department of Nursing at the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières. She completed her bachelor of nursing science at the University of Montreal, her Master’s in nursing science at UQTR. She has completed a PhD in biomedical sciences at the University of Montreal (May 2016-January2019) after an almost complete PhD in Community Health at Laval University (2010-2015) (doctoral exams completed with success). Researcher at the CISSS Chaudière-Appalaches Research Center. Involved in the development of wound care for more than 20 years, author of Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Peripheral Arterial Ulcers, Director of the Board at the Canadian Association of Wound Care 2009-2012, member of the editorial board of Wound Care Canada 2010-2020 and for Limb Preservation in Canada de Wounds Canada since 2021, government advisor at the RQSP 2012-2015 and now member of the Groupe international de la francophonie en soins des plaies of Société française et francophone des plaies et cicatrisations (SFFPC) en France.

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Breakout Session Topic: PAD best practice assessment for lower limbs with lymphedema

Breakout Session Topic: Best care for the feet when you have lymphedema: education and treatment plan

Co-Presenter: Audrey Wall, RN

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Audrey Wall has been an RN for more than 25 years, first graduating from Niagara College with an RN diploma, and then continuing with a BScN from Brock University. She has practiced in a number of clinical capacities - on a hospital surgical unit, and in Long Term Care, has taught in the Nursing program at Brock University, and most recently, has worked within a Family Health Team as a Certified Respiratory Educator/TEACH Certified Smoking Cessation Specialist, and a Foot Care Nurse.

Audrey has worked with the Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurses over the past few years in a number of roles, and is currently serving as President. She was part of the group tasked with developing the National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada, which was subsequently published in 2017. Audrey’s article Your Feet Tell a Story was published in Canadian Skin, (2017) a quarterly publication of the Canadian Skin Patient Alliance. Audrey is a member in good standing of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), the Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurses (CAFCN) and is a member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO).

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Breakout Session Topic: Best care for the feet when you have lymphedema: education and treatment plan

Co-Presenter: Maryse Beaumier, RN, MSc, PhD

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Tracy Gardikiotis, BScPT, CLT-LANA, CCES is the senior therapist on the lymphedema service at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina, Saskatchewan. She treats all types of lymphedema and specializes in cancer rehabilitation and cancer related lymphedema. Tracy is dedicated to supporting and advocating for lymphedema patients and increasing awareness and access to rehabilitation services.

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PRESENTATION TOPICS

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Patient Yoga Workshop: Yin Yoga for Lymphedema, Upper Body Session

Patient Yoga Workshop: Yin Yoga for Lymphedema, Lower Body Session

Presented with: Maja Kralovcova

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Maja Kralovcova is an owner and Premier Performance Coach at Level 10 Fitness in Regina, Saskatchewan. Maja is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with the NSCA and is also a Consultant to the Canadian Sport Centre and the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan.

Maja earned a Bachelor of Kinesiology & Health Studies and was awarded the President’s Medal as the Outstanding Graduate in Spring Convocation 2009. In her athletic career, Maja played CIS basketball for the University of Regina Cougar Women’s Basketball team and won three silver medals at Nationals with the team.

Maja continues to build her knowledge with the completion of numerous certifications in fitness, nutrition, and yoga. For Maja, fitness and wellness is a lifelong passion of growing, learning and guiding individuals and teams to unleash their potential. She believes that a positive attitude, consistency and persistence are foundational to reach your goals and dreams.

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Patient Yoga Workshop: Yin Yoga for Lymphedema, Upper Body Session

Patient Yoga Workshop: Yin Yoga for Lymphedema, Lower Body Session

Presented with: Tracy Gardikiotis

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Sandra Rotholc began her post-secondary education at the University of Western Ontario where she studied Philosophy and Social Work. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Bachelor of Social Work, she furthered her studies at the University of Toronto. She obtained her Masters in Social Work.

From her love of learning about new cultures, she has traveled extensively through Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. While living in London, England, she furthered her education and studied Psycho-Sexual Therapy. She has training and experience in a variety of couple and family therapy models, including Narrative Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, PACT and RLT.

While living in Vancouver, she worked for the British Columbia Cancer Agency where she utilized her psycho-sexual training to work with Breast and Prostate Cancer patients. She continued her work with Cancer patients in Toronto within her private practice and volunteering to run a sex education group at Princess Margaret Hospital.

She currently lives in Toronto and has a private practice, offering individual and couple counselling. She has been on television (City TV), published in Toronto Star, Chatelaine, A Breast in the West, Wish and Glow Magazine. She has been featured in documentaries promoting better communication for married couples ( Slice: How to Make Love to My Wife).

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Breakout Session Topic: How does lymphedema and its care impact body image and sexuality?

Panel discussion moderated by Marie-Eve Letellier, PhD, and with Dr. Anna Towers

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Anna Kennedy is the Editor of Pathways magazine and a Founding Member of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework. She lives in Toronto and manages her lymphedema successfully with compression, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle.

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Breakout Session for Patient Attendees: Lymphedema: learning to take care

Presented together with: Jean Ann Ryan

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Jean Ann Ryan, RNBN, CLT is a registered nurse and the Lymphedema Nurse Coordinator with the Provincial Cancer Care Program in St. John’s, NL. She works within a multi-disciplinary oncology team to provide lymphedema services ranging from lymphedema education to intensive treatment and home-based management. Jean Ann also attends a monthly wound care/lymphedema clinic for patients with complicated lymphedema unrelated to cancer.

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Breakout Session for Patient Attendees: Lymphedema: learning to take care

Presented together with: Anna Kennedy

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

About Melanie Heatherington, MEd, Education Specialist

Ms. Heatherington is an Education Specialist with the Office of Lifelong Learning and the Physician Learning Program at the University of Alberta. She also works as a study coordinator for the 5As Team Program with Dr. Denise Campbell-Scherer and helps coordinate the 5As Team training programs for interdisciplinary healthcare providers. She graduated from the University of Alberta with a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, specializing in psychological assessment. She then turned her attention towards community based research with a focus on improving quality of life and health for vulnerable populations.

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Workshop for Health Professionals: The 5As Team approach to holistic obesity assessment and management.

Presented together with: Denise Campbell-Sherer, MD

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

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 lymphedema and lipedema. 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 treatments of patients with lymphedema and lipedema. The Belgian health insurance recognizes the Center for Lymphedema as an expertise center offering multidisciplinary treatment for patients with lymphedema. Besides that, the European Reference Network for Rare Vascular Diseases indicated our center as Belgian expert center for paediatric and primary lymphedema. On a regular basis, Nele gives and organizes courses in the domain of lymphology and oncology in Belgium and the Netherlands. She is founder of Oedema, an interuniversity group that organizes courses for physical therapists in the domain of edema (www.oedema.be). Recently, she cofounded CarEdOn, a research group that aims to improve Care in Edema and Oncology (www.caredon.org).

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Breakout Session Topic: The importance and challenges of compression therapy in adults and children with lymphedema.

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

This presentation is made possible in part through the generous support of our Silver Partner, medi Canada.

Dr. Haykal graduated from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine in 2007 as class valedictorian and silver medalist, and subsequently completed her residency training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto in 2016. During her residency, she completed a four-year Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and immunology with a focus on tracheal reconstruction. She obtained numerous grants and awards including a CIHR Vanier Scholarship. Dr. Haykal then pursued fellowship training in microsurgical reconstruction at the Albany Medical Centre in New York. Dr. Haykal joined the University Health Network and the Toronto General Hospital in 2018. Her clinical focus is on complex oncological reconstruction and microsurgical reconstruction of the breast, head and neck and extremity. She started a lymphedema program in 2019 where she offers microsurgical techniques for the treatment of lymphedema. Her research focuses on tissue-engineered techniques for tracheal reconstruction and the immunology of vascularized composite allotransplantation as well as long term outcomes of lymphedema surgery. Dr. Haykal has been the recipient of numerous grants (most recently NFRF and CIHR) and awards for her clinical, academic and research work, and is the author of several peer-reviewed publications. In 2021, Dr. Haykal was named as an honoree of Canada's Top 40 under 40. She was also recently awarded Top 40 under 40 by the Association of Women Surgeons.

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Panel Presentation: Surgical management of lymphedema

1. Introduction (Dr. Siba Haykal)

2. Preventative techniques (Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle)

3. Physiological techniques (Dr. Andrew Simpson)

4. Ablative techniques (Dr. Benoît Cartier)

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Dr. Temple-Oberle is a University of Calgary Professor cross-appointed to the Departments of Oncology and Surgery, with a special interest in reconstructive plastic surgery. She completed her MD at Queen’s University, a plastic surgery residency at the University of Western Ontario, and fellowships at MD Anderson Cancer Center in reconstructive microsurgery and surgical oncology at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.

Prior to joining the University of Calgary team, Dr. Temple-Oberle worked in the Departments of Surgery and Oncology at University of Western Ontario from 2003 to 2011. During this time, she completed an MSc in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. She has recently completed her Masters of Medical Education through the University of Dundee.

Dr. Temple-Oberle’s current practice specializes in oncological reconstruction, particularly in breast cancer and melanoma. She conducts research focused on improving the quality of life for breast cancer survivors, integrating technology and ERAS protocols to improve surgical outcomes and patient experience, and medical treatment of in-transit melanoma. Her current focus is surgical prevention of lymphedema in cancer surgery patients by using microsurgical technique to reroute the lymphatic system through the venous system. In addition to her oncological work, Dr. Temple-Oberle is also an advocate for access to surgical treatment of body dysmorphia for transgender individuals.

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Panel Presentation: Surgical management of lymphedema

1. Introduction (Dr. Siba Haykal)

2. Preventative techniques (Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle)

3. Physiological techniques (Dr. Andrew Simpson)

4. Ablative techniques (Dr. Benoît Cartier)

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Benoît Cartier, MD is a general and vascular surgeon with a clinical practice at l’Hôpital de Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. Dr. Cartier graduated from the Université de Montréal vascular surgery program in 1990, and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, general surgery, and the College of Physicians of Quebec, Vascular Surgery in 2011. He is an elected Member of the Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery.

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Panel Presentation: Surgical management of lymphedema

1. Introduction (Dr. Siba Haykal)

2. Preventative techniques (Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle)

3. Physiological techniques (Dr. Andrew Simpson)

4. Ablative techniques (Dr. Benoît Cartier)

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Andrew Simpson, MD is a reconstructive plastic surgeon and Assistant Professor and Wellness Director at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON. His areas of clinical interest include orthoplastic surgery and limb salvage, microsurgery, diabetic foot, melanoma, and lymphedema. Dr. Simpson completed undergraduate and medical training at Dalhousie University (BSc 2007, MD 2012), and continued specialty training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery there, finishing in 2017. This was followed by a research fellowship in Clinical Outcomes, focusing on large databases including NSQIP and NIS at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Dr. Simpson completed his clinical subspecialty training with a fellowship Complex Extremity Reconstruction and Microsurgery with an orthoplastic surgery group in Bristol, England. This was followed by added experience in melanoma and skin cancer surgery. He has also visited Oxford, England and Tokyo, Japan, to learn methods and surgical techniques for the treatment of lymphedema. Dr Simpson's clinical and research interests include orthoplastic surgery, limb reconstruction, large database clinical outcomes and epidemiology and patient-related outcomes.

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Panel Presentation: Surgical management of lymphedema

1. Introduction (Dr. Siba Haykal)

2. Preventative techniques (Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle)

3. Physiological techniques (Dr. Andrew Simpson)

4. Ablative techniques (Dr. Benoît Cartier)

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

About Marize Ibrahim, MSc, PT, CLT-LANA

Marize Ibrahim is a lymphedema therapist working at the McGill University Hospital Center Lymphedema Clinic, a LE&RN Network of Excellence. She is a certified Clinical Specialist in Oncology by the Physiotherapy Specialty Certification Board of Canada.

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PRESENTATION TOPICS

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Patient Workshop in the Pool: Aqua Lymphatic Therapy for lower body

Patient Workshop in the Pool: Aqua Lymphatic Therapy for upper body

Professional Workshop in the Pool: Aqua Lymphatic Therapy

Co-facilitator with: Marie-Eve Letellier, PhD

Breakout Patient Workshop Presentation: Staying active with lymphedema: Let’s get Moving! Let’s get Pumping!

With: Angela Yung, PT, CLT-LANA

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ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATION

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Management of lymphedema related to head and neck cancer

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Angela Yung is a lymphedema therapist working at the McGill University Hospital Center Lymphedema Clinic, a LE&RN Network of Excellence.

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PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Breakout Patient Workshop Presentation: Staying active with lymphedema: Let’s get Moving! Let’s get Pumping!

With: Marize Ibrahim, MSc, PT, CLT-LANA

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Dr. Spencer B. Gibson, PhD. is a Professor at the University of Alberta in the Department of Oncology and the first Dianne and Irving Kipnes Endowed Chair in Lymphatic Disorders. At the national level, Dr. Gibson is part of the executive team representing the Prairie provinces for the Terry Fox Research Institute.

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Roundtable Discussion: Patients count: development of a patient registry for Canada

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Lori Radke PT, CDT is a physiotherapist and certified lymphedema therapist who coordinated the Rehabilitation Oncology program at the Tom Baker Cancer Center/Holy Cross in Calgary, AB from 2009-2021. She now works at the lymphedema clinics in Calgary on a casual basis and enjoys the mountain life in Canmore when not working. Lori also volunteers on the editorial board of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework Pathways magazine.

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Interactive Patient Workshop: What I have learned: patient-to-patient advice

Co-facilitated with: Catharine Bowman, Heather Watt, OT

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Catharine Bowman is a graduate student in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University and MD Student at the University of Calgary. In 2007, Catharine’s mother was diagnosed with lymphedema, leading Catharine to promise her mother that she would one-day develop a pharmacological treatment for her mother's incurable disease. By the age of fifteen, Catharine founded a national team of clinicians and scientists to pursue this work across Canada. Today, Catharine's research focuses on the epidemiology of lymphatic disease, lymphedema therapeutics, psychosocial manifestations, and surgical treatment of lymphedema. Through her speaking campaign, "Let's Talk Lymphedema", Catharine has presented on lymphedema internationally.
Catharine completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hon.) at the University of Calgary, as one of five President’s Award recipients in 2020. She has been named one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30, one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine, and was selected as one of thirteen women in the world to join the Rising Talents Network in Paris, France. In 2022, Catharine was awarded the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship to pursue graduate studies at Stanford University.

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Interactive Patient Workshop: What I have learned: patient-to-patient advice

Co-facilitated with: Lori Radke, PT, CDT, Heather Watt, OT

ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATION: The Impact of Lymphatic Venous Anastomosis as a Treatment for Upper and Lower Limb Lymphedema: A Qualitative Interim Analysis

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Heather Watt graduated from the University of Alberta in 2000 as an Occupational Therapist. She has worked in various community settings as an Occupational Therapist. Heather has been an integral part of the development of an outpatient lymphedema clinic since 2010. This clinic focuses on treatment of primary and secondary lymphedema excluding cancer related lymphedema. Heather became a Certified Lymphedema Therapist with the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy in 2013. Her passion and dedication for treatment of clients with lymphedema continues to grow.

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Interactive Patient Workshop: What I have learned: patient-to-patient advice

Co-facilitated with: Lori Radke, PT, CDT, Catharine Bowman

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Claire Ann Deighton-Lamy, Jessica Diamond, Kim Radford, Jenny Whitlaw, Megan Diamond, and Dayna Ricard are all custom garment fitters at Diamond Athletic Medical Supplies Inc. in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Between the six fitters, they have over 65 years of experience helping clients with the proper compression garments.

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Interactive Roundtable Discussion: Fitters’ Forum: Interactive roundtable discussion for garment fitters

For compression garment fitters only.

Pre-registration required. Follow this link: PROFESSIONAL SESSIONS PRE-REGISTRATION

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Elizabeth A. Anderson is an Assistant Professor at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. She earned her BSN from Creighton University in Omaha, an MS(N) in Nursing Education from Gonzaga University, and her PhD from University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing. Dr. Anderson’s 30-year clinical experience has focused on cancer care and survivorship. She is a certified lymphedema therapist. She served as an Army Nurse for 30 years in both clinical and leadership roles. Her research focuses on cancer survivorship issues, especially the self-management of anticancer treatment side effects, such as lymphedema. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Alph Iota Chapter, Army Nurse Corps Association, American Association of Nursing History, American Vein & Lymphatic Society, and the Midwest Nursing Research Society.

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ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATIONS

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1. Experience of Lymphedema and Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors Diagnosed with COVID-19

2. A Core Outcome Set for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Delphi Consensus Study

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Georgina Cama Lee has been a breast cancer and lymphedema patient since 2012. In her quest to help raise awareness about lymphedema, Georgina started volunteering at the MUHC Lymphedema Clinic in 2014. Since 2016, she manages the clinic's database and actively participates in research efforts aimed at optimizing lymphedema patients' care.

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ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATION

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Improving Lymphedema Care: Advantages of a Lymphedema Database

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Dr. Jennifer Kwan is a Staff Radiation Oncologist - Clinician Scientist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto (UTDRO). She graduated from Queen's University with her medical degree in 2015, followed by residency at the University of Toronto. During her residency training, she completed a PhD under the supervision of Dr. Fei-Fei Liu, where she is developing an independent laboratory research program on the late effects of radiotherapy. To date, Dr. Kwan has published 20 peer-reviewed papers, including in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, Nature Communications, JAMA Network Open, and the CMAJ. She is recognized as an expert speaker across North America on lymphedema. She has received grant funding from CIHR and has received multiple international awards including from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the European Radiation Research Society (ERRS), and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC).

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ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATION

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Evaluating radiotherapy-induced circulating cytokine levels as predictors of lymphedema risk

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

Patricia (Trish) Blinn is an occupational therapist at the Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship program at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. In this role, Trish works with an interdisciplinary team to provide support for outpatients experiencing cancer treatment related side effects, with the goal of improving function and quality of life. She has been an occupational therapist at the University Health Network for six years and involved in oncology rehabilitation and research for ten years.

Trish received a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of British Columbia (2011), a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary (2015), and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto (2017).

In her current role, Trish works with individuals of all cancer types, providing consultation in areas such as musculoskeletal impairment, fatigue, chemo induced peripheral neuropathy, mindfulness, return to work, and lymphedema management. Trish completed her training in Manual Lymph Drainage and Combined Decongestive Therapy through the Dr. Vodder International School in 2021. Following this training, Trish provides additional support for lymphedema patients in self-management techniques for lymphatic self-massage, kinesiotaping, bandaging, and compression.

From 2022 to 2023, Trish completed a Collaborative Academic Practice (CAP) Quality Improvement Fellowship at the University Health Network (UHN), with a focus on cellulitis management in lymphedema. This six-month fellowship provides support for point-of-care health professionals to improve the quality of care by leading a quality improvement project on their unit.

Trish has been a repeat guest lecturer on topics in oncology rehab at the University of Toronto Occupational Therapy and Kinesiology departments, Wellspring, Breast Cancer Action Ottawa, and UHN. Trish is passionate about using clinical practice, education, research, and quality improvement initiatives to improve patient quality of life in individuals affected by cancer and to bridge gaps in oncology care.

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ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATION

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Enhancing Cancer Associated Lymphedema Care at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PMCC) Through Improved Cellulitis Management, a Quality Improvement Project

See all session descriptions and explore the entire program at this link.

I am Nirav Patel, recently completed Master of Public Health (MPH) program specializing in Epidemiology at the University of Alberta. I have completed a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery and a master's degree in Doctor of Medicine with a concentration in Community Medicine from India. I am having an experience of nearly a decade of working in the healthcare and public health sector. I started my career as a general practitioner, gained experience in that field for a couple of years.

I am currently working as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the department of Oncology at the University of Alberta in Dr. Spencer Gibson’s lab. In this role, I closely work with stakeholders of different healthcare facilities under Alberta Health Services and Covenant health which allows me to implement my skill sets acquired through my previous experience and education. I am leading 3 research projects focusing on lymphedema, breast cancer radiation associated lymphedema and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

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ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATION

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Establishment of a Biobank of secondary lymphedema patients at the University of Alberta: Success and Challenges.

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Dr. Erik Küppers, Managing Director of Bösl Medizintechnik and Bösl Holding

Cologne, Germany

· Graduated as Medical Doctor 1987 (studies in Amsterdam and Berlin)

· Advanced training in Dermatology, Berlin

· Focus on early detection, prevention, therapy, and rehabilitation of vascular diseases.

· Founding member of ICW (Initiative Chronical Wounds)

· Consultant of different pharmaceutical, medical equipment and IT companies in Europe 1987-2012

· Managing Director - Boesl Medizintechnik 2012-2022 and Boesl Holding since 2012

· Senator - Senate of Economy, Berlin since 2019

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SPONSORED PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Moving Forward Together: IPC and Self-Management

INDUSTRY SPONSORED SESSION SPEAKER: BAUERFEIND CANADA

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Jennifer Ball, RPN, IIWCC, SWAN, CLT. Clinical Specialist, Wound Care

Jennifer Ball, nurse and certified lymphedema therapist, is dedicated to best practice guidelines as it relates to wound care, lower limb preservation pathways, and lymphedema prevention and management. Jennifer enhances the continuum of care from hospital to home and promoting patient-centred excellence within, acute facilities, homecare organizations, conferences, and by way of national webinars.

Jennifer recently collaborated with an interdisciplinary care team in Northwestern Ontario to share her desire for healthy patient outcomes and assisted with facilitating a lymphedema pilot project to support and coach patients with Coban 2 self-bandaging techniques and management in their home setting.

Jennifer graduated with honours in practical nursing at Algonquin College in 2012, received her IIWCC in 2016, and Advanced Ostomy Care Management both from the University of Toronto, Skin Wellness certificate from WOC Institute in 2019 and in 2022 received her Certified Lymphedema Therapist designation from the Klose Institute. Jennifer is a current member of the WOC Institute, Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA), Lymphedema Association of Ontario, and the College of Nurses of Ontario.

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SPONSORED PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Optimizing Outcomes in Lymphedema Management: An Evidence-Based Approach to Treatment and Care

INDUSTRY SPONSORED SESSION SPEAKER: 3M CANADA

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Kim Gladman, BRLS, RMT, CDT

In March of 2020, Kim joined the Juzo family as Territory Manager and Medical Education Liaison. Since 2005, Kim has been helping patients with lymphedema through the administration of Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT).

Kim established her own practice working closely with her community and other healthcare professionals focusing on Lymphedema care. It was here she realized that there was an opportunity to help influence and educate her patients and peers on the identification and treatment options for patients suffering from lymphedema. Her expertise combined with her passion for promoting the benefits of compression garments established her as a leader in her field. She has published many articles, facilitated seminars for both patients and clinicians and continues to be an active spokesperson and champion for lymphedema awareness.

Kim's extensive knowledge and dealer experience as a therapist and certified fitter is a perfect complement to support Juzo’s mission as a market leader in the development and distribution of top-quality lymphedema products.

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SPONSORED PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Lymphedema Is Challenging, Let’s Make Choosing the Right Juzo Compression Garment Easy.

INDUSTRY SPONSORED SESSION SPEAKER: JUZO CANADA

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Sophia White is a clinical lymphatic advisor for Canada with Essity Canada and has been for 8 years. She has always had a passion in lymphatics and continues to strive for new information and research that she can bring to all of the levels she works in. Sophia loves teaching, troubleshooting and taking new courses to ensure she is always up to date on all the new innovations in the industry.

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SPONSORED PRESENTATION TOPIC

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Unity in Compression: Advancing Together for a Brighter Future

INDUSTRY SPONSORED SESSION SPEAKER: ESSITY CANADA

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