Introducing the Oncology Section’s Lymphedema SIG Chair: 

Lesli R Bell, PT, CLT-LANA
Passion:  Lesli loves being a PT; she has a passion in working with the breast cancer population.   She integrates her orthopedic and lymphatic knowledge to customize care within the spectrum of recovery for each patient. Lesli has specialized training and experience in the assessment and treatment of trunk and breast lymphedema.   She believes that it is essential that all breast cancer survivors have access to PT as a component of the post - breast cancer care. Lesli along with many of her colleagues, believe that many post operative complications could be avoided or significantly decreased in intensity with early intervention of a well trained PT.

• Education     
• Professional
• Affiliations
• Awards
• Personal
• Email

Education

Lesli graduated with a BS in Physical Therapy in 1984 from California State University at Fresno. She specialized in orthopedics after graduation and has taken numerous continuing education courses through the years. TMJ, spine, rib dysfunction and the influence of respiration on orthopedic dysfunction have been areas of special interest. Lesli became involved in post breast cancer rehabilitation in 1997 and was certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage from the Lerner Institute in 1997. She is accredited by the Lymphatic Association of North America (LANA). Lesli is also working toward her DPT at Regis University in Colorado.

Professional

Lesli started her career at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla California. When she moved to Vermont in 1987, she opened Timberlane Physical Therapy, a private outpatient practice in South Burlington.  In 1997 she became the first PT in Vermont to be certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage. Her interest in women’s health and oncology led her to pursue an idea for a compression garment for the treatment of lymphedema of the chest wall. Lesli was fortunate to meet Lisa Lindahl, the inventor and co-owner of the original Jogbra, together they developed the Bellisse Compressure Comfort Bra. This garment was the first compression product made especially for the needs of the post breast cancer population.  Bellisse has been granted a utility and design patents in the USA and has several other patents pending in other countries. Lesli lectures frequently at hospitals, conferences and oncology groups and enjoys sharing how physical therapy can be an important part of cancer rehabilitation.

Affiliations

Lesli has been an APTA member since 1984. She has also been active in the Vermont APTA having served on the board of directors in several capacities including Treasurer. She maintains membership in Women’s Health, Oncology, Private Practice, Orthopedics, and Sports Medicine Sections.  She is excited for the opportunity to chair the Lymphedema SIG for the Oncology Section of the APTA and hopes to bring positive leadership to this group. Her clinic is active in clinical internships for physical therapy students, and clinical research for the Department Of Physical Therapy at the University of Vermont.

Awards

She was thrilled to be given the Outstanding Achievement Award for the APTA Vermont Chapter in 2004.

Personal

Lesli enjoys living in Vermont with her husband, 2 children (16 and 12), and their cats. She loves gardening and boating on Lake Champlain with friends and family.  Skiing is always fun in the winter, and quilting is a great passion.   In the future, Lesli looks forward to traveling to distant places.

We are thrilled to have Lesli R Bell, PT, CLT-LANA, as our Lymphedema SIG chair for the Oncology Section.  Leslie is looking forward to help promote the agenda to improve lymphedema treatment and invites you to email her with any suggestions you may have at lbellpt@aol.com We are anxious to see the path the Lymphedema SIG will take under Lesli’s direction. 

• March 2009: Loraine Lovejoy-Evans, MPT, DPT, CLT-Földi
• November 2008: Leslie J. Waltke, PT
• September 2008: Rick W. Wilson, PT, PhD
• June 2008: Julie A. Hobbs, PT, DPT, Ph.D., CHES
• May 2007: Kathleen Hummel-Berry, PT, PhD
• November 2007: Nicole L. Stout Gergich MPT, CLT-LANA
• September 2007: Michaele R. Smith, PT, MEd
• April 2007: Richard Briggs PT, MA
• February 2007: Lesli R Bell, PT, CLT-LANA
• November 2006: Nancy Roberge, PT, DPT, M.Ed
• October 2006: Karen Rushby, PT, MScHA, CLT