Executive Board Members
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.
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.
