The Leadership Series: Katina Kirby, OT, CLT-LANA

Katina Kirby’s greatest wish is that she’ll be out of a job someday. “A day when there is a cure for lymphedema is the highest hope,” she says in this enlightening interview. Her career started as an occupational therapist, and when the opportunity arose for lymphedema therapist training, she raised her hand. Katina loved helping patients, though 25 years ago a lymphedema diagnosis was met with skepticism in the medical community. “This is just post-surgical swelling…” she heard, though the surgery in question had been four years previous. Truly, awareness and treatment have come a long way. Katina’s long-term experience in lymphedema therapy equipped her perfectly for the role of Executive Director of the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA). LANA’s website, www.clt-lana.org, is a wealth of information for both patients and clinicians and Katina’s hope is that many will avail themselves of LANA’s resources. Lympha Press has been a proud LANA sponsor for many years and is delighted to shine a spotlight on Katina Kirby and the significant role LANA plays to educate and advocate for advances in lymphedema therapy. This interview was recorded in March 2023. You can watch a video recording of the interview on the Lympha Press USA Channel on YouTube. The Lympha Press Leadership Series raises awareness of leaders in lymphedema, CVI, wounds, and lipedema and the organizations that advocate for awareness and research.