Speaker Bios
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Elizabeth A. Anderson is an Assistant Professor at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing in Columbia, Missouri.
She earned her Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from Creighton University in Omaha, a Master of Science 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.
Maryse has been a Professor in the Department of Health at the University of Quebec at Rimouski, Lévis Campus, since 2020 after spending 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, and her Master’s in Nursing Science at University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières. She went on to complete a PhD in biomedical sciences at the University of Montreal in 2019.
Maryse is a researcher at the CISSS Chaudière-Appalaches Research Center in Lévis, Quebec. She has been involved in the development of wound care for more than 20 years, and
· Is the author of Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Peripheral Arterial Ulcers
· Was Director of the Board at the Canadian Association of Wound Care 2009-2012
· Was a member of the editorial board of Wounds Canada’s publication, Wound Care Canada from 2010-2020, and currently for their journal, Limb Preservation in Canada, since 2021
· She served as government advisor at the Quebec Wound Care Group, Regroupement Québécois en Soins de Plaies, from 2012-2015
· And she is currently a member of the Groupe international de la francophonie en soins des plaies of the Société française et francophone des plaies et cicatrisations in France.
Patricia Blinn Bio, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.), CDT, 2022 - 2023 TAHSNp Health Professions Innovation Fellow
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.
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
Georgina Cama Lee, BSIE, MBA, MEng QSE. 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.
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/).
Dr. 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.
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.
Nele 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 expertise center offering multidisciplinary treatment for patients with lymphedema. Besides that, the European Reference Network for Rare Vascular Diseases indicated the center as a Belgian expert center for paediatric and primary lymphedema.
Nele routinely organizes and presents courses in the domain of lymphology and oncology in Belgium and the Netherlands. She is the founder of Oedema, an inter-university 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).
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.
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.
Dr. Spencer Gibson (Ph.D.) 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
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.
Joined the University Health Network and the Toronto General Hospital in 2018 with a clinical focus is on complex oncological reconstruction and microsurgical reconstruction of the breast, head and neck and extremity. Siba 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.
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.
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.
About 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-Chair 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.
Anna Kennedy, Editor, Pathways Magazine. Anna is a CLF founding member and the Editor of Pathways, the CLF’s official publication. She spent 30 years in corporate senior management, working in the areas of training and communications for international companies like Thomas Cook and American Express. Her last business role was Vice-President with Indigo-Chapters, before she transitioned to the charitable sector in 2006. Anna served on the Board of the International Lymphoedema Framework from 2012 - 2020 and was the CLF's Executive Director from 2014 - 2019. She currently volunteers in an advisory capacity to the CLF Board on project related activities. She is a cancer survivor who advocates healthy living and a positive attitude for living with lymphedema.
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.
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).
Marie-Ève 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.
Dr Catherine C. McCuaig is a pediatric dermatologist working at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center in Sainte-Justine, Quebec, and a clinical professor at the University of Montreal, in Quebec.
Her medical doctorate was obtained at Queens University, Kingston in 1982, with residency training at the University of Toronto from 1982-1984, Dermatology at McGill University from 1984-1987, and dermatology fellowship in paediatrics and laser under Dr James Rasmussen at the University of Michigan from 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
· at the Society for Dermatology of Montreal as president for nine years, as well as the chair of the Atlantic Dermatology meeting in 2014
· She is current co-chair of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework,
· And she is past president of the Canadian Dermatology Association 2021-22, and chaired the 2023 conference of the Canadian Dermatology Association
Dr. McCuaig has spearheaded two multidisciplinary clinics in epidermolysis bullosa and lymphedema. Catherine has authored over one hundred peer reviewed articles and 10 dermatology textbook chapters.
Nirav Patel recently completed his Master of Public Health (MPH) program specializing in Epidemiology at the University of Alberta. He has 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. Nirav started his career as a general practitioner, and is 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, he works closely with stakeholders of different healthcare facilities under Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health. Nirav currently leads 3 research projects focusing on lymphedema, breast cancer radiation associated lymphedema and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
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 since 2009. She now works casually at the Lymphedema clinics in Calgary, but enjoys the mountain life in Canmore when not working.
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.
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).
Jean Ann Ryan 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.
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.
Dr. Andrew Simpson 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.
Dr. Temple-Oberle, BA, MD, MSc, FRCSC is a professor of surgery and oncology at the University of Calgary. She completed her medical training at Queen’s University, her plastic surgery residency at Western University, and her fellowships in microvascular surgery and cutaneous oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre and Tom Baker Cancer Centre respectively. Dr. Temple-Oberle completed her Masters in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and her Masters of Medical Education at the University of Dundee.
Her practice focuses on melanoma, immediate lymphatic reconstruction, and breast reconstruction. She is the lead of the Alberta Cutaneous Tumour Team. Her research focuses survivorship quality of life, such as minimizing morbidity of surgical therapies for melanoma and breast cancer.
Dr. Anna Towers is Director, Lymphedema Program, Supportive and Palliative Care Services, McGill University Health Centre, and Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology and Family Medicine, 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.
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).
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.
Angela Yung, PT CLT-LANA is a lymphedema therapist working at the McGill University Hospital Center Lymphedema Clinic, a LE&RN Network of Excellence.
