Abstract
World Lymphedema Day, March 6
In 2016, at LE&RN's urging, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution declaring March 6 World Lymphedema Day. Other governmental bodies around the United States and around the world followed suit. The day now celebrates grassroots activism and is marked by local and global events. See the World Lymphedema Day webpage at www.lymphaticnetwork.org/wld for events being held by grassroots activists and learn how you can get involved.
Let's Talk Lymphedema Is Now Open Access
On World Lymphedema Day 2021, LE&RN broadcast Let's Talk Lymphedema, the first-ever play written and produced about living with lymphedema. That play is now available to all. Watch it on LE&RN's website at www.lymphaticnetwork.org/lets-talk-le.
Desiree Otenti Receives LE&RN Impact Award
On November 6, 2021, at the Boston Lymphatic Symposium, LE&RN presented the 2021 Impact Award to Desiree Otenti, senior director of Medical Policy and Program Implementation at Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts (BCBS-MA), for her efforts in ensuring the lymphatic surgery be covered by insurance in Massachusetts. Her efforts have become a model for change at leading medical institutions nationwide.
Not So Swell: Living with Lymphedema Film Released by LE&RN
At the end of 2021, LE&RN released a new film, Not So Swell: Living with Lymphedema. We congratulate film maker Mary Katzke on this fabulous accomplishment. And we encourage everyone to watch and share this extraordinary documentary that shines a light on living with lymphedema. The film is available on LE&RN's website.
Online Lymphatic Summit Replays, Available for Purchase
The 2020 and 2021 Centers of Excellence Lymphatic Summits are both available as replays at lymphaticnetwork.org/site/stateoftheart. General registration is $35 and continuing medical education (CME) registration is available for $99.
New Centers of Excellence Announced
This fall, the independent global oversight committee approved 10 more centers of excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of lymphatic diseases. To see a current list of centers, visit LE&RN's website at lymphaticnetwork.org/centers-of-excellence. New Centers are now under consideration and will be announced in the second half of 2022.
LE&RN Symposium Series
LE&RN provides attendees around the world with access to high-quality information from experts through our symposium series. In January, Dr. Stanley Rockson presented two symposiums on drug therapies for lymphedema. All LE&RN symposiums are available on LE&RN's website.
LE&RN Creates Lymphatic Researcher Database for NIH
At NIH's request, LE&RN has created a Lymphatic Researcher Database (https://lymphaticnetwork.org/treating-lymphedema/researchers) to keep NIH informed of the lymphatic research being pursued worldwide. LE&RN now needs all lymphatic researchers to submit information for this webpage by contacting LE&RN at LERN@LymphaticNetwork.org. Research names, institutions, Pub Med weblinks, and brief research descriptions will appear on this page, searchable by name, institution, or topic. All 27 NIH institutes and centers have been provided this weblink. This initiative grew out of the efforts of the Trans-NIH Lymphatics Coordinating Committee.
William Repicci
President and CEO
Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN)