Message from our President, Betsy Campione, PT, DPT, EdD, CLT-LANA

As I reflect on another year of growth and progress for the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA), I am filled with gratitude for the tireless dedication of our members and volunteers. Your commitment to advancing lymphology continues to inspire, and I am honored to serve as your President.

First, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated volunteer board members for their incredible efforts over the past year. Their unwavering commitment has been instrumental in achieving our mission. I want to thank Deborah Gross for her dedicated service on the board. She has recently retired from the board, and her contributions have been invaluable to our progress. Welcome to our new board members: Elizabeth Anderson, PhD, RN, CLT; Suzanne Ehmann, PT, DPT, PhD, CLT-LANA, CLWT, CWS; Katie Jones, EdD, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CWT; and Runzun Shetye, PT, GCS, CLT-LANA. Your fresh perspectives and expertise will undoubtedly drive our organization forward, and I look forward to collaborating with you.

This year, we celebrate the publication of the proceedings from Forward Momentum: Future Steps in Lymphedema Management, the summit that brought together thought leaders in healthcare, research, and advocacy. You can find the publications here. I am especially grateful to the many contributors who worked tirelessly to bring these works to fruition. A special thanks to our Vice President, David Doubblestein, for facilitating the publication of these impactful articles in Medical Oncology. This milestone reflects the strength of our community and our shared commitment to advancing lymphedema management.

I also want to take a moment to recognize and thank our generous sponsors. Your support not only guarantees the financial stability of LANA but also enables us to expand our reach and impact. Your contributions help us maintain our office operations, keep our website up to date, and sustain the LANA exam accreditation through ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). These essential efforts ensure that we continue to advance excellence in our field and serve the professionals and patients who rely on our work.

Another exciting development this year is the launch of our revamped website, which now includes an AI-powered personal biography tool. This tool allows members to easily update their profiles, including adding or refreshing their profile pictures and credentials. We strongly encourage all members to take advantage of this resource to ensure their professional information reflects their expertise accurately.

As a reminder, LANA remains the only organization providing an accredited certification exam for lymphedema therapists. Accreditation is a hallmark of excellence, ensuring that our certification meets rigorous standards and is recognized as a credential of the highest quality. This sets LANA apart and underscores our commitment to advancing the field of lymphology with integrity and professionalism.

As we move forward, let us remain united in our mission to improve patient care, advance research, and support the lymphology community. Your insights and passion are the foundation of LANA's success, and I encourage all members to stay engaged, share their expertise, and contribute to our shared vision. If you are interested in making an even greater impact, please consider volunteering for the board of directors or joining the exam committee. Your expertise and commitment could help shape the future of our organization.

Thank you for your continued dedication. Together, we will achieve even greater milestones in the year ahead.

With gratitude,

Betsy Campione, PT, DPT, EdD, CLT-LANA
LANA President