WOCTalk

About the Speaker:

Dr. Abigail Chaffin is a Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Tulane University. She is also the Program Director of the Tulane University/Ochsner Clinic Plastic Surgery residency program. She currently serves the Medical Director of the MedCentris Wound Healing Institute at Metairie.

Dr. Chaffin is Board-Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is Board-Certified by the American Board of Surgery. She is also Board-Certified by the American Board of Wound Medicine & Surgery, and the American Board of Wound Healing. Dr. Chaffin is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She is also a Certified Wound Specialist Physician. Due to her clinical and research excellence in wound medicine, she has been honored to be named as a Master of the American Professional Wound Care Association.

Dr. Chaffin is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. She then received M.D. degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. After this, she completed a five-year residency in General Surgery at the Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center program.  She then completed a two-year fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Tulane University, serving as well as Chief Administrative Resident.

Dr. Chaffin has been in practice for over 18 years. She focuses her practice on wound medicine and wound reconstructive surgery, in addition to general reconstructive plastic surgery. She has a particular clinical interest in complex wound surgical reconstruction. She has been honored to receive a Top Doctor award by New Orleans Magazine for the past seven years. As well, she has received the New Orleans Magazine Exceptional Women in Medicine award for the past four years.

Dr. Chaffin has published over 65 peer-reviewed publications in wound medicine and plastic surgery. She is a section editor for the ePlasty journal for the reconstructive surgery section. She also serves as an invited peer-reviewer for the Advances in Skin and Wound Care journal, the Journal of Wound Care, and the International Journal of Tissue Repair. She has served as Primary Investigator or Co-Investigator for numerous clinical trials at Tulane University.  She is on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Tissue Repair. She is an internationally and nationally recognized speaker at scientific conferences, and she frequently serves as a course faculty member and speaker for wound medicine scientific meetings including the Boswick Wound and Burn Symposium, the CAMPs Summit, SIITRAL, and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care. She is a Board Examiner for the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  She serves as committee chair for several national plastic surgery societies including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons. For ACEPS, she currently serves as Chair of the Research Committee. Dr. Chaffin is currently the Chair of the Assembly of State and Regional Societies for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and she is presently serving as a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Board of Directors.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Resources:

View the in-person event schedule

View the virtual event schedule

Register for WOCNext through June 2, 2026, at 12 PM ET

Download the WOCNext app to plan your conference experience

Explore the 2026 accepted abstracts

Attending for the first time? Check out the First-Time Attendee Guide

Learn more about keynote speaker Siri Lindley in her documentary, Tri Me: The Siri Lindley Story

About the Speaker:

Brooke Passy, CMP, DES, is the Director of Events and Industry Relations for the WOCN® Society. She has been a part of the WOCN team for almost two decades and has worked in all areas of the meeting planning process. Brooke is a certified CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) and DES (Digital Event Strategist) certification. Brooke's dedication to customer service and execution of events comes from her varied professional background of multiple years working in the food industry and experience in the performing arts. Brooke believes that running an event is just like a show; everyone must do their part and work together to create a seamless experience for the attendee/audience. No matter what, Brooke always knows that "the show must go on!" Brooke is always honing her ability to multitask while working mostly remote and juggling work, her twin children, and a puppy.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by 

The Podcast Consultant.

Resources:

Abstract: Pressure Injury Prevention in the Oncology Population

ePoster: Pressure Injury Prevention in the Oncology Population

Wound Treatment Associate (WTA®) Program

Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing (JWOCN®)

About the Speaker:

Dr. Lisa Marie Grubb is a wound, ostomy, and continence nurse and nursing leader at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she focuses on improving skin and wound outcomes for complex patient populations. Her work centers on pressure injury prevention, where treatment-related skin changes, immobility, nutrition challenges, and device use can quickly increase risk. With decades of nursing experience and a strong background in quality improvement and clinical education, she partners with bedside teams to translate evidence into practical prevention strategies that fit real-world workflows. 

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Resources:

Explore the WOCN® Society Mentor Match Program and sign up as a mentor or mentee

Join the WOC Nurse Week 2026 celebrations and events

About the Speakers:

Derik Alexander, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWOCN, CFCN, has been a member of the WOCN Society for over years. He is a WOC Nurse Practitioner at Dignity Health Medical Group and St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He currently serves as President-Elect of the WOCN Society.

His educational background includes a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Phoenix (2009), as well as completion of the Emory University Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse Education program.

Ferne Elsass, MSN, RN, CPN, CWON, WOCNF, is an experienced Clinical Instructor with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry. She is a skilled pediatric registered nurse with certifications in Pediatrics and Wound and Ostomy care, and has a strong clinical focus on pediatric wound and ostomy services.

Ferne has presented on pediatric wound care locally, nationally, and internationally and is a published content expert in the field. She has also served on the Mid-Atlantic Chapter WOCN board in multiple roles over a 10-year period and currently supports the board as Past President.

Emilee Bartolo, BSN, RN, CWOCN, is a WOC nurse practicing in the outpatient setting at a suburban wound clinic, where she has worked for over 15 years. Prior to this role, she spent 10 years in home health care. She obtained her WOC certification in July 2003.

Emilee is actively involved in the WOCN Society through national and chapter volunteer roles. She previously served as Chair of the Membership Engagement Committee, where she helped develop the Mentor Match Program launched in 2025.

Vashti Livingston, MS, RN, CWOCN, has been a member of the WOCN Society for over 20 years. She has served as a WOC nurse co-facilitator for an ostomy support group for two decades and has worked for 21 years at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the Urology Ambulatory Division, primarily supporting urological outpatient clients.

She has served two terms as a Director of the WOCN Society and has contributed to numerous committees and projects. Her experience also includes serving as an editor of a peer-reviewed journal and committee member of the International WCET Norma Gill Foundation.

Vashti has presented at 11 international conferences on ostomy care and WOC practice, in addition to numerous local and regional presentations across the U.S. She has precepted and mentored numerous WOC nurses over the past 20 years and remains active in community initiatives promoting bladder and colon cancer awareness.

She co-facilitates an online bladder cancer support group and volunteers with the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA). She has also served as a clinical expert on two ostomy online forums and as a clinical advisor for ostomy products and services for three major companies. She is currently a speaker for Coloplast’s ostomy division.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Resources:

Sign up to “Go Back to Your Roots” and use your expertise to inspire current nursing students by sharing your gratifying role as a certified ostomy nurse. You’ll get access to an official toolkit to help you start planting seeds.

Visit the UOAA website at ostomy.org for additional ostomy information.

About the Speakers

Jeanine Gleba, as the Director of Advocacy for the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA), awareness and advocates for those who have had or who will have ostomy or continent diversion surgery. Jeanine has her Masters degree in Education and over 19 years of experience of grassroots organizing including spearheading the efforts behind the successful passage of a New Jersey law named for her daughter Grace, which benefits thousands of NJ children who have hearing loss. She is an award-winning advocate most recently being honored as the recipient of UOAA’s President Award in 2023. Jeanine believes in giving back to her community and has served in numerous roles including as an elected official: Deputy Mayor/Councilwoman for six years. She currently serves on the Digestive Disease National Coalition as Immediate Past Chairperson, and the NJ Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee as a Public Member. Jeanine is passionate about inspiring others to self-advocate and make a positive change in their own lives, as well as in the lives of others.

Joanne Burgess, BSN, RN, CWOCN, has served in multiple care settings during her career including acute care, outpatient ostomy services, and industry. She has been an active leader within the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA), serving two years on the Board of Directors and nearly a decade as co-chair of the Advocacy Committee. Joanna helped create the Back to Your Nursing Roots project, a partnering project with the WOCN® Society. Her vision was driven by the national shortage of ostomy nurses and her commitment to inspiring nurses to enter the WOC specialty. She also has played a key role in developing the Ostomy and Continent Diversion Patient Bill of Rights (PBOR). A dual ostomate—living with a urostomy since age three and a colostomy since early adulthood—Joanna brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to her lifelong advocacy for high quality ostomy care and patient empowerment.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Resources:

Therapeutic wound and skin cleansing: Clinical evidence and recommendations by International Wound Infection Institute (IWII)

About the Speakers:

Dr. Kristina Fawcett, DNP, NP-C, CWS has over two decades of specialized expertise in wound care. She has been a member of the WOCN for over 15 years. Dr. Krissy has been instrumental in developing outpatient programs while advancing evidence-based practices in hospital settings throughout our community. Her experience spans all areas of healthcare, giving her a comprehensive understanding of patient needs across different care environments.

Currently practicing at Valley Wound Care Specialists, Dr. Krissy is passionate about advancing wound care knowledge through education and collaboration. She works closely with industry leaders to evaluate innovative treatment modalities, always with an eye toward comprehensive patient care that addresses both clinical needs and individual treatment goals.

Kurt Holifield, FNP-C, CWS, is a highly experienced board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner Wound and Ostomy Nurse with more than 20 years of dedicated service in healthcare. Grounded in a passion for compassionate, patient-centered care, Kurt brings a comprehensive clinical background spanning cardiovascular intensive care, specialty hospital settings, subacute and long-term acute care (LTAC), and advanced outpatient wound management. Since joining Valley Wound Care Specialists in February 2024, Kurt serves as a Wound Medicine Advanced Practice Nurse, focused on treating the whole patient — not just the wound. He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized treatment plans for patients with complex chronic conditions. He is proficient in a broad range of advanced wound care modalities and is passionate about advancing the wound medicine specialty.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Resources:

View the Abstract: Utilizing Four Eyes Methodology to Identify a Risk Window for Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI)

View the ePoster: Utilizing Four Eyes Methodology to Identify a Risk Window for Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI)  

About the Speaker

Sandra Fasing, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN, is an Acute Care WOC Nurse at VHC Health with over 30 years of nursing experience. As a member of a five-person WOC team, she supports both acute care and outpatient ostomy services, playing a pivotal role in the hospital’s "Journey to Zero" pressure injury prevention program. Sandra is also a trailblazer in her organization’s Magnet® research pathway. Sandra serves as a WOCNCB® Board Member.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Resources:

National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP)

NPIAP eCQM Resources

NPIAP International Guidelines

eCQI Resource Center

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) eCQM Library

WOCN® Society eCQM Navigation Center

WOCNext® 2026 Session on Electronic Clinical Quality Measure HH-PI

About the Speaker

Michelle Deppisch, PT, CWS, FACCWS, is a self-employed wound care consultant. She is a physical therapist and holds certifications as a Clinical Wound Specialist from the American Board of Wound Management and as a Fellow in the American College of Clinical Wound Specialists. Her expertise and dedication extend to various leadership roles within the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (or NPIAP), where she currently serves as President-Elect on the Board of Directors. Michele’s commitment to advancing the pressure injury prevention is further exemplified by her role as the NPIAP Task Force Resource for the Electronic Clinical Quality Measure: Hospital Harm-Pressure injury or HH-PI, secretary for the Prophylactic Dressing Standards Initiative, Co-Chair to Education Committee, and she serves on the Standards Committee She has authored numerous resources for NPIAP, most notably the Root Cause Analysis/OR Toolkit 3.0 and published and presented works for S3I on the clinical relevance of support surface tests.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Resources:

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

APTA Specialist Certification

Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management

American Board of Wound Management (ABWM)
 

About the Speaker

Renee Cordrey, PT, PhD, MSPT, MPH, CWS, FAAWC, found her wound care passion while a physical therapist student. Since then, she has become board certified in wound care and focused her career on that specialty. She has worked in acute care, long term care, outpatient wound clinics, and academia. She is currently a physical therapist with Enhabit Home Health.

She has been very active within the wound care community throughout her career, having served four terms on the Board of Directors of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) and in various roles with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®), the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM), the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, and Health Volunteers Overseas. She was honored with the Distinguished Member award from the AAWC and was included in the inaugural cohort of AAWC Fellows. She has also earned a Masters in Public Health, concentrating on health promotion and health education and completed her PhD examining how stress and locus of control interact with chronic wound healing. She has over 125 presentations and publications on wound-related topics.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠)

Resources:

Ostomy & Continent Diversion Patient Bill of Rights

Kindred Box

Ostomy 211

Pouches of Love

Friends of Ostomates Worldwide - USA

UOAA Support Group Finder

WOCN® Society Public Policy & Advocacy information

WOCN Society Chapters

WOCTalk Podcast Ep 137: Policy Changes That Could Impact Your WOC Practice

About the Speaker:

Kathleen Lawrence, MSN, RN, CWOCN, WOCNF, has had a wonderful career path in nursing. Her journey has included acute care, medical surgical nursing, home care, hospice and over 30 years as a wound ostomy and continence nurse practicing the full WOC scope of practice. Her work in WOC nursing has included acute care in-patient, and the development of a comprehensive wound ostomy and continence service for inpatient, outpatient, and contract entities in a rural Vermont setting. Contracts included subacute care, long-term care, pediatric clinics for special needs, home care and hospice. Currently Kate is the Program Director of wound, ostomy and continence services at the VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region in Vermont. Her role includes delivery of education, clinical care and consultation in home care, hospice, outpatient, long term care and community care facilities.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.