Mike  is  currently  an  Associate  Professor  at  the  TCU  and  UNTHSC  School  of  Medicine.  He  has  been  involved  in  multiple aspects  of  basic,  clinical,  and  translational  Lymphology  since  starting  his  work  in  the  lymphatic  field  at  the  University  of  Arizona  in  1989 with Marlys and Charles Witte.  His  expertise  is  in  imaging  techniques  of  the  lymphatic  system,  animal  models  of  lymphedema  and  treatment,  genetics  of  lymphedema,  and  diagnosis/evaluation  of  patients  in  the  clinic.  In  addition,  Mike  is  the  Executive  Editor  of  the  scientific  journal  Lymphology  which  is  the  official  publication  of  the  International  Society  of  Lymphology.  

Dr Tobias Bertsch, MD, PhD has been a senior consultant at the Foeldi Clinic in Hinterzarten, Germany since 2005, specializing in lymphology and bariatric medicine. He also serves as Secretary General of the German Society of Lymphology.

Dr. Bertsch is one of only two physicians in Germany who consults in an outpatient setting approved by the health insurance commission with patients who have lymphedema and lipedema. Dr. Bertsch and his team consult with approximately 4000 patients per year.

In 2012, Dr. Bertsch earned Specialist Certification of Obesity Professional Education (SCOPE), the only internationally-recognized certification in obesity management for health care professionals. 

He lectures extensively throughout Germany but also in other European countries, Canada and the United States. 

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, following a transitional internship at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.  

She is a diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. 

In 2018 Dr. Francis retired from her private practice, Lymphedema Physician Services, PC, in Livingston, NJ where she specialized in evaluation and management of lymphedema, venous edema, and other forms of peripheral edema.  Until 2018 she also served as Medical Director of the St Barnabas Lymphedema Treatment Center at the St. Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center in Livingston, NJ. 

In February 2019 Dr. Francis joined the Barnabas Health Medical Group at the Center for Breast Health and Disease Management in Livingston NJ, focusing on breast cancer-related lymphedema and other rehabilitation issues related to breast cancer and its treatment.

Dr. Francis was a long-time member of the Medical Advisory Committee of the National Lymphedema Network, and is Medical Director of Klose Training and Consulting, a training and certification school for lymphedema professionals. She is also a member of the steering committee of the American Lymphedema Framework Project. 

Dr. Francis is a nationally recognized expert in evaluation and management of lymphedema and is frequently an invited lecturer at lymphedema meetings and conferences throughout the United States.

Dr. Jay Granzow is an internationally respected lymphedema surgeon.  He serves as Professor of Surgery in the Division of Plastic Surgery at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, and Assistant Chief of Plastic Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.  He is Board Certified both in Plastic Surgery and Head and Neck Surgery. 

A pioneer in lymphedema surgery, Dr. Granzow successfully integrated lymphedema therapy with three types of lymphedema surgery including vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT), lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) and suction assisted protein lipectomy (SAPL).  He has published major scientific articles on lymphedema surgery in leading medical journals.  Dr. Granzow is a frequent lecturer at U.S. and international conferences, educating patients, therapists and physicians on the latest advances in lymphedema surgery as part of a holistic approach to lymphedema care.  Dr. Granzow provides lymphedema treatment for patients in his private medical practice located in the Los Angeles area.

Dr Gavin Hughes is a microbiologist with over 25 years experience in researching and testing medical devices.

Gavin attained his medical microbiology doctorate at Cardiff University and then  undertook post-doctoral studies at Porton Down, Salisbury where he became a team leader investigating the use of bacteriophage to treat pathogenic lung biofilms in cystic fibrosis patients, and phage treatment of necrotic enteritis.

As Deputy 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.

pre.cjk { font-family: "Nimbus Mono L", monospace; }p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }Gavin sits on a number of British and European Standard committees and is the editor of the BSi working group drafting the British Standard BS 661210 on Compression Garments as well as editing the CEN revision of the performance standard for surgical dressings.

Recent experience of testing lymphoedema compression garments by Gavin's laboratory has identified that some manufacturers' claims for compression performance are unreliable, and some could potentially cause patient harm.  In his presentation Gavin will describe the testing of lymphoedema garments for the NHS Wales Contract and discuss the implications of the results for clinicians and users.

Tonny Karlsmark, MD, Assoc. Professor

Tonny Karlsmark is consultant and associated professor in Dermato-venereology working at Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. As former head of the department for 15 years, he has experience as well as a diploma in National Health Service Management. He has held Honorary positions such as chairman of the Danish Dermatological Society 2003-2005 and chairman of the Danish Lymphoedema Framework (DLF) from 2010.

His main research areas include wound healing and treatment of chronic oedema. In 1990 he defended

his thesis about “Electrically induced dermal changes” – a morphologic study of porcine skin after transfer of low-moderate amount of electrically energy.

He has published more than 115 articles in international journals and acts as advisor for more than 10 Ph.D. degrees and made opposition (acting as critic) for 1 doctoral thesis and 9 Ph.D. degrees.

Guenter Klose, MLD/CDT Certified Instructor, CLT-LANA received his initial training in Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) at the Foeldi Clinic in 1984 and became certified as Instructor for MLD/CDT in 1986.  He came to the United States in 1990 to assist Dr. Robert Lerner in establishing the first CDT treatment centers in the U.S. 

In 2003, Guenter established his own lymphedema training company, Klose Training, dedicated to providing the highest-quality live and online lymphedema therapy continuing education. He is a leading advocate for high-quality lymphedema treatment and has lectured extensively in the United States and abroad at conferences, therapist and physicians' meetings, and lymphedema support groups. Guenter is a member of the ISL and a founding member of the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA). 

Bonnie Lasinski, MA, PT, CI-CS, CLT-LANA, is Clinical Director of the Boris/Lasinski School, teaching the Casley-Smith Method of CLT, and former Clinical Director of Lymphedema Therapy in Woodbury, Long Island, NY (retired 2016). Ms. Lasinski is a founding member of The Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) and Casley-Smith International (CSI), and serves on the Steering Committee of the American Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP).

Professor Christine Moffatt CBE, FRCN PhD MA RGN DN

Christine 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 holds other visiting chairs at the University of Glasgow and Cardiff University Medical School Wound Healing Institute. 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.

Guillermo Oliver, Ph.D

Thomas D Spies Professor of Lymphatic Metabolism

Director Center for Vascular and Developmental Biology

Director, Regenerative Biology & Stem Cells Initiative 

Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University

The Oliver Lab focuses on understanding how each specific cell type and organ acquires all its specific and unique morphological and functional characteristics during embryogenesis. Alterations in the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling organ formation can result in major defects and pathological alterations. Almost 20 years ago, his laboratory identified the gene Prox1, a discovery that provided the first specific tools to dissect the process leading to the formation of the lymphatic vasculature. They generated the first animal models devoid of lymphatics and in a series of elegant studies they demonstrated that most embyonic lymphatics are venous derived and described the stepwise process leading to the formation of the lymphatic network. The tools and animals models his laboratory generated and generously distributed to laboratories around the world the field of lymphatic research in the last few years grew exponentially as we learned that lymphatics have a much more complex functional role than previously described in both, health and disease. For example, recently lymphatic mlarfunction have been associated to glaucoma, cardiac repair and Alzehimer’s disease. His laboratory also showed for the first time that a defective lymphatic vasculature can promote obesity and associated metabolic disorders. These fundamental discoveries impacted diverse fields including lymphedema, obesity, and cardiovascular research.

Stanley Rockson, MD, FACP, FACC 

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 the Founding Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Lymphatic Research Foundation (now 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. Dr. Rockson has authored more than 150 scientific papers, reviews, book chapters and books devoted to various aspects of lymphatic biology and disease, vascular biology, and cardiovascular medicine.

Julia Rodrick, OTR/L; CLT-LANA; WCC, is a Registered Occupational Therapist recognized as an international mentor and lecturer in the treatment of Lymphedema. She specializes in areas of oncology rehabilitation, orthopedics and wound care. As owner and director of Essential Therapy Education, LLC Julia strives to advocate for lymphedema awareness and clinical education, committing her skills to the development of effective lymphedema treatment through her practice in central Illinois.  She received advanced training of Manual Lymph Drainage and Complete Decongestive Therapies (MLD/CDT) through the Foeldi Clinic and The National Alliance of Wound Care and has taught the principles of MLD/CDT as an instructor with The Norton School of Lymphatic Studies (2016-present) and through Klose Training and Consulting, LCC. (2006-2014). Julia has served on the Lymphology Assoc. of North America, Board of Directors from 2004-2011 and as a long-standing patient educator for the National Lymphedema Network. Currently, she serves on the steering committee for the American Lymphedema Framework Project, contributing to the adaptation of the International Best Practice Document, (2006 and 2013) in association with the ILS. Over the years, she has collaborated with fellow colleagues on several published works intended to promote the provision of quality care to those who struggle with the condition of lymphedema. 

Dr. Stewart received her undergraduate and masters degrees from Stanford university. She attended medical school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and completed her residency in PM & R at the Mayo Clinic where Dr. Margaret Lee introduced her to cancer rehabilitation and treatment of lymphedema.

After residency,Dr. Stewart established one of the largest outpatient lymphedema treatment centers in the United States in Charlotte North Carolina.

 In 1998 she cofounded with Joseph Feldman LANA,The Lymphology Association of North America, and now serves as Vice president on the executive board.

Dr Stewart has recently moved to Chattanooga Tennessee and is in the process of developing a lymphedema outpatient clinic for that region.

Alphonse G. Taghian, MD, PHD, FASTRO 

Professor of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School

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 recognized leader in breast radiation oncology, in particular in the field of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI), Dr Taghian has published more than 180 peer reviewed articles, general reviews and chapters. He has edited 2 books, one of them on the multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of breast cancer.   He was awarded several NIH grants totaling around $2.7 Million for research in breast cancer related lymphedema. His main interests include screening and early intervention for lymphedema, methods to minimize cardiac exposure to radiation, accelerated partial breast irradiation and indications for post-mastectomy radiation.