GA-PCOM’s PT Department Hosts Lymphedema Workshop

January 28, 2019

Assistant Professor Dr. Shelley DiCecco instructed the 135-hour Complex Lymphatic Therapy (CLT) certification course.

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Last week, Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) hosted a Complex Lymphatic Therapy (CLT) certification course for licensed medical professionals. This 135-hour course was instructed by one of the campus’ newest faculty members, Assistant Professor Shelley DiCecco, PT, PhD, CLT-LANA, CI-CS.

The course was a win-win situation for all as the college’s physical therapy students and staff members volunteered to be patients for the five participants and were able to experience compression bandaging and the manual lymphatic drainage portions of the class.

“This was a great opportunity to provide awareness for our current students while adding to the number of qualified medical professionals to care for this often underserved population,“ Dr. DiCecco said.

Dr. DiCecco is a certified lymphedema physical therapist and a certified Casley-Smith international lymphedema instructor. The Casley-Smith method of lymphedema treatment was founded by Dr. John R and Judith R Casley-Smith, lymphologists in Australia known for their research on the lymphatic system, developing lymphedema treatment options, and for raising awareness about lymphedema.

Dr. DiCecco is one of four Casley-Smith instructors for the United States and Canada. She also covers other countries without instructors and is involved in international research and teaching with her fellow Casley-Smith instructors.

She became a woman’s health specialist for pelvic floor disorders in 2000 and a certified lymphedema therapist in 2001. In 2012, she received her PhD from Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, in the Philosophy of Physical Therapy. Her research and dissertation were on treatment techniques for females with genital lymphedema with or without lower extremity involvement.

The CLT certification course covers the anatomy, physiology and pathology associated with the lymphatic system and lymphedema. Participants learn how to properly diagnosis and evaluate lymphedema, apply appropriate compression bandaging, select compression garments and perform manual lymphatic drainage.

Upon completion of the course, the participants are certified lymphedema therapists and are eligible to take the Lymphology Association of North America’s national certification examination. The course is open to physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapy assistants, certified occupational therapy assistants, registered nurses, certified nurse practitioners, physicians, podiatrists, physician assistants and medical technologists.

“The need for lymphedema awareness and treatment options in the medical community will continue to rise as more and more people are surviving cancer treatments, significant traumas, and the obesity rate continues to climb,“ according to Dr. DiCecco.

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