Jen has been practicing physical therapy for more than 30 years in the Northwest Pennsylvania region. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (Class of 1994), she has extensive experience across multiple care settings, including home health, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, and academic instruction at a local college. She currently serves as a Senior Lymphedema Therapist at an outpatient facility.
Throughout her career, Jen has demonstrated a strong commitment to patient advocacy and education. In the late 1990s, she led the Reach to Recovery program, supporting individuals who had undergone mastectomy and training breast cancer survivor volunteers to provide peer support. She later became certified in Vestibular Therapy in 2004 and has continued her advocacy through work with local support groups for stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident) survivors, as well as educational programs for senior care communities and career development events.
After experiencing malignant melanoma herself in 2014, Jen gained a personal understanding of the critical need for specialized lymphatic care in her region. This experience inspired her to become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Today, she treats clients across a broad spectrum of diagnoses, including cancer-related lymphedema, vascular disease, stroke, and obesity-related lymphatic dysfunction.
Jen is particularly passionate about addressing barriers to care, including limited awareness of treatment options and ongoing challenges with insurance coverage for compression garments. Despite these obstacles, she finds the greatest reward in helping patients regain function and quality of life — whether it is becoming eligible for a long-needed knee replacement or celebrating the simple joy of being able to wear shoes comfortably again.
Through her partnership with LE&RN, Jen looks forward to expanding outreach across Northwest Pennsylvania by promoting education, improving awareness of prevention and treatment, and strengthening advocacy for individuals living with lymphatic diseases.
 

I am a retired physical therapist who dedicated the final twenty years of my career to specializing in wound care management, lymphedema treatment, and breast cancer rehabilitation. I began my work in a Wound Recovery Department, where I ultimately earned my Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) credential. During that time, a physician colleague encouraged me to pursue certification in lymphedema management after recognizing that many patients with chronic wounds were also living with untreated lymphedema, which often limited the effectiveness of traditional wound care. 
That recommendation proved to be a turning point in my career. I went on to become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) and later developed a specialty focus in breast cancer rehabilitation. Experiencing breast cancer treatment personally further deepened my perspective, strengthening both my clinical approach and my empathy as a provider.
Throughout my work, I saw firsthand how challenging lymphedema can be for patients. Many individuals lived for years with symptoms that were undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, often without awareness that effective treatment options were available. For many, receiving appropriate care — and having a knowledgeable advocate — was truly life changing. I was fortunate to work within both a Wound Recovery Department and an Oncology Center that emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration and strong partnerships with community agencies, allowing us to provide comprehensive, patient-centered support that improved overall quality of life.
As Co-Chair of the Northwest Pennsylvania LE&RN Chapter, I look forward to advancing awareness, strengthening advocacy efforts, and helping improve access to care for individuals living with lymphatic diseases throughout the region.