I was especially busy this fall and winter.  As many of you know, over the years, I developed a strong personal interest and expertise in helping treat lymphedema and other complications that arise following mastectomies or lumpectomies, and have been recognized internationally in this critical sub-specialty related to post-breast cancer surgery. In September, 2017, I was invited to be the keynote speaker for the Japanese National Lymphedema Conference in Osaka Japan. During my trip, I had the opportunity to travel to five other Japanese cities and present my clinical experiences and treatment recommendations to a variety of healthcare professionals.

The following month, In October , I took another overseas flight – this time to attend the International Society of Lymphedema Conference in Barcelona, Spain to share expertise with  Dr. Tobias Bertsch, Senior Physician for the Földi Clinic Hinterzarten, European Centre for Lymphology, in Germany, a world-renowned reference clinic for patients with lymphological diseases. This clinic is affiliated with Földi College, one of the world’s leading trainers of physical therapists seeking advanced training in Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Complete Decongestive Therapy. On behalf of BSN-Jobst, an industry leader in compression therapy technologies, Dr Bertsch and I provided information and acted as a resource to the conference participants on compression therapy solutions that offer immediate benefits and relief to patients with venous and lymphatic disorders.

After returning from these overseas trips, I was asked to be a speaker for Lymphedema seminars held in Connecticut and Huntington Beach CA. However, in January, 2018, I needed to dig out my passport once again! This time I flew down under to Australia to speak at the United International Phlebology Conference in Melbourne, a conference attended by hundreds of vascular surgeons and nurses from all over the world. While in the Southern Hemisphere, I also travelled to Adelaide and Melbourne to give seminars on the use of low level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat symptoms of post-mastectomy lymphedema.

Between my travels, I also did some writing. In January 2018, I had the honor of having two articles published in the Oncology Rehabilitation Journal, the official journal of the Oncology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), an indexed resource to disseminate peer-reviewed research-based evidence related to oncologic physical therapy and cancer rehabilitation.  My articles focused on my extensive clinical experience related to laser therapy and my lymphedema patients’ experiences with new-to-the-market night garments that help with fluid movement in the arms and legs.

After being so busy for a number of months, I’m glad to be settled back home again in Burlington at Timberlane Physical Therapy doing exactly what I enjoy doing the most – helping my patients improve their mobility, reduce painful symptoms, and make their activities of daily life more enjoyable and fulfilling.