Michael Bernas is currently the Director of the Scholarly Pursuit and Thesis 4-year research course at the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. He was previously an Associate Scientific Investigator in the Department of Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Arizona.

He received his Master of Science degree in genetics from the University of Arizona in 1985. After working in the Department of Pathology performing basic molecular biology experiments on human papilloma viruses at the University of Arizona, he then moved to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle where he worked in the Department of Pathology focusing on viral detection by antibody and DNA based techniques.

He rejoined the University of Arizona in 1989 to start his work with Drs. Charles and Marlys Witte in the lymphology laboratories in the Department of Surgery focusing on all aspects of the lymphatic system. His work encompassed research in both basic and clinical lymphology focusing on a variety of animal lymphedema models, transgenic mice, lymphatic and blood vascular growth factors, in vitro cultures, imaging techniques of the lymphatic system, and clinical treatment trials from the research aspect.

In addition, Mike is the executive editor of the International Society of Lymphology’s (ISL) journal Lymphology and has served on the Executive Committee. He is also responsible for updating and modifying the consensus document on the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema for the ISL.