2023 Keynote Speakers
Jill Binkley, PT, MSc, CLT, FAAOMPT
Program Director and Founder, TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
Jill Binkley founded the non-profit 501(c)3 healthcare organization TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and serves as the Program Director. She has extensive experience as a consultant, clinician and educator in the fields of breast cancer rehabilitation, orthopaedic physical therapy and manual therapy. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy. Jill has more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and has presented locally, nationally and internationally on outcome measurement in physical therapy and breast cancer rehabilitation.
As a breast cancer survivor, Jill is a passionate advocate for increased attention to the unmet physical and emotional side effects of breast cancer treatment and the role of rehabilitation and exercise in improving the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Jill is a member of the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association and serves on the Editorial Board of Rehabilitation Oncology.
2023 Speakers
Cindy Johnson Armstrong, PT, DPT, CHT, CLT
Outpatient Supervisor of Rehab Services, UCHealth
Cindy Armstrong is a certified Hand Therapist, Lymphedema Therapist and Ergonomic Assessment Specialist. She joined the faculty of the CU Physical Therapy Program in 2004 and transitioned to a full-time core faculty position at CU in 2008. In 2019, she accepted a Senior Therapist position at UCHealth. She maintained her responsibilities within the CU Physical Therapy Program until February of 2022, when she accepted a full-time position as the Outpatient Supervisor of Rehab Services at UCHealth.
Nationally, Cindy sits on the Board of Directors for the American Physical Therapy Association and the Hand Therapy Certification Commission’s exam review committee. Her clinical interest and expertise include the management of complex upper extremity pathology, lymphedema and oncology rehabilitation, trauma related injuries, nerve compression syndromes and complex regional pain syndrome. She is the Co-PI in a grant funded research project examining optimal treatment techniques for patients with lower extremity lymphedema. She has lectured locally and nationally as well as written multiple textbook chapters on these topics.
Andrea Branas, PT, DPT, MSE
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Temple University
Andrea Branas, PT, DPT, MSE, is an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She also serves as the assistant director of clinical education for the DPT program. Andrea’s area of clinical practice includes pediatric and adult pelvic floor disorders, lymphedema and oncology rehabilitation. She provides clinical care with the Comprehensive Vascular Anomalies Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where a multi-disciplinary team provides care to improve the lives of children with lymphatic and vascular anomalies.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Branas has been mentoring physical therapists and students as they acquire skills in specialty areas such as pediatrics, women’s health and oncology rehabilitation. She received her physical therapy education from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and Arcadia University. Prior to becoming a physical therapist, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Franklin and Marshall College and Masters in Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
Steven M. Dean, DO, FSVM, RPVI
Director, Vascular Medicine Program, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Steven M. Dean, DO, FSVM, RPVI, is director of the Vascular Medicine Program, director of Cardiovascular Medicine’s Noninvasive Peripheral Vascular Laboratory and professor of clinical medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
His postgraduate training included a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in vascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Dr. Dean has published many articles and book chapters on topics related to vascular medicine and is a frequent lecturer at national meetings on vascular related diseases. He has co-edited three vascular medicine textbooks including the Color Atlas and Synopsis of Vascular Medicine (winner of the 2014 “highly commended” cardiology textbook award by the British Medical Association).
Dr. Dean is an examination writer for the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and is a board member of the American Vein and Lymphatic Society.
Shelley DiCecco, PT, PhD, CLT-LANA, CI-CS
Director, Sports Rehabilitation Center
Shelley DiCecco is Director of the lymphedema and pelvic floor service lines for the Sports Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She specializes in the treatment of patients with genital, pediatric, and/or complicated lymphedema. She also is full-time faculty as an Assistant Professor at the Georgia’s Campus for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in the Physical Therapy Department. Her research focus is on lymphatics and lymphedema, specifically, genital lymphedema and pediatric lymphedema.
Shelley 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 vice-president.
Shelley 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.
Outside of work, Shelley spends time with her husband Rob and their 2 Bengal cats.
Paula Donahue, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Physical Therapist IV Vanderbilt Dayani Center for Health & Wellness
Paula Donahue, PT, DPT, MBA, CLT-LANA is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Physical Therapist Level IV at Vanderbilt Dayani Center for Health and Wellness. She received her training at Duke University (BS), Northwestern University Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences (DPT), The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School (MBA), and The Academy of Lymphatic Studies (CLT), and she has obtained Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) certification. She specializes in the treatment of lymphedema, lipedema and oncology rehabilitation and engages in related clinical care and research.
Vince Gardner, MD
Board-Certified Surgeon, The Vein Institute at Southern Surgical Arts
Dr. Vince Gardner is devoted to advancing the modern treatment of venous disease, as well as offering his patients the most comprehensive, modern and effective cosmetic procedures available. His 21-year career has provided him with a wealth of experience and expertise to offer his patients.
Dr. Gardner is certified by the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Additionally, he is credentialed in ultrasound and is a Registered Surgeon in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI). Dr. Gardner serves on the faculty of SSAs’ American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s Fellowship Program, where he helps to train outstanding surgeons from around the country. He is also a board examiner for the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.
After a career in general surgery, including laparoscopic, thoracic, geriatric, and vascular procedures, Dr. Gardner began performing endovenous thermal ablations to benefit his vein patients in 2006. He joined the Alabama Vascular and Vein Center a year later, where he focused his efforts on using endovenous techniques to treat venous disorders. During this time, Dr. Gardner also performed cosmetic surgeries at Southern Surgical Arts while completing a fellowship in facial and cosmetic body surgery. After his fellowship with SSA, Dr. Gardner relocated his practice to Chattanooga, focusing on the treatment of venous disease and cosmetic surgery.
Dr. Gardner received his B.S. in Biology from Rhodes College and his MD from the University of South Alabama, College of Medicine. Dr. Gardner was awarded the Outstanding Resident in Surgery award during his Chief Resident Year in surgical training with Baptist Health Systems in Birmingham.
Dr. Gardner lives on Signal Mountain with his wife and two children. He enjoys woodworking and college football and has traveled to Honduras for medical mission work.
Alexandra Hill, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
Oncology and Pelvic Health Physical Therapist
Alexandra Hill earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida and completed a Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency at Duke University. She is a dual Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health and Oncologic Physical Therapy and a LANA Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Alexandra is presently a physical therapist with UF Health Jacksonville, specializing in pelvic health, lymphedema, and oncology rehabilitation for all genders.
Beyond her clinical work, Alexandra is an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor for students, has several peer-reviewed research publications on pelvic health and oncology rehabilitation, serves as an item-writer for the Women’s Health and Oncologic Clinical Specialist exams, has taught and presented at multiple courses and conferences, and is an active APTA member. Additionally, Alexandra provides inclusive and empowering education on pelvic health, oncology, and lymphedema through her platform OncoPelvic PT.
John Jordi, PTA, CLT-LANA, CI, ASTYM
Physical Therapist Assistant
John received training as a Physical Therapist Assistant from St. Catherine University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1993. In 2007, he earned a B.S. in Business Administration (summa cum laude) from Bryan College, Dayton, Tennessee.
John has been a therapist for 27 years. For nearly 22 years he has specialized in the treatment of lymphedema. Currently, he is the Clinical Manager for Juzo USA. He also continues to work to work directly with patients and physicians in a vascular clinic, specializing in compression and difficult custom garment fittings. His background includes management as clinic director of a lymphedema program at benchmark physical therapy. Additionally he has experience in treatment of strokes, brain injuries, wound care and orthopedics.
John is also an adjunct instructor for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he teaches the lymphedema portion of the doctorate physical therapy program. He is a senior instructor for Academy of Lymphatic Studies (ACOLS) and has been with them since 2008.
John has been published 4 times and provides the clinical expertise for the research publications with Vanderbilt University and Western Carolina University. These articles have appeared in Radiology, Journal of Lymphoedema, and Lymphatic Research and Biology. John also consults with other universities and businesses in continued research related to lymphedema. John also offers no-charge seminars to therapists in his area on topics such as: difficult garment fittings, billing issues and wrapping techniques for therapists.
While John managed the Siskin Hospital lymphedema program, the facility was noted in two journals: MD News, for its inpatient and outpatient program, and Rehab Management Journal, for providing one of only two inpatient programs for Stage 3 lymphedema patients which he initiated. He also managed a free fitting clinic twice a month to any lymphedema patients who had need, he initiated a patient endowment fund at Siskin Hospital to assist patients with the cost of compression garments and he organized a support group for those with lymphedema.
John has had the opportunity to speak about lymphedema and compression at various national conferences such as: Juzo Power, Klose Training, National Lymphedema Network and American Vein and Lymphatic Society.
Guenter Klose, MLD/CDT Certified Instructor, CLT-LANA
Founder of Klose Training & Consulting, LLC
Guenter Klose received his initial Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) training in 1984 at the Foeldi Clinic in Hinterzarten, Germany. Specializing in the treatment of Lymphedema, he became certified in 1987 as an instructor for MLD/CDT by the German Massage Therapy and Physical Therapy Association and continued working as instructor at the Foeldi Schools in Freiburg and Munich, Germany.
In 1990, Guenter came to the United States to assist Dr. Robert Lerner in establishing the first CDT treatment center for lymphedema patients located in New York City. Guenter’s work was instrumental in establishing the field of lymphedema therapy and training in the U.S. He assisted in opening numerous lymphedema treatment centers on the East Coast.
In 2003, Guenter established his own lymphedema training and consulting company, an organization dedicated to providing the highest quality lymphedema therapy training available. Guenter has facilitated the training of hundreds of lymphedema therapists from across the country and abroad.
Guenter has lectured extensively in the United States, Europe, and South America. His activities include presentations at the National Lymphedema Network Conferences, lecturing at physicians’ meetings in a large number of hospitals, as well as numerous lymphedema support groups across the country. He is the Program Director of the biannual Klose Training & Consulting Lymphedema Conference. Here in the U.S., Guenter actively treats lymphedema patients and teaches classes for MLD/CDT several times a year.
Guenter was a founding member of the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) and served on the LANA Board of Directors from 1999-2004.
Heidi Miranda-Walsh, OTR/L, CHT, CLT-LANA
Occupational Therapist
Heidi Miranda-Walsh is a graduate of Towson University in Maryland with more than 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist. She acquired her hand therapy specialty certification in 1991 and was trained as a lymphedema therapist at the former Lerner Lymphedema Services Academy of Lymphatic Studies in 1997.
Heidi balances her therapy practice between two specialties developing hand therapy and lymphedema therapy programs. She has developed a special expertise in treating head and neck oncology patients and has lectured extensively on the subject of Lymphedema of the head & neck at conferences for patients, therapists and doctors across the U.S.
Heidi serves as an instructor with Klose Training & Consulting, sharing her special interest, skills and experience in working with patients with lymphedema of the head and neck.
Michael Oberlin, MD
Senior Consultant, Foeldi Clinic
Michael Oberlin, MD, is an Internal Medicine Specialist, focusing on wound management and lymphology, and Medical Director Foeldi Schule, Freiburg, Germany. He has been Chief Consultant at Földi Clinic Hinterzarten, Germany, Specialty Clinic for Lymphology, since 1993. He has specialty training in pediatric lymphology, wound management and echo-cardiography. Dr. Oberlin has been a medical instructor for MLD and CDT since 2007.
His professional memberships include the following:
- General Secretary of the German Speaking Lymphologists (Gesellschaft Deutschsprachiger Lymphologen – GDL)
- German Society of Lymphology (Deutschen Gesellschaft für Lymphologie – DGL)
- Association for Internal Medicine (Bund der Internisten – BDI)
- German Society of Internal Medicine (Deutschen Gesellschaft für Innere Medizin)
- German Society of Wound healing and Wound Treatment (Deutschen Gesellschaft für Wundheilung und Wundbehandlung – DGfW)
Vicki Ralph, MPPA, OTR/L, CLT-LANA
OT Clinical Specialist, University of Colorado Hospital
Vicki Ralph holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy Administration/Healthcare Management from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She has experience working in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient settings in Wisconsin, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Colorado.
Vicki received certification in Lymphedema Management in 2005, and in 2007, completed certification through the Lymphedema Association of North America (LANA). In 2011, Vicki attended an advanced lymphedema course at the world-renowned Foeldi Clinic in Germany.
In April 2016, Vicki joined UCHealth. In 2021, Vicki and two colleagues applied for and received an award for the University of Colorado Hospital system to be acknowledged as a LE&RN Lymphedema Network of Excellence. This award pulls together the lymphatic disease accomplishments of Rehabilitation, Surgery, Imaging, Research, Genetics and Community outreach throughout the state of Colorado. This achievement ignites the ongoing passion to build and improve UCHealth’ s services for lymphatic diseases.
Vicki has served as a course instructor for Klose Training and Consulting since 2010. She teaches Lymphedema Therapy Certification all over the USA. In addition, Vicki has also traveled to Malaysia to teach both basic and advanced lymphedema therapy courses to health professionals in that country.
Vicki is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with patients, family members, and healthcare professionals. Her primary focus has focused on education: 1. Educating patients to become independent in managing swelling associated with lymphedema, surgery, trauma, and/or obesity, 2. Educating physicians and healthcare providers on lymphatic disease diagnosis and treatment updates and 3. Educating and mentoring fellow CLTs to keep their skills current, consistent and effective.
Linda Roherty, CLT-LANA
Associate Instructor for Lymphedema Therapy Certification, Klose Training
Linda took her initial lymphedema therapy training in 1998 and since then has amassed additional hours of specialty training in lymphatic disorders. Throughout her career, Linda has focused on patient treatment and educating the medical community on lymphatic disorders and patient treatments. In 1998, she worked at Sherman Hospital for 10 years with an emphasis in lymphedema and wound care. In 2008, she joined Presence St. Joseph Hospital to develop the oncology rehabilitation program with special attention on lymphedema. Linda returned to Advocate Sherman Hospital from 2017-2019, where she focused on standards of care for oncology rehabilitation and lymphedema treatment. In 2019, Linda joined HCA StoneCrest Medical Center’s team of lymphedema and oncology rehabilitation therapists to be part of a center of excellence.
Linda joined Klose Norton Training & Consulting, LLC in 2000 as an Associate Instructor for Lymphedema Therapy Certification courses and taught for three years. In 2005, she rejoined Klose Training and continues to teach nationally and internationally.
Linda earned her CLT-LANA credentials in May 2001. She was elected to the Lymphology Association of North America’s Board of Directors in 2000, acted as Vice President of LANA from 2002–2005, and served as Secretary from 2010-2014. She also is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, its Acute Care & Oncology section and the National Lymphedema Network.
Linda lectures nationally and internationally on lymphedema and oncology rehabilitation. She is an important resource to many therapists who are setting up lymphedema programs or needing assistance with difficult-to-treat patients. She is a 1989 graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Physical Therapy.
Eva Sevick-Muraca, PhD
Director of the Center for Molecular Imaging, Texas Medical Center
Eva Sevick-Muraca is a Professor of Molecular Medicine, Director of the Center for Molecular Imaging, and Kinder Distinguished Chair of Cardiovascular Research at the University of Texas Health Science Center of the Texas Medical Center. Eva and her team developed near-infrared lymphatic imaging in more than 700 infants, children, lymphedema patients and animal models of human lymphatic diseases—from the bench and translated to the clinic. Specifically, her team develops and uses optical lymphatic imaging of patients and animal models of human disease to understand how the lymphatic vasculature mediates immune responses and can be manipulated mechanically, surgically and pharmacologically. Her work has been presented in more than 220 peer-reviewed publications, spanning engineering to the biological sciences.
Eva is trained as a chemical/biomedical engineer with her PhD from Carnegie Mellon and post-doctoral training in Biophysics and Optics from the University of Pennsylvania. She has held faculty positions at Vanderbilt, Purdue, Texas A&M and Baylor College of Medicine and has served as Chair and appointed study panel member for the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and State of California Research Programs. Eva also is Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions of Medical Imaging and Elected fellow of the Society of Photo-Instrumental Engineering and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering.
Donald L. Thomas Jr. PT, DPT, CLT-LANA, CWT
Physical therapist, Good Shepherd Penn Partners
Donald Thomas has been a lymphedema therapist for nearly nine years and works at Good Shepherd Penn Partners/Penn Therapy and Fitness. He treats a variety of patient populations including, but not limited to, patients with lymphedema, wounds and cancer-related fatigue. He received his wound care certification in April 2021. To date, he has received the title of Expert Clinician from NLN.
Donald cohosts a Virtual Lymphedema support group and Virtual Oncology Focus Group once a month to further educate patients on various topics relating to lymphedema. Additionally, he has presented on several forums, at The Midwest Lymphedema Symposium. Donald graduated from Widener University in 2013.
Joshua Trock, DPT, CLT-LANA
Doctor of Physical Therapy and Lymphedema
Joshua Trock is the Doctor of Physical Therapy and Lymphedema Specialist at San Antonio’s leading vein treatment center, Medical Vein Clinic. He has more than a decade of experience caring for patients suffering from various forms of lymphatic disease. He is passionate about creating novel and adaptive plans of care that positively impact the socioeconomic, emotional, and relational outcomes for lymphedema and lipedema patients and their caregivers.
After receiving his doctorate in Physical Therapy from UT Health San Antonio in 2011, he went on to complete his CLT with Klose Lymphedema Training that same year. Joshua developed the first and only in-home lymphedema treatment program in South Texas. During his work with a locally owned home health company, he grew the program, training a large team of treating therapists to care for hundreds of patients throughout multiple counties. Through this volume and assortment of cases, he developed and optimized the best practices for the diversity of venous-lymphatic disorders along with associated wound care.
Joshua is accredited with the Lymphedema Association of North America (LANA), certified as an Edema Wound Specialist through Norton Lymphedema Training, certified as an Exercise Expert for Aging Adults through the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy, and certified through APCA for diagnostic ultrasound physics.
Jodi Winicour, PT, CMT, CLT-LANA
Course Instructor, Physical Therapist, Klose Training and Consulting
Jodi Winicour graduated from Indiana University’s Physical Therapy program in 1993 and received her massage therapy certification in 1997 from Michigan’s Health Enrichment Center. Initially practicing general orthopedic physical therapy at Community Hospital East’s Outpatient Physical Therapy Department in Indianapolis, Indiana, she began specializing in the treatment of cancer patients in 1998 and lectured for the Physical Therapy Department of Indiana University.
Jodi was certified as an MLD/CDT Therapist by Klose Norton Training & Consulting in 1998. She received her CLT-LANA Certification in October, 2001.
In 2000, Jodi joined Cedars Sinai Medical Center where she worked to develop and expand the oncology and lymphedema program in Los Angeles for seven years. Since 2007, she has treated patients with lymphedema, cancer-related dysfunction, and orthopedic issues at Longmont United Hospital in Longmont, Colorado.
In addition to her work as a full-time clinician, Jodi has served as a class instructor for Klose Training & Consulting’s Lymphedema Therapy Certification course since 2000. She is also the author and instructor for one of Klose Training’s most successful continuing education courses, “Breast Cancer Rehabilitation.”
Jodi has taught and presented at courses and conferences across the United States and in Europe on the topics of lymphedema and breast cancer rehabilitation.
