Lipedema Care: The Role of the Nurse Practitioner
In recognition of June being Lipedema Awareness Month, host Komkwuan “Kwuan” Paruchabutr, DNP, FNP-BC, WHNP-BC, CNM, FACNM, FNAP, FAAN, joins Courtney Mascio, OT/L, CLT, and Sarah Whitehead, MN, ARNP, CMP, to explore the basics of lipedema and how it is distinct from typical elevated BMI, obesity, and body fat. Together, they discuss the mental and physical toll lipedema imposes on patients, how to recognize lipedema in the clinic, and the crucial role nurse practitioners play in ensuring high-quality lipedema care, regardless of their expertise in the disease state.
This episode is sponsored by the Lipedema Foundation. [https://www.lipedema.org/]
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Show Notes:
About the Lipedema Foundation
The Lipedema Foundation [https://www.lipedema.org/] is a private, non-fundraising foundation with a mission to define, diagnose and develop treatments for Lipedema. The Foundation is the world’s largest funder of Lipedema research, with more than $13.6 million awarded in the US and internationally to date. The Foundation’s research focuses on collaboration, connecting patients and researchers, and fostering basic and translational research across disciplines including physiology, genomics, immunology and endocrinology.
The Foundation also creates clinical resources and education designed to help clinicians recognize and treat this condition with confidence. Find diagnostic resources, treatment options, a national provider directory, CME, the latest peer-reviewed findings, and more at lipedema.org/clinicians. [http://lipedema.org/clinicians] Help us close the gap for the millions of women still waiting for answers.
About NPWH
NPWH is the professional community for Women's Health Nurse Practitioners, students, and other advanced practice registered nurses who provide women's and gender-related healthcare. We set a standard of excellence by generating, translating, and promoting the latest research and evidence-based clinical guidance, providing high-quality continuing education, and advocating for patients, providers, and the WHNP profession. Our mission includes protecting and promoting a woman and all individuals' rights to make their own choices regarding their health and well-being within the context of their lived experience and their personal, religious, cultural, and family beliefs.
To learn more about NPWH member benefits and our community, visit our website! [https://npwh.org/general/register_member_type.asp] Currently, you can receive a $10 discount for NPWH membership by using the code $10DISCOUNT.
Courtney Mascio, OT/L, CLT – LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneymascio/] – Email: clinicians@lipedema.org [clinicians@lipedema.org]
Sarah Whitehead, MN, ARNP, CMP – LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-whitehead-2936194/] – Email: sarah@luminaseattle.com [sarah@luminaseattle.com]
Her Health Matters – LinkedIn Page [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/her-health-matters/]
Continuing Education: Join the NPWH newsletter [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/0ctnnrl/NPWHENEWS] to learn more about our continuing education offerings as they come out! Currently, there is a variety of CEs available on our learning management system. [https://www.pathlms.com/npwh]
Resources: Be sure to check out these tools!
Tools for Patients [https://www.lipedema.org/patients]
Tools for Clinicians [https://www.lipedema.org/healthcare-professionals]
Directory [https://www.lipedema.org/provider-directory]
Lumina Seattle [https://luminaseattle.com/]
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Her Health Matters is proudly produced by Association Briefings. [https://www.associationbriefings.com/]
In 2025, Her Health Matters received an Honorable Mention in PR Daily’s Nonprofit Awards in the prestigious “Awards of Distinction: Nonprofit Communications Campaign of the Year” category. NPWH was recognized alongside a distinguished group of organizations whose communications efforts sparked awareness, inspired engagement, and advanced meaningful missions.
Disclosure Statement
The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) values collaboration and the support of our sponsors in advancing our mission to promote excellence in women’s and gender-related healthcare. However, the presence of sponsorships or financial support for NPWH programs, events, publications, or digital platforms does not constitute endorsement by NPWH of any sponsor, company, organization, or the products, services, or policies they represent.
