LASNA Lymphedema Conference
Dowdle Center
LASNA Lymphedema Conference
LASNA is the Lymphedema Awareness and Support Network of Alabama. Our mission is to raise awareness of lymphedema and lymphatic disorders and provide support to people in Alabama touched by these disorders. We have a facebook page and host educational and support events throughout the state.
LASNA Lymphedema Conference 2025
The LASNA Lymphedema Conference 2025 will be held on Saturday, March 8. This year will feature an exceptional lineup of expert speakers who will address the latest advancements in lymphedema care, treatment options, and supportive therapies. This one-day event will bring together healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers for a comprehensive educational experience designed to optimize lymphedema management.
Who Should Attend? This conference is ideal for healthcare professionals, including occupational and physical therapists, oncologists, surgeons, nurses, and other medical practitioners, as well as patients and caregivers impacted by lymphedema, lipedema, and related conditions.
What is Included? Conference registration includes 6 CEUs for healthcare professionals, a continental breakfast and boxed lunch.
Don't miss out on this invaluable opportunity to hear from leading experts and gain practical knowledge that can make a significant difference in the care and management of lymphedema and associated disorders.
Click Here to Register or got to: https://bit.ly/4awBIXt
This year's Conference Topics and Speakers include:
Dr. Stefanos Boukovalas
Surgical Options for Lymphatic Disorders
Dr. Boukovalas will discuss the latest surgical interventions available for managing lymphatic disorders, including options for patients with advanced lymphedema. Topics will include the benefits, risks, and outcomes of surgical procedures aimed at improving lymphatic flow.
Dr. Ashlyn Everett
Lymphedema in Radiation Oncology
Dr. Everett will provide an in-depth look at radiation therapy as a cancer treatment option, exploring the side effects that can contribute to lymphedema development and how to manage these effects effectively.
Kate Bartley
Optimizing Lymphedema Outcomes through Lifestyle
Kate Bartley is a physical therapist and a Master Certified Life & Health Coach. In this session she will focus on the role of lifestyle modifications, including nutrition, exercise, and stress management, in improving lymphedema outcomes. Kate will share practical strategies to empower individuals in managing their condition and enhancing their quality of life.
Karen Allen Hislop and John Jordi
Detecting and Measuring Lymphedema & Fibrosis
Karen Allen Hislop is an occupational therapist and LANA certified lymphededma therapist. She founded Therapy Achievements in 2009. John Jordi is a physical therapy assistant, LANA certified lymphedema theraist and National Lymphedema Network Expert Clinician. He founded Edema Track in 2023.
Lymphedema and fibrosis are two distinct yet often co-occurring conditions that present significant challenges in both diagnosis and management. Karen and John will provide an overview of the latest advancements in detecting and measuring these conditions, emphasizing the integration of diagnostic techniques and technologies to enhance early identification and monitoring.
Kristen Bell
Skin Care after Radiation, Lymphedema, and Lipedema
Kristen is an occupational therapy assistant, certified lymphedema therapist, and certified wound therapist. In her presentation she will address the critical aspects of skin care for individuals affected by radiation therapy, lymphedema, and lipedema. Kristen Bell will highlight techniques for maintaining skin integrity, preventing complications, and managing symptoms associated with these conditions.
Melissa Flowers
Management of Fibrosis in Breast Cancer, Lymphedema, and Lipedema
Melissa Flowers is an occupational therapy assistant and certified lymphedema therapist. She will cover the management of fibrosis in patients with breast cancer, lymphedema, and lipedema, offering valuable insights into treatments and therapies aimed at reducing fibrosis and improving mobility.
Living with Fibrosis after Breast Cancer – Patient Testimonial
In this presentation, a courageous patient will share her personal journey living with fibrosis. This moving testimony will offer first-hand insights into the challenges and coping strategies for managing fibrosis, lymphedema, and the emotional aspects of living with these conditions.
LASNA Lympehedema Conference 2024
The annual LASNA Lymphedema Conference is Saturday, March 9, 2024. We have a lineup of top-notch speakers who are experts in their respective fields. Topic tracts for this year’s conference are Head & Neck Cancer and Lipedema.
CEUs: Up to 7 CEUs are available for nurses, social workers, and occupational, physical and speech therapists.
Location: Dowdel Center, 109 Governors Drive SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
Tickets: Tickets are $15 and include attendance at the conference, snacks, boxed lunch and CEUs. Purchase your tickets at https://registration.socio.events/e/lasnalymphedema2024
Agenda: 7:30 Registration/Breakfast/ Sponsor Tables
Head & Neck Cancer Tract:
8:00 Dr. Harishanker Jeyarajan
Side Effects after Facial Reconstruction
9:00 Caitlin Stone, MCD, CCC-SLP
Impacts on speech and swallowing with head & neck cancer/ lymphedema
10:00 Jennifer Egeland, CCC and Melissa Flowers, COTA, CLT
Treatment of lymphedema, scar tissue and swallowing after head & neck cancer
11:00 Boxed Lunch
Sponsor Introductions / Patient Testimonial
Lipedema Tract
12:00 Dr. Aaron Aday and Dr. Rachel Crescenzi
Vanderbilt Lipedema Study
1:00 Dr. Paula Stewart
Dietary Considerations with Lipedema
2:00 Mary Hopper, RN, CWON and Kristen Hudgens Bell, COTA, CLT, CWCA
Wound Healing with Lipedema
3:00 Certificates
3:30 Adjourn
Speaker Bios:
Harishanker Jeyarajan, MD
Dr. Jeyarajan joined the UAB faculty from Melbourne, Australia. His background is diverse with fellowship and subspecialty training in several key areas including head and neck oncology (UAB), skull base surgery (London, UK) and airway reconstruction (London, UK). He serves as a surgical hospitalist and takes the lead for difficult airway patients. He provides care for patients requiring urgent transfer to UAB, in-house consults and additional head and neck and skull base cases.
Caitlin Stone, MDC, CCC-SLP
Caitlin Stone, MCD, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist at The University of Alabama at Birmingham in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Hearing and Speech. She attended Auburn University and graduated in 2008 with her Master of Communication Disorders degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In her early career, she gained experience in a variety of settings including skilled nursing and rehab, LTAC, home health, and acute care. She joined the UAB Department of Otolaryngology in 2017 where she specializes in intervention and rehabilitation for communication and dysphagia related to head and neck cancer. Her interests include quality of life and outcome measures related to dysphagia and head and neck cancers. She enjoys mentoring undergraduate and graduate students through clinical education. She was selected and is currently serving as a member of the 2023-2024 ASHA Leadership Development Program in Healthcare.
Jennifer Egeland, CCC-SLP
Jennifer Egeland is a speech and language pathologist at Therapy Achievements. She received her Masters in Communicative Science Disorders from Alabama A&M and has worked in the field of Speech Therapy for over 10 years. She primarily works with people who have Head & Neck cancer, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia and other neurological issues. She specializes in treating cognitive impairment, communication difficulty and dysphagia. She is certified in LSVT Loud Parkinson’s Therapy, and Vital Stim Dysphagia Therapy. Recently she completed Walt Fritz Soft Tissue Mobilization and Norton’s School of Lymphatic Therapy Head & Neck Certifications.
Melissa Flowers, COTA, CLT
Melissa received her Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy from Wallace State College. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist and specializes in working with breast cancer, head and neck cancer and lymphedema patients. Prior to working at Therapy Achievements, she enjoyed working in a variety of settings including sub-acute rehab, out-patient and in-patient rehab.
Aaron Aday, MD
Dr. Aday is a vascular medicine specialist and Instructor in Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Yale University and completed fellowships at Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on genetic, inflammatory, and lipid contributions to vascular development and disease. Specific areas of interest include the role of thrombosis in PAD, lipoprotein signatures associated with PAD and other atherosclerotic diseases, and the impact of novel diabetes therapies on vascular health and function. He is also involved in advocacy efforts to improve the care of patients with PAD.
Rachel Crescenzi, PhD
Rachelle L. Crescenzi, PhD, is a translational imaging scientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). She received a Bachelors of Science in Physics from the University of Delaware and earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania in the Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging (CMROI). Dr. Crescenzi’s research focuses on developing advanced imaging tools to address clinical needs for 1) objective diagnostic criteria for lipedema, 2) risk assessment for lymphedema and fibrosis secondary to lymph node removal, and 3) radiologic markers of salt sensitive blood pressure.
Paula Stewart, MD, LANA CLT
Dr. Stewart is board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and has earned subspecialty board certification in spinal cord injury medicine. In addition, Dr. Stewart has extensive expertise in general physical rehabilitation, neurologic rehabilitation, and comprehensive rehabilitation care of patients with cancer and lymphedema. Her top areas of expertise are Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia, Meige Disease, Lymphangiectasis, and Lymphedema.
Mary Hopper, RN, BSN, CWON
Mary Hopper is a Wound/Ostomy Nurse at Huntsville Hospital Wound Care Clinic.
Kristen Hudgins Bell, COTA, CLT, CWCA
Kristen Hudgins Bell is the clinical manager at Therapy Achievements. She received her Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy from Brown Mackie College and is a certified lymphedema therapist and wound therapist. She enjoys the diversity of patients and particularly likes the personalized attention she is able to give them in the out-patient setting.
LASNA Lymphedema Conference 2022
Therapy Achievements is proud to host our annual Lymphedema Conference March 5, 2022, at Brookdale Jones Farm.
Our speakers this year will be addressing the topics of head and neck lymphedema and lipedema.
AGENDA
Dr. Robert Arnold, SLP.D, MS, CCC, BCS-S & Ashton Brown, MS, CCC-SLP
Comprehensive Swallow-Voice Assessment in Head & Neck Cancer
Bob has over 30 years of experience as a medical speech-language pathologist and specializes in physiological disorders of the aerodigestive tract. He is an applied research scientist and is investigating ways to improve diagnostic yield when evaluating physiological disorders of the aerodigestive tract. Ashton is a a speech language pathologist with 10 years experience. Presently her clinical practice focuses on evaluation and treatment of swallowing and communication disorders in the head and neck cancer population.
Karen Allen Hislop, OTR/L, CLT-LANA
Treatment of Swelling in the Head & Neck Cancer Patient
Karen formed Therapy Achievements in 2009 and is certified as a Driving Rehabilitation Specialist, a Neuro NDT Therapist, a SaeboFlex Technology Therapist, a VitalStim Therapist, and an ATP Seating Specialist for Wheelchair fittings.
Jennifer Egeland, M.S., CCC-SLP & Joey Farris, M.S., CCC-SLP
Synchrony Dysphagia Solutions Surface Electromyography (sEMG)Jennifer Egeland, SLP
Joey Farris SLP Joey & Jennifer are speech language pathologists who have been a practicing for over 15 years. They work with patients recovering from a variety of challenges including dysphagia, cognitive-linguistic deficits, language impairments, and voice impairments and have a special interest in the provision of evidence-based practice as it relates to dysphagia management. They are certified in VitalStim and Lee Silverman Voice Training (LSVT). Jennifer assists in coordinating the Huntsville Parkinson's Support Group
Dr. Paula Stewart, MD, MS CLT-LANA
Lymphedema, Lipedema and Nutrition
Following a residency in PM&R at the Mayo Clinic, Paula established one of the largest lymphedema clinics on the Eastern seaboard in Charlotte, NC at the Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation. She served as the Research Director for 10 years, eventually contributing to winning designation as a Model System for TBI for CIR. In 1999 she along with Dr. Joseph Feldman, participated in the founding of LANA and she has been a member of the Medical Advisory Committee for the NLN for more than 10 years.
Kristen Hall, COTA, CLT, CWCA, Melissa Flowers, COTA, CLT, Karen Price
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization and Treatment of Lipedema
Melissa Flowers, COTA, CLTKristen Hall, COTA, CLT, CWCA Kristen and Melissa are certified lymphedema therapists and Parkinson's LSVT BIG Therapists. Kristen is also a certified wound therapist. Karen Price Karen works at Conditioned Air Solutions and oversees daily operations ranging from customer service to tech training to coordinating installation projects. Karen has experienced lipedema all her life and will share valuable strategies for how she deals with this condition.
LASNA Lymphedema Conference 2020
When: Sat Mar 6, 2020 from 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Where: Kathleen's Catering, 8410 Whitesburg Dr, Hsv, AL 35802
Join Therapy Achievements for the Lymphedema Conference 2020! To celebrate World Lymphedema Day we will be hosting a conference covering information on treatment, management, and living with Lymphedema. Professionals, patients, and family members are all welcome.
LASNA Lymphedema Conference 2018
When: Sat Jan 13, 2018
Where: Clearview Cancer Institute
Approval:
AL-licensed RN and LPN = 3.6 Contact Hours
AL-licensed Social Worker, PT, PTA, OT, OTA = 3 Contact Hours
Agenda:
8:00 Registration and Vendor Tables
9:00 Dr. Richard Richardson; Updates on Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
Objectives: Participants will know
- Factors that are considered when determining if axillary lymph node dissection is necessary;
- Techniques available for axillary lymph node dissection
- Benefits and risks of undergoing axillary lymph node dissection
Dr. Richard Richardson is the medical director and chief surgeon of The Breast Care Center. His is certified by the American Board of Surgery, is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
10:00 Dr. Beth Falkenberg; Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
Objectives: Participants will know
- How Sterotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) differs from conventional therapy;
- How SBRT works;
- Who is a candidate for SBRT;
- What to expect when undergoing SBRT
Dr. Elizabeth Falkenberg is a board certified Radiation Oncologist at Alliance Cancer Care. She is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the American College of Radiology, and the Madison County Medical Society. She serves as the current President of the Alabama Society of Radiation Oncologists.
11:00 Karen Allen Hislop, Updates on Compression for Lymphedema
Knowledge of:
- Risk factors for developing lymphedema;
- How lymphedema is treated and the role of compression;
- Compression options
- The pros and cons of each option
Karen Allen Hislop is the owner and director of Therapy Achievements which offers out-patient physical, occupational and speech therapy services. She is a LANA certified lymphedema therapist and serves on the board of directors of the Lymphedema Awareness and Support Network of Alabama (LASNA) and the Alabama Head Injury Foundation. She is the vice president of the Huntsville Parkinson's Support Group and chairs the All Cracked Up Brain and Spinal Cord Injury and Rocket City Multiple Sclerosis Awareness groups.