Guest Editorial: The State of the AAWC—Many Reasons to be Proud

 Each November, the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) provides OWM readers with an annual update. As I reflect on my term as the first podiatrist President of the AAWC (2012–2014), I applaud our Board of Directors and staff for all of their efforts, especially their assistance in completing our 5-year strategic plan 1 year early. Accomplishments have included providing continuous evidence-based resources and education to professionals and the lay public, particularly via our website. The AAWC Board of Directors met recently to craft a new 3- to 5-year plan to help advance the practice. Details will be released to members as soon as the plans are finalized.   During my 2-year term, the Board agreed that, complementary to our strategic plans, it would be timely and important to create a framework to address the escalating epidemic of diabetic foot complications in order to foster amputation prevention. In support of this platform, new guidelines are under development for wound infection and diabetic foot ulcers. Additionally, by promoting an interprofessional approach and working in tandem with other organizations as “One Voice,” the AAWC is initiating a meaningful network and creating a pathway to help diminish individual suffering.

  We are honored to have partnered with the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) and the Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA) to develop a paper on the multidisciplinary approach to wound care. Further, we nurture our ongoing partnership with Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) to provide wound and lymphedema education in Haiti, Peru, Cambodia, and India. We are working with US-based organizations such as the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association (DebRA), and Indian Health Services (IHS) on many worthwhile projects. These are only a few examples of how the AAWC is helping strengthen dialogue and cohesiveness among professional organizations involved in the wound care arena. The AAWC continues to emphasize quality care for patients as well as provide valuable input to governmental and regulatory agencies. Our members receive alerts regarding these affairs routinely.

  The AAWC also is proud to announce a 60% increase in membership over the last 2 years. With more than 2,300 members, our commitment to community, collaboration, and equal partnership is still paramount. The AAWC provides numerous educational benefits to our professional members. Hopefully, OWM readers agree that people with wounds and their lay-caregivers are the most critical part of the wound care “team”. To support them, patients and lay-caregivers are provided free lifetime membership in the AAWC and have their own unique set of benefits and support. They are the most important component to our “One Voice” in wound care.

  As proof of our dedication to knowledge exchange, the AAWC is particularly proud of our Speakers Bureau program because it provides opportunities for AAWC members to spread the word about quality, evidence-based wound care. The Speakers Bureau has a growing database of wound care experts from diverse fields of healthcare, many of whom hold certifications in wound care. Those interested in becoming a bureau member and/or selecting a quality speaker for an upcoming program are encouraged to visit our website.

  Additionally, I am proud to announce the AAWC Shire Fellowship Grant in Wound Healing and Research, launched at the recent SAWC Fall in Las Vegas. Made possible by an unrestricted grant from Shire, this grant allows the AAWC to award two $50,000 fellowship support grants for the 2014–2015 academic year to two physician fellows (MD, DO, DPM) who will learn the intricacies of clinical practice and perform research in an academic and/or clinical setting dedicated to the multidisciplinary approach to wound care. The program is open to AAWC members only; we encourage you to view program details and download an application at www.aawconline.org/fellowships.

  Last but not least, many thanks to all of our corporate partners who support the AAWC financially as well as provide valuable input at our Corporate Advisory Panel meetings. Coupled with several leaders from among the membership, this group is collectively working on the development of a worthwhile educational project that will help the generalist practitioner learn basics of wound care, and most importantly, recognize when to refer a patient to a wound care specialist.

  Please read on to learn the many ways the AAWC is working for you. Enjoy the articles, several of which were submitted by fellow AAWC members. Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to this issue of OWM and to all of the AAWC’s projects, programs, and successes over the last year.

  Best regards,
  Robert J. Snyder, DPM, MSc, CWS
  President, AAWC