Boston Part I Faculty
Virtu Arora
Head and Neck Lymphedema Lab
Virtu Arora, PT, DPT, MLD/CDT/ALM Instructor, CLT-LANA, CKTI, COMT, CCI. Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Oncology PT.
Virtu graduated with Doctor of PT from AT Still University/ Arizona School of Health Sciences. She has been a Physical Therapist since 1996. She is ABPTS Board certified in Oncology Physical Therapy. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist since 2006. She is Lymphology Board of North America (LANA) certified therapist. She has completed the STAR certification in Oncology Rehabilitation and is a Wound Treatment Associate (WTA). She has been faculty/ speaker at National Lymphedema Network’s conferences. She has presented research posters on Lymphedema in many conferences including International Lymphedema Framework, National lymphedema Network, California PT association (CPTA), World Conference of Lymphology, International Kinesiotaping Research Symposium. She is current Faculty, Medical Advisor Academy of Lymphatic Studies since 2014. She is a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) from Maitland-Australian Physiotherapy Seminars since 2006. And a Certified Kinesiotaping Instructor (CKTI). She is a member of APTA, CPTA, Oncology section of APTA and has served as CPTA research council member. She loves the field of physical therapy – a healing profession.
Karen Ashforth
Pneumatic Compression Lab & Fibrosis Lab
Karen Ashforth, MS, OTR, CLT-LANA, St Joseph's Medical Center Lymphedema Clinic, Dominican Hospital/Kindred, University of the Pacific
Karen began her career in occupational therapy in 1981 and became board certified in hand therapy in 1993. That area of practice led her to a full-time practice specializing in lymphedema after completing her lymphedema certification in 2003.
Karen’s passions in clinical practice include equipment innovation and development, treatment of underlying fibrosis and inflammation, and assessment of complex and difficult cases. She is considered an expert in clinical use of pneumatic compression and has participated in development of numerous devices and appliances. She currently works at Dominican/Kindred outpatient rehabilitation services and St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, California, providing outpatient lymphedema treatment. She also has a private consulting practice and provides in-person and telehealth treatment and is an adjunct faculty member with the University of the Pacific in the Doctoral Physical Therapy Program.
Karen speaks frequently at academic, clinical and professional settings and performs IRB sanctioned clinical research that she presents and publishes nationally and internationally. Her presentations have included four International Lymphology Congress meetings: 2017 Spain, 2015 USA, 2011 Sweden, 2009 Australia, as well as medical conferences in the United States, Canada and Israel.
Recent publications include: LE&RN (USA), Lymphology Journal (USA), AOTA Practice Journal (USA), OTAC Journal (USA), Pathways (Canada) and Journal of Lymphoedema (UK.)
Frank Aviles
Wound Care Lab
Frank Aviles Jr, PT, CWS, FACCWS, CLT-LANA, ALM, AWCC, DAPWCA, MLD/CDT Instructor
Frank received his physical therapy bachelor’s degree from Florida A & M in 1991. His passion for the past 30 years continues being a patient advocate and promoting wound care / lymphedema best practices. Frank began lecturing in 1993 and started consulting in 1994, developed The Wound Healing Roundtables in 2008, team member involved in opening an award winning outpatient wound care center in 2015, Today’s Wound Clinic Magazine columnist “Let’s Be Frank” in 2016, created The Virtual Wound Rounds in 2020, The Frank & Lizzie Show in 2020 with Elizabeth Faust, and Woundbusters in 2021 with Dr. Windy Cole to promote “not just doing the right thing but knowing what right is”. He has been an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) member since 1990, is a board certified wound specialist, a fellow of the American College of Certified Wound Specialists, a certified lymphedema therapist LANA certified, and advanced wound care certified. He currently serves as the practice chair for the Wound Management Special Interest Group (WMSIG) for the Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management Section of the APTA, board of directors for the American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA), Why Wound Care Advisory Board for HMP Global, editorial board member for Today’s Wound Clinic, member & education steering committee for the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC), board member for Community Healthcare Education Network (CHEN), and has published articles, posters, & a chapter in various textbooks including the recent 4th edition of Lymphedema Management; The Comprehensive Guide for Practitioners. Currently he serves as the wound care service line director for Natchitoches Regional Medical Center (NRMC) and is a wound care and lymphedema instructor for The Academy of Lymphatic Studies.
Ruth Coopee
Elastic Taping Lab
Ruth Coopee MOT, OTR/CHT, CLT, LMT, CZB has expertise that ranges from hand therapy, cephalic, upper and lower quadrant lymphedema, ergonomic assessments to custom foot orthotics and teaching and utilizing therapeutic elastic taping. Her interest is centered around self healing and promoting a holistic approach to treatment.
Christina Hankins
Compression Garment Lab
Christina Hankins, PT, CLT, CWS received her Master’s in Physical therapy at Texas State University in 2003. Since then she has worked primarily with lymphedema clients in various settings including; acute, inpatient, outpatient, and home health settings. Christina is passionate about assisting pts with chronic edema learn to be independent in self-care thus maximize all function. She has attended many advanced courses on both wound care and lymphedema treatment and is an instructor with the Norton school of lymphedema specializing in teaching lymphedema techniques to wound care clinicians. Currently, she owns and manages Lymphwell, an outpatient lymphedema and wound care center where she works closely with Dr Smith at Hamilton vascular center.
Guenter Klose
Expert MLD Lymphedema Lab
Guenter Klose, MLD/CDT Certified Instructor, CLT-LANA received his initial training in Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) at the Foeldi Clinic in 1984 and became certified as Instructor for MLD/CDT in 1986. He came to the United States in 1990 to assist Dr. Robert Lerner in establishing the first CDT treatment centers in the U.S.
In 2003, Guenter established his own lymphedema training company, Klose Training, dedicated to providing the highest-quality live and online lymphedema therapy continuing education. He is a leading advocate for high-quality lymphedema treatment and has lectured extensively in the United States and abroad at conferences, therapist and physicians' meetings, and lymphedema support groups. Guenter is a member of the ISL and a founding member of the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA).
Lauren Meffen
Head and Neck Lymphedema Lab
Lauren Meffen, MA CCC/SLP, CLT is a speech language pathologist with a passion for working with voice and swallow disorders. She has remained local to Gainesville after receiving her schooling with Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Florida. Lauren has worked in a variety of settings including hospital, skilled nursing, home health and has now found her heart belongs in the outpatient setting. Here she can provide a high level of individualized and quality care for each patient and family.
Over the years, she has developed a love and specialization in working with the oncology population. She has advanced training in management of lymphedema of the head and neck, muscle tension dysphonia, and myofascial release techniques. She strongly champions a comprehensive approach toward treating the whole patient, with the involvement of a skilled, multi-disciplinary team.
Steve Norton
Expert Bandaging Lab
Steve was certified in 1993 in Manual Lymph Drainage and Complete Decongestive Therapy through Lerner Lymphedema Services, PC, the first fully specialized lymphedema treatment facility in the United States. He became the Chief Therapist of the Lerner Lymphedema Services, PC clinics located in Princeton, NJ, Manhattan, NYC and New Brunswick, NJ from 1994-1999. Over this period of time, Steve participated in the successful treatment of several thousand lymphedema patients.
In 1995 and 1999, Steve completed further educational programs in lymphedema management at the Foeldi College, Hinterzarten, Germany and the European Congress of Lymphology. In addition to his clinical duties, he was chosen to provide instruct CDT courses at the Lerner Academy of Lymphatic Studies via hospitals, universities and clinics nationwide. In 1998 Steve co-founded an independent training and consulting company (Klose Norton Training & Consulting) offering CDT certification courses for medical professionals in various hospitals and clinical settings across the United States.
Steve was among the first therapists in the United States to become Nationally Certified in Lymphedema Therapy by the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) and in 2002 and 2003, was the first and only American lymphedema therapist to instruct an international group of clinicians at the world renowned Foeldi Clinic, Special Clinic for Lymphology, in Hinterzarten, Germany.
Since 1995, Steve has been the host/presenter/producer of internationally distributed educational treatment videos and in 2005 Steve was filmed and interviewed by the Discovery Health Channel for its program "Medical Incredible," demonstrating and discussing lymphedema therapy. This program aired in 130 countries and was viewed by 300 million people worldwide.
Currently, as a consultant and CDT Clinical Instructor, he continues to provide services for private clinics, hospitals, independent physician's offices and firms within the lymphedema and related compression therapy industries. He regularly reviews lymphedema related manuscripts, and contributes to other clinical publications. Steve has authored articles on lymphedema management in professional publications and contributed to chapters and editorial revisions of the internationally renowned "Textbook of Lymphology" authored by, Prof. M. Foeldi & S. Kubik. Recently Steve authored a chapter on lymphedema in the medical textbook "Kuerer’s Breast Surgical Oncology" by Henry Kuerer, MD McGraw Hill 2009 and contributed a paper on Palliative Care and Complete Decongestive Therapy for the "Best Practices Document" of the International Lymphedema Framework Project. In 2013 Steve co-authored the internationally distributed textbook "Lymphedema Management; The comprehensive Guide for Practicing Therapists" with Joachim Zuther, published by Thieme, Stuttgart, Germany.
Steve is a regular contributing presenter and organizer of various lymphedema related conferences such as the National Lymphedema Network Conferences (1994-2010), International Society of Lymphology Conferences (ISL) 1997-2007, Guthrie/ Klose Norton Lymphedema Conference (Denver 1999, Toronto, Ontario Canada 2002), University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Cancer Center/ Klose Norton Lymphedema Conference (Philadelphia 2003), International Union of Phlebologists (San Diego, Ca 2003) and various WOCN Conferences as well as the International Lymphedema Framework Project Conference in Brighton, England 2010. In 2003, Steve was appointed to the National Lymphedema Network (NLN) Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) serving until 2009 and is currently a member of the International Advisory Board for the American Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP) and the Educational Committee for the International Lymphedema Framework (ILF). In 2009 Steve was appointed as Adjunct Courtesy faculty at the University of Missouri, Columbia School of Nursing.
In 2007, Steve and the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy were invited to instruct a group of physicians and nurses in Vellore India as the first formally organized course by a leading lymphedema education school. Starting in 2007 the Norton School presented the first organized CDT Certification in South Africa at the University of Western Cape then in Pretoria at Tshwane University of Technology and maintains this annual venue. In October 2007, Steve conducted a unique and extensive workshop at the 9th People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China demonstrating for the first time Complete Decongestive Therapy to Chinese medical professionals. Recently, Steve was invited to conduct a Staff Briefing to Congress in Washington, DC related to an initiative to establish new laws geared towards improving reimbursement for lymphedema.
Linda Roherty
Breast/Chest Lymphedema Lab
Linda Roherty, PT, CLT-LANA is a 1989 graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Physical Therapy.
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 the needs of the cancer patients and 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 evolve 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 joined 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.
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. Linda continues to deliver standards of care to the patients that she treats.
Shelley Smith DiCecco
Genital Lymphedema Lab
Dr. Shelley Smith DiCecco, PT, PhD, CLT-LANA, CI-CS, founded LymphEd in 2017. She received her Master of Physical Therapy Degree from the University of St. Augustine in January of 2000. She became a Woman’s Health Specialist for Pelvic Floor Disorders in 2000 and a Certified Lymphedema Therapist in the Casley- Smith Method in 2001. Dr. DiCecco received her PhD from Texas Woman’s University in the Philosophy of Physical Therapy in 2012. Her research and dissertation were on treatment techniques for females with genital lymphedema with or without lower extremity involvement. Dr. DiCecco completed her Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) Certification in 2013 and her training as a Casley-Smith International Certified Instructor in 2016.
Dr. DiCecco assisted with or lead 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. Dr. DiCecco is working on several studies currently from qualitative cadaveric research, quality of life tools, and perceived confidence in evaluating/treating lymphedema by medical professionals. The aim of these studies is to improve the knowledge for the medical community and treatment options for patients. Dr. DiCecco contributed a chapter in The Puzzle, a book on lymphedema.
Dr. DiCecco developed the lymphedema and pelvic floor service lines for the Sports Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She currently is Director of the two programs and treats patients several hours a week at the Brookhaven location. Dr. DiCecco is on faculty as an Assistant Professor at the Georgia’s Campus for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in the Physical Therapy Department. Dr. DiCecco joined the board for a non-profit organization, the Lighthouse Lymphedema Network (LLN) in 2002 and she is the lead Grant Writer for the organization. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and its Oncology, Women’s Health, and Education Sections and is a member of the Lymphology Association of North America. She is the Vice President for the Casley-Smith International Lymphedema Instructor board.
Betty Westbrook
Pediatric Lymphedema Lab
Betty Westbrook, PTA, CLT-ALM, CMF is a Physical Therapist Assistant certified in advanced lymphedema management. Through her passion to educate others about Lymphedema she created Lymphedema Podcast, and this introduced her to many more opportunities to advocate for the underserved Lymphedema community. In 2019 Betty created the first summer camp for children with Lymphedema in the United States. Camp Watchme is a time for children with Lymphedema and their parents to immerse themselves in a community of others who understand exactly what they are going through. Advocacy, education, and community are three things Betty values most as a voice for the Lymphedema community. She recently relocated to Central Arkansas with her husband and 1 year old son.