What You'll Learn

✔ Why emergency preparedness is especially important for people with lipedema and lymphedema, and other chronic diseases

✔ Common challenges experienced during ER visits and hospital stays

✔ What a Lipedema Medical Go Bag is and why it matters

✔ How preparation can reduce stress, confusion, and overwhelm

✔ The importance of self-advocacy and communication in medical settings

Esther Gartner

Esther Gartner is spearheading this collaborative webinar initiative as a patient advocate, educator, and founder of More Than Fat. She is a former Information Technology Director with over 25 years of executive and technology leadership experience and holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems. Esther is deeply passionate about empowering individuals through education, advocacy, and support, and she has been an active member of the Lipedema Simplified TRIBE community since 2021. Her work is dedicated to helping others improve quality of life through practical tools, hope, and meaningful community connection.

Catherine Seo

Catherine Seo is the Founder & CEO of Lipedema Simplified and The Lipedema Project and serves as the facilitator of each webinar session. She is an internationally recognized researcher, educator, and advocate in the field of lipedema, dedicated to advancing awareness, diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care. Catherine is the co-director of the documentary The Disease They Call FAT and co-editor of the forthcoming medical textbook Lipedema: Principles and Practice of Diagnosis and Treatment. Her work is centered on empowering individuals through education, research, and community support.

Julie Stewart

Julie Stewart is a Community Muse within the Lipedema Simplified TRIBE and an active contributor to Wisdom Circles, webinars, community groups, and creative projects. She is a lipolymphedema patient and breast cancer survivor who brings both lived experience and compassion to her advocacy. Julie is passionate about supporting individuals and families navigating health challenges, helping develop educational tools and support resources for the community, and bringing warmth, encouragement, creativity, and insight to the group.

Kristen Wiegand

Kristen Wiegand is a compassionate community member focused on encouragement and emotional support, with a strong passion for creating safe and supportive spaces for connection and healing. She supports individuals through surgery preparation, recovery, self-care, and difficult moments, always emphasizing kindness, accountability, shared experiences, and genuine human connection. Kristen advocates for emotional and relational healing alongside physical healing.

Marsha Black

Marsha Black is a member of the Lipedema TRIBE community who was diagnosed with late-stage lipo-lymphedema in 2016. She is passionate about self-advocacy and continuing education, and she found guidance, support, and inspiration through Lipedema Simplified. Marsha encourages others to seek information, community, and hope as they navigate their own health journeys.

Melissa Perenson

Melissa Perenson is a journalist with more than 20 years of experience in consumer technology media and has contributed to major publications including Forbes Vetted, Laptop Mag, Tom’s Guide, and PCWorld. She is passionate about helping consumers make informed, purpose-driven decisions and has extensive experience tracking e-commerce trends, products, and consumer resources. Melissa brings strong communication expertise and thoughtful insight to the community initiative.