Board Of Directors

Late Founder and Director

Joan White is the founder of the Lighthouse Lymphedema Network. Joan attended Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. After being diagnosed with Lymphedema in her left leg, ankle, foot, and abdomen she founded the Lighthouse Lymphedema Network to spread information and hope to others suffering from lymphedema and to the medical community serving lymphedema patients. Joan was active with the National Lyphedema Network, the Lymphedema Treatment Act (now Lymphedema Advocay Group) and the Lymphology Association of North America. More information on Joan and her accomplishments can be found here.

Medical Content - Conferences

Frank is the Wound Care Clinical Coordinator at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center (NRMC) overseeing and assisting with wound care practices across the continuum of care and the Director of Lymphatic and Wound Healing Services at Hyperbaric Physicians of Georgia. He has over 32 years of wound care experience and serves in multiple roles as a physical therapist, wound and lymphedema specialist, hyperbaric technician, consultant, and educator.

Frank is also involved with Louisiana Extended Care Hospital Natchitoches, LHC group, Cane River Therapy Services, industry, Virtual Wound Rounds and Wound Healing Roundtables.

Frank lectures at the academic, national, and international level. He consults for industry, helps with program development, serves on various advisory boards, and is on the speaker bureau for multiple companies as he educates on wound care, lymphedema, and being a patient advocate.

Finances - Fund Development

Dr. Dolores Bradley is Associate Professor and Vice-Chair, Psychology Director, RISE Program, Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia. She is a Research Associate Professor, Division of Sensory-Motor Systems, Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Bradley has primary lymphedema in both legs.

Director of Community Outreach

Samantha Cannon-Martin is a graduate, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia. She also holds an OT Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy, Belmont University. She obtained a certification in Complex Decongestive Therapy for Lymphedema management, Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy. Mrs Cannon-Martin serves on Gwinnett Medical Center’s Cancer Committee, Community Outreach Committee and Breast Cancer Leadership for Northside Hospital, Cumming/Forsyth, Georgia. She consults with physicians on a regular basis to educate them on the diagnosis of Lymphedema and swelling complications. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist independently serving patients in the Gwinnett, Forsythe, and Hall county areas.

Co-Director of Communications

Deb Cozzone is a graduate of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania with a BS in Mathematics and German. She has been married to Mike for 30+ years. After 13 years as a technical and business analyst for EDS, Deb moved to part-time positions, including substitute teaching and a home-based business while being a full-time mom. Currently she serves as an Collections Assistant for the Mimms Museum of Technology and Arert in Roswell, GA.

Director of Medical Content

Shelley Smith Dicecco is a graduate of Clemson University with a BA in Special Education. Dr. Dicecco holds a Master of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine. She completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University with her dissertation emphasis on Female Genital Lymphedema. Dr. DiCecco is a CLT-LANA certified lymphedema therapist and a certified Casley-Smith International Lymphoedema Instructor. Dr. DiCecco is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Department at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia’s campus. She is the Program Director for outpatient pelvic floor and lymphedema services in Atlanta Georgia with the Sports Rehabilitation Center. She is the owner of the lymphedema education company, LymphEd, LLC.

Community Outreach - Patient Support

Sandra is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a BS in Psychology. She completed a Masters in Physical Therapy at Nova Southeastern University. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through Academy of Lymphatic Studies. Ms. Dupree is a Multi-Site Manager with Wellstar Outpatient Rehab. She volunteers with Brylan's Feat Foundation as a regular attendee at Camp Watchme and provides consultations to children with lymphedema and their families worldwide. Ms. Dupree has a diagnosis of lipedema and lymphedema and has a daughter with lymphedema.

Finances - Insurance

Ellen graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio with a degree in psychology. After having 3 children she worked in the insurance industry as a claims adjuster for 30 years. When Ellen retired she began a career as a volunteer. She presently works many hours with The Assistance League of Atlanta.. Ellen developed lymphedema in the left leg in May 2019, cause unknown.

Co-Director of Communications, Secretary

Debbie Labarthe received her BA degree in Secondary Business Education from the University of Central Florida in 1984 and her M.Ed degree in Inclusive Education from Kennesaw State University in 2011. She has over 25 years of teaching experience, primarily at the middle school level.

In 2003 her grandson, Carson Sollenberger, was born with primary lymphedema in his right leg and pelvis. She was instrumental in having his case reviewed and diagnosed by the Vascular Anomalies Center at the Children’s Hospital of Boston. She joined the LLN Board of Directors in 2004, has served as Secretary since 2006, and is also the LLN’s primary representative for Parent Networking.

Director of Finances and Treasurer

Francine Schwartz Schuler is a Lipedema and Lipolymphedema patient. She has a BS in Economics, with a Double Major in Political Science and a Minor in Theater from The University of Tampa.

Francine has struggled with weight since before Kindergarten and rose to over 425lbs in adulthood. She was always misdiagnosed as only having Obesity and constantly told she was non-compliant because she could never lose enough weight, especially from the bottom half of her body. When she started her Lipedema surgery journey she was immobile and needed a walker then wheelchair. After having 5 surgeries on her legs, and following the modalities of CDT, she is able to walk without assistance.

Francine's new passion in life is to raise awareness of Lipedema. She is also a Moderator on the Facebook group “Liposuction for Lipedema” with over 8k members. Francine has done a lot of research and is able to educate others on ways to fight this horrible debilitating and disfiguring disease.

Communications – Newsletter

Sharon Shepard recently joined our board to assist with communication and education efforts. She received her English degree from Davidson College and a Master's in Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has been a teacher, writing tutor, newsletter editor, and education advocate­— serving on PTA boards for over a decade. She has also published several newspaper articles and a novel. In 2017, Sharon was diagnosed with bilateral early-stage breast cancer in the middle of a move from Greensboro, NC to Kennesaw, GA, so she’s had the opportunity to experience lymphedema education and frustrations in two states. She has Stage 1 lymphedema in her left arm and is developing a bilateral prevention protocol for herself as well as other bilateral BC patients. Sharon loves to travel and hike with her family.

Finances - Bandages and Garment Fund

Janie Smith is a graduate of Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia with a BS in Physical Therapy. She holds a Certification for Lymphedema through the Academy of Lymphatic Studies, Sebastian, Florida. Ms. Smith is a United Way volunteer. She is a retired Certified Lymphedema Therapist from Northside Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia.

Finances - Communications

Beverly Thompson is a graduate of Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, Georgia. Ms. Thompson holds a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Georgia, Athens. She is a member of the Joy Council and Kitchen Angel for the Johns Creek United Methodist Church. Formerly, Ms. Thompson was a classroom teacher, studio teacher and principal for Fulton County Schools in Atlanta. “The LLN is an impressive organization. I feel honored to be a part of helping them to educate and create awareness about lymphedema.”