Conference

Report on June 2011 International Lymphedema Conference

 Key Opinion Experts Gather in Toronto June 16-18, 2011

Toronto was the venue for the 3rd International  Lymphedema Conference held from June 16-18, 2011 at the Downtown Marriott Hotel. Conference attendees – who included 430 representatives from 24 countries – gathered to learn and share from key opinion leaders from around the world. The event was a tremendous step in educating health professionals who treat lymphedema patients in their daily practice and need to be better equipped.

The theme was “Towards Global Implementation of Best Practice Opportunities and Challenges” and the delegates in attendance represented a broad array of disciplines including doctors, therapists, community care workers, radiologists, fitters, educators,  researchers and policy makers.

 “Hosting an international lymphedema event of this magnitude in Toronto gives hope that Canada will start catching up to the countries where more research, education and comprehensive treatment plans exist for lymphedema,” said Anna Towers, founding Co-Chair of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework, Clinical Director of the McGill University 

Lymphedema Clinic, and one of few Canadian medical experts on lymphedema. “We need to elevate this condition in order to place lymphedema and its management as a priority on regional, provincial and national health care agendas.”

Co-hosted by the International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF), the Canadian Lymphedema Framework and the Lymphedema Association of Ontario (LAO), the conference was truly a global event with 24 different countries represented including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.

The three day conference featured updates on the latest research, best practices and suggestions to tackle global challenges in lymphedema management in a comprehensive programme with 70 speakers leading a vast array of plenary sessions, concurrent workshops and lunch symposiums.  

The program incorporated three different streams of learning. With the main conference geared to health professionals already familiar with  lymphedema, a one-day primer was targeted to health professionals new to lymphedema and a one-day patient conference for people living with or at risk for lymphedema was scheduled concurrently on the Saturday.

A bustling exhibit hall with 21 global and local exhibitors displayed the latest in innovations for the diagnosis, measurement and treatment of lymphedema.

Countries collaborate on issues

The conference was preceded by a day of collaboration in which other countries with National Frameworks met within their committees devoted to global standardization of education, research and the minimum data set.

Sponsorship

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation—Ontario Region was the lead sponsor of the conference. Their financial support also enabled twelve bursary recipients from across Ontario to join the other 70 patients attending their one-day agenda on Saturday.  The conference organizers are very grateful to the support given by the CBCF and the commitment they have shown to improving education and quality of life for lymphedema patients. 

 Toronto Tourism also provided an incentive to promote the conference among international delegates. A big thank you from the conference organizers goes out to all the sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, delegates and volunteers who made the conference such a success.

Evaluations

Conference feedback was very positive in all areas.

90% of survey respondents rated the overall conference as Excellent or Very Good.  Additionally, delegates provided the highest ratings on the organization of the conference and how they felt the event was a worthwhile investment of their time and money.

“Thank you for putting together such a strong program for the 3rd International Lymphedema  Conference.  I thought the day was well balanced with respect to issues covered and the sessions I went to were clinically relevant.  I can’t begin to imagine how much work you put into it.  You should all be very proud of your accomplishment.” 

Ian Dayes, MSc, MD 
Associate Professor, Dept of Oncology 
McMaster University  
Resident Program Director, Radiation Oncology 
Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, ON

The Lymphedema Association of Ontario hopes that the excitement generated at the conference will bring much needed attention to this important condition in Canada.

Next year’s conference

Plans for next year’s 4th International Lymphedema Conference are already underway and will be held from June 28-30 in beautiful Montpellier, France. The theme will be Multidisciplinary Spirit with a Focus on Patients, especially Children and Young Adults, and Lymphedema Management in Developing Countries.

The Lymphedema Association of Ontario hopes that the excitement generated at the conference will bring much needed attention to this important condition in Canada. Next year’s conference

Plans for next year’s 4th International Lymphedema Conference are already underway and will be held from June 28-30 in beautiful Montpellier, France. The theme will be Multidisciplinary Spirit with a Focus on Patients, especially Children and Young Adults, and Lymphedema Management in Developing Countries.