ALA Board of Directors

Diane Martin (President)

Diane is the co-founder and President of the Alberta Lymphedema Association which was founded in 2003. A two-time breast cancer survivor with lymphedema, she believes that all lymphedema patients need to be educated about their condition and have the opportunity to receive proper treatment. Diane has worked with many associations to ensure lymphedema patients are getting what they need to have a good quality of life. She also serves as co-chair of the Alberta Health Services Lymphedema Patient Advisory group.

Allison Vickery (Treasurer)

Allison serves as the Treasurer for the ALA Board, as well as the editor of the ALA virtual newsletter. She joined ALA in 2019 after learning about lymphedema in connection with her father, who was undergoing radiation treatment. Having a diverse background in non-profit and volunteer work, Allison presently works with a number of foundations and charities in both Canada and South America. She truly believes in ALA’s mission to empower and advocate for individuals impacted by lymphedema.

Krupa Shelat (Secretary)

After getting to know ALA’s team and vision, Krupa was inspired by the incredible work they were doing and joined the ALA board in 2021 as the secretary and social media representative. She is currently working as a Registered Nurse with Alberta Health Services. Krupa brings knowledge from her degree, clinical experiences and love for supporting those in need. Having personal and professional experience with individuals who have lymphedema, Krupa couldn’t help but join the wonderful organization and bring a healthcare perspective to ALA.

Carissa Stenson (Director)

Carissa has struggled with Lymphedema for the last 14 years, with the first 4 being misdiagnosed. Carissa previously worked as a care aid in nursing homes but, with the development of her lymphedema, needed to change careers. She is now a manager in the finance industry. Due to this history, Carissa joined ALA in 2022 in order to bring more awareness and advocate for herself and others.

Robin Devine (Director)

Robin joined ALA in 2023 due to her passion for patient well-being and a wish to help improve life for all Albertans living with lymphedema. She is a 2200 hour Registered Massage Therapist who specializes in Lymphatic Drainage, Lymphedema Therapy, Relaxation & Therapeutic Massage, Brain Therapy, Brain Reflex Therapy, and Craniosacral Therapy. She is a fully certified Complex Decongestive Therapist and is the owner of the Lymph Balance Centre, with 2 locations in Calgary.

Dr. D. Ruether (Medical Advisor)

Dr. Ruether is a Medical Oncologist at the TBCC who has worked in the GU program for over 20 years. His undergraduate training was done at the University of Calgary and medical school completed at the University of Alberta. Post graduate training in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology was completed at the University of Calgary with focus on Clinical Trials in GU, Endocrine and Neuroendocrine malignancies and Patient Education. He is an active member of the Medical Oncology training program, serves on a number of administrative capacities, as the Lead for local tumour group teams and is responsible for bringing clinical trials for the Endocrine and NET and Prostate patient population in Alberta. Dr. Ruether is also the current Medical Director, Community Oncology, Cancer Care Alberta for 4 regional and 11 community sites whose directive is to bring cancer care closer to home for Albertans.