OUR GUESTS
Our LymphCast Guests.
Ingrid Weddig
COTA/L, CLT
Ingrid Weddig, COTA/L, CLT, has been working in hand therapy since 2000. In 2010, she started a scar management/breast cancer rehabilitation program. She still enjoys treating multiple hand injuries but her main focus now is with the breast cancer patients and lymphedema. Her program involves assisting breast cancer patients with proper scar management techniques, swelling, range of motion, and eventually strengthening. She is also a certified Lymphedema therapist and can assist measuring patients for proper upper and lower extremity compression garments. Her goal is to assist breast cancer and lymphedema patients in making a full recovery. Ingrid also has extensive knowledge and training in scar tissue. She has treated many difficult scars in multiple locations of the body including knees from total knee surgery, chest wall scars from transition surgery, abdominal scars from hernias, C-sections and ear scars from reconstruction. Ingrid enjoys learning new techniques and reading research articles in her areas of practice, time on her hobby farm, her teen kids, hiking, painting and grilling.
Education
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Occupational Therapist Assistant, Anoka Hennepin Technical College (2000)
Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) U of Milwaukee (2019)
Professional Affiliations
Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA)
National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
Achievements & Awards
Occupational Therapist of the Year (2005)
Paper online submission: Scar Management of the Breast Cancer Patient. The missing Piece of the Puzzle.
Amanda Sobey
Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutritionist, and Lymphie Coach
Through my own personal trials of health and wellness, I have managed to significantly reduce my edema and improve my mental health through exercise and nutrition. I have made a total mind & body transformation and enjoy competing as an All-Natural Bodybuilder. Professionally, I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutritionist, and Lymphie Coach. I specialize in helping others with Lymphedema, Lipoedema, Diabetes, Hypertension, Arthritis, Obesity, and other injuries. I love to help others easily and safely overcome their health struggles as I truly believe we are stronger together.
Cam Ayala
Amy Rivera
About her Foundation:
“Ninjas Fighting Lymphedema Foundation2 is a 501 (c) 3 founded by lymphedema patient and spokesperson, Amy Rivera. Amy was born with primary Lymphedema, and was misdiagnosed for over 30 years, leaving her disabled and isolated. Amy thought she was the only one who was suffering in silence. But, after learning the truth about her condition, Amy realized that this community needed a voice. She established the Ninjas Fighting Lymphedema Foundation to ensure that no one suffers alone. Its daily mission is to bring hope and a voice to everyone fighting Lymphedema. The Foundation represents a growing community of survivors and thrivers who refuse to let a lymphedema diagnosis slow them down. Lymphedema is often under-diagnosed and under-treated, even by seasoned medical professionals. The Foundation’s goal is to turn that around by providing much-needed education and support for those with Lymphedema, their families, and their caregivers.”
Just recently Amy wrote an inspirational book on her story:
Last year Amy was competing in a “bikini” competition and won the third place.
Irene Waldridge
Certified massage and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) therapist
Ms. Waldridge retired from Tactile in 2010, then 2 years later, she founded Eva Medtec, Inc, located in Bloomington, MN, where she designed, developed, engineered, and is marketing the patented Neuroglide Pain Relief & Recovery System. It’s a unique Back and Neck Pad that you lay on, and it’s also based on the principles of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) pressure techniques to alleviate acute/chronic back and neck pain, improving sleep recovery and increasing lymphatic circulation.
A small Neuroglide pilot study has shown improved sleep by tracking heart rate variability, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and deep/REM sleep recovery. And another small pilot study indicated patients experienced relief from chronic back and neck pain, fibromyalgia, myalgia, and tension headaches. The Neuroglide is an FDA-cleared, Class II, over-the-counter medical device for use at-home, hospitals, and clinics.
Eric Ansart
Building effective teams, encouraging individuals to fulfill their potential, and removing obstacles that keep them from accomplishing their goals are trademarks of Eric’s professional career. He holds an MS in Organizational Leadership and enjoys a wide network of contacts based on his varied professional and personal interests. A previous Lymphedema Education and Research Network (LE&RN) Impact Award winner, Eric also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Lymphedema Network (NLN) and Foundation for Venous and Lymphatic Disease (FVLD).
An avid bike enthusiast and recreational diver and surfer, his Northern Florida location is perfect to explore these pursuits. What he would view as most important, however, are his roles as husband and father to two children – his favorite companions for every adventure.
Dr. Cynthia Shortel
Professor of Surgery and Associate Professor of Radiology at Duke University Medical Center
A member of the International Union of Angiography/International Union of Phlebology consensus, she helped develop the international guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of venous malformations. As a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), she served in numerous capacities, including Chairing the Committee on Women’s Issues, the Education Council, and the Fellows’ Council. She is Chair of the Diversity Committee for the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, and is an Editor for the Journal of Vascular Surgery, as well as special features editor for JVS: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. She established the Duke Multidisciplinary Vascular Anomalies Team, including a database to track clinical outcomes of vascular malformation patients and coordination of research projects. She also created and directed the Duke symposium “From Foam to Filters: What’s New in Venous Disease.” In 2019, she was the recipient of the Duke Faculty Professionalism Award. She has nearly 140 peer-reviewed publications, is the author of four books, and has spoken extensively at national and international venues.
Peter Gloviczki
MD, FACS
Alan Hargens
PhD., Emeritus Professor at the University of California, San Diego
Recent awards include the Nello Pace Award for Outstanding Leadership and Contributions to the Field of Gravitational Physiology. a Citation Award from the American College of Sports Medicine, the Distinguished Public Service Metal, NASA’s highest award, the Nicolas Andry Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons (given for nearly a half-century of research and clinical progress in compartment syndromes and intracompartmental pressure measurement and the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research Founders Award, the highest honor given by the Society (given to a member of the Society for distinguished scientific contributions to and leadership in the field of gravitational research). Honorary Professor and Keynote Speaker at Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Frank Aviles Jr
PT, CWS, FACCWS, CLT-LANA, ALM, AWCC, MAPWCA
Recent awards include the Nello Pace Award for Outstanding Leadership and Contributions to the Field of Gravitational Physiology. a Citation Award from the American College of Sports Medicine, the Distinguished Public Service Metal, NASA’s highest award, the Nicolas Andry Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons (given for nearly a half-century of research and clinical progress in compartment syndromes and intracompartmental pressure measurement and the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research Founders Award, the highest honor given by the Society (given to a member of the Society for distinguished scientific contributions to and leadership in the field of gravitational research). Honorary Professor and Keynote Speaker at Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sunny Narayana
Research Professor
Annika Karineimi
FNP-C
Dr. Desmond Bell
Founder and President of “The Save A Leg, Save A Life” Foundation
He also serves as Chief Medical Officer of Omeza, an evidence based medical technology company and consumer healthcare products company initially focused on healing chronic wounds and preventing their recurrence.
In 2020, he joined MD Coaches as an Executive Physician Coach, serving as a peer to peer mentor.
Dr. Bell was awarded the Frist Humanitarian Award by Specialty Hospital Jacksonville for 2009 and Memorial Hospital Jacksonville in 2018. He is a Board Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) having served on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Wound Management for 6 years and presently serving on the Board of the American Board of Wound Management Foundation.
He has also been elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and is a member of the CLI Global Society.
Dr. Bell has published numerous articles primarily pertaining to wound management and lower extremity amputation prevention and has served as an Editorial Board Member for the publication “Today’s Wound Clinic” since its inception. He is nationally recognized speaker, with regular faculty roles at AMP, ASCENT and Modern Wound Care Management.
Matt Hazledine
Graham Paul Rooms
Graham Rooms is a highly experienced and respected retired fire officer with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. He has held key leadership roles within the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, where he was instrumental in managing critical incidents, developing innovative IT solutions, and leading community safety initiatives. Known for his integrity, professionalism, and ability to handle sensitive situations, Graham has also contributed significantly to various charitable causes and community projects. His dedication to continuous improvement and effective communication has left a lasting impact on the organizations and communities he has served.
Pattie Cornute
Pattie Cornute is well-known as a patient advocate and the founder of Lipedema Fitness, which began as a blog and a Facebook support group for others like her. It was a way for Pattie to spread awareness about lipedema and the importance of staying active. Her goal was to reach others so they could get diagnosed as soon as possible and let them know they were not alone on the journey.
That support group just celebrated its 10-year anniversary last year and has grown to almost 14,000 members strong.
Other avenues for Pattie to spread awareness and share the importance of staying active included creating public social media pages to spread awareness beyond the patient level, serving as one of the founding anchors of the monthly Lipedema Patient Roundtables (sponsored by Lympha Press), and serving as a brand ambassador for Juzo, USA.
In 2021, she started a monthly Instagram Live series, “Living with Stage 3 Lipedema,” with fellow Stage 3 Lipedema patient, Crystal from CfitRevolution, and has been a presenter at several conferences, including Juzo’s Power Symposium, FDRS Conferences, Talk Lipoedema Lounge Series, and the Lipoedema Australia National Conference.
Pattie is probably most proud of the annual Lipedema Triathlon she created in 2015. When she couldn’t find a Lipedema-focused 5K event to participate in for Lipedema Awareness Month, she decided to create one. The Lipedema 5K quickly turned into the Lipedema Triathlon as Pattie tried to come up with a way for everyone to participate, knowing many members used the pool to stay active.
This June will mark the 9th Annual Event! The Lipedema Triathlon is an international event, bringing participants together virtually from all over the world. All levels of participation are welcomed, as Pattie likes to say: #allorsomething.
Tom Neilson
Laura Swoboda
DNP, FNP-C, FNP-BC, CWOCN-AP, WOCNF
Jean LaMantia
Kiersten Michelle Wall
Amy Beaith-Johnson
Jennifer Thibodaux
Jennifer Marino Thibodaux is a Senior Specialist Editor at Thomson Reuters Practical Law and the founder of JMT Speaks, LLC. At Thomson Reuters, Jennifer writes New Jersey litigation content, co-hosts The Hearing – A Legal Podcast, and co-chairs the Programming Committee for Women@TR in the New York area.
As a professional speaker and writer, she uses the power of storytelling to share the lessons she’s learned throughout her career, from living authentically, setting boundaries, avoiding burnout, quieting the imposter voice, and communicating effectively. As a speaking consultant, she helps professionals find and use their voice to master public speaking.
Passionate about empowering other women, Jennifer is the Co-Editor of the Women Lawyers Journal for the National Association of Women Lawyers; a trustee of Partners, a non-profit dedicated to providing pro bono legal services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence; a member of the Executive Women of New Jersey; and an executive committee member of the Women’s Leadership Committee at Seton Hall Law, her alma mater.
Jennifer was previously a partner at the law firm of Gibbons P.C. in Newark, NJ, where she practiced for over a decade.
For more information and to stay connected with Jennifer through her newsletter and blog, visit www.jmtspeaks.com or her follow her and JMT Speaks on LinkedIn.
Kelly Sturm
PT, DPT, OnCS, CLT-LANA
In 2019, Kelly became one of the first Board-Certified Oncology Clinical Specialists in the United States. She serves as an instructor for Physical Therapy Programs and is a guest speaker at various conferences, programs, and community groups.
Kelly has clinical expertise in the rehabilitation treatment of oncology diagnoses, primary and secondary lymphedema, and pelvic health. She is the owner of Cancer Rehab PT, where she focuses on educating, empowering, and raising awareness about lymphedema, oncology rehabilitation, and physical therapy.
Dr Kruti Kachalia
MS (Ophthalmology)
Adrien MacKenzie
PTA, LMT, CLT-LANA, NBC-HWC
Catherine Rosenberg
M.Ed, M.S.
Radhika Batra
PhD
Matthew Regulski
David G. Armstrong
Mark Melin
Windy Cole
Dr. Windy Cole is a native Ohioan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati, where she graduated summa cum laude. She is also an honor graduate from the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine.
Dr. Cole has practiced in Northeast Ohio for over 22 years. She is an adjunct professor and Director of Wound Care Research at Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine. She is board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Wound Management.
A dedicated wound care advocate for two decades, Dr. Cole’s interests focus on medical education, diabetic foot care, wound care, limb salvage, and clinical research. Her passion to help others has led her to participate in humanitarian efforts, including a medical mission to Jordan in 2018 to aid the large Syrian refugee population seeking asylum from civil war.
Dr. Cole has published numerous peer-reviewed and industry articles on these topics and is a sought-after speaker both nationally and internationally. She is a feature writer for Podiatry Management and Today’s Wound Clinic, as well as a contributing writer for Podiatry Today. She is an Editorial Board member of Wound Management and Prevention, Podiatry Today, The Foot Journal, Wound Masterclass, Podiatry Management, and Lower Extremity Review. She is also the Podiatry Section Editor for the ePlasty Journal and a Guest Editor for Foot and Ankle Quarterly.
Dr. Cole is a wound care advocate at the forefront of wound research and was the 2020 World Union of Wound Healing Silver Medal Award recipient for her work in technology-driven research. She was also the 2022 recipient of the Kaplan-Kanat Memorial Lecture Award.
She is a member of the ACCWS Board of Directors and sits on the advisory board of multiple emerging biotech companies. Dr. Cole has been integral in collaborating on innovative research protocols in the field.
Thomas Maldonado
Dr. Maldonado has been involved as a local and national Principal Investigator (PI) in numerous clinical trials in the aortic, carotid, and venous/lymphatic space, and has served as the national PI on several of these trials.
He has published over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is regularly invited to lecture nationally and internationally. Dr. Maldonado is a past president of several national and regional societies and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.
Marti Klein
Marti is involved in the Lipedema Educational Group and will present at the Lipedema World Congress in Potsdam, Germany, and at the LE&RN conference in Toronto. She has a background in Epidemiology, clinical settings, and health science research, with 20 years of experience as a college instructor and judge. She is a guest columnist for Strategic Strategies for Successful Living and co-owner of Klein + Klein.
In her free time, Marti enjoys spending time with her husband and their rescue dogs, Dusty and Freddie Mercury, as well as traveling, cooking, gardening, and researching maritime history.
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