ANNA TOWERS, MD

Dr. Towers is Associate Professor of Oncology and Director of the McGill Lymphedema Research Program. A family physician by training, she has for the last 19 years focused on palliative care with a special interest in lymphedema and cancer rehabilitation. She trained in lymphedema management under Drs. John and Judith Casley-Smith in Australia in 1995. She has been coordinating the Lymphedema Program at the McGill University Health Centre for the past 16 years. Since 2009, she has been Medical Director of the Dr. Vodder School International where she trains 5 cohorts of therapists per year in Canada and the USA. She is the Founding Co-Chair of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework which aims to improve access to care for lymphedema and related disorders. She is involved in several fundamental and clinical research projects on lymphedema following breast cancer treatment. She is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on lymphedema  and is recognized as an advocate for the development of lymphedema services in Canada.

Link: CLF; Education, Research, Management - Dr. Anna Towers.pdf

EVA-SUSANNE SCHMIDT, MD

Dr. Schmidt has been practising medicine since 1990. For a number of years, she was a head physician in the rehabilitation department of an oncology clinic in Germany. She also has experience in plastic surgery, specifically in breast reconstruction.

Since June 2011, she has been the Medical Director of the Wittlinger Lymphedema Clinic in Walchsee, Austria.

Link: Wittlinger Lymphedema Clinic - Eva Schmidt.pdf

KRISTIN CAMPBELL, PT, MSc, PhD (Exercise Physiology, Oncology)

Dr. Campbell is a Physical Therapist and cancer scientist.  Her research interests are focused on the role of physical activity across the cancer experience, namely in prevention, rehabilitation from cancer treatments and cancer survivorship.

She has investigated the role of physical activity in cancer prevention by examining the effect of exercise on proposed biomarkers of breast and colon cancer risk, such as sex hormones, inflammatory markers and tissue protein expression.  In terms of rehabilitation from cancer treatment and cancer survivors, her research has focused on examining the benefits of physical activity on physical function, quality of life, fatigue and lymphedema, and is interested in starting to examine the emerging evidence for the role of physical activity in lowering risk of cancer recurrence.  Her research spans a range from small scale intervention studies to multi-centre randomized controlled trials and large cohort studies.

Link: Conservative and Dietary Interventions - Kristin Cambell.pdf

DOUGLAS COURTEMANCHE, MD

Dr. Courtemanche received his Medical Degree from UBC in 1983 and is a certified Plastic Surgeon.  He practices at BC Children's Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital.  In addition, he is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia and he is the Director of the Vascular Anomolies Clinic at BC Children's Hospital.

WINKLE B. C. KWAN, MD

Dr. Kwan is a Radiation Oncologist with the BC Cancer Agency at the Fraser Valley Centre in Surrey.  Breast cancer treatment has been his area of expertise for 15 years.  Treating arm lymphedema after breast cancer therapy drew his attention early in his career to the topic of lymphedema.  He currently follows a cohort of over 200 patients for triggering factors and incidences of arm problems after breast cancer treatment as part of a nation-wide effort to identify the problem.  He is also part of the Canadian Lymphedema Foundation Research Working Group to advance and better organize efforts of research in Canada.

Dr. Kwan received his medical degree in 1986 in Hong Kong.  He is certified in Radiation Oncology and Internal Medicine.

BRIAN T. KUNIMOTO, MD, RCPSC

Dr. Kunimoto is the Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital.  He is also the Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Continuing Medical Education for the Dermatology division in the Department of Medicine at the University of BC.

He received his Medical Degree in 1983 at UBC and is a certified Dermatologist.

ELLIOTT P. WEISS, MD, RCPSC

Dr. Weiss received his medical degree in 1982 from the University of Toronto.  He is currently a Physiatrist with Providence Health Care, where he is the Division Head and Clinical Instructor in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department.

In his practice, one of his sub-specialized areas of interest is lymphedema.  In addition, Dr. Weiss has been instrumental in the founding and nurturing of the BC Lymphedema Association.  He is currently on the Board of Directors and also serves on the Medical Advisory Committee.

JOANNE MORGAN

Joanne received her degree in Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia and has been practising as an exercise therapist since 1999.  She has also received a variety of health and fitness certifications which have helped broaden her scope of treatment options.  She has specialized in active rehabilitation for people living with cancer for over six years and has received certifications from Portland and the Rocky Mountain Cancer Institute in Colorado that have earned her the designation of Cancer Exercise Specialist.

Joanne has developed innovative and effective programs to invigorate and inspire individuals to get back on track from a variety of health issues.  Her passion is inspired by helping people achieve day-to-day goals, as well as empowering them to succeed in attaining their personal fitness goals.  By encouraging proper body movement, she believes individuals can achieve the success needed to live active and healthy lifestyles.

Link: coming soon

CHRISTINE PEARSON, RN, IIWCC

Christine is a Community Wound Clinician and has worked for Vancouver Coastal Health for over 30 years.  She is a graduate of the University of Toronto International Interdisciplinary Wound Care Course and is an Executive Board Member of the Canadian Association of Wound Care (CAWC). She develops and presents evidence-based wound education sessions, provides consultation on difficult wounds and has published several articles in wound care journals. She is also the proud mother of 4 beautiful daughters.

Link: Skin and Wound Care - Christine Pearson, RN.pdf