American Professional WoundCare Association
APWCA2009. The American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA) recently held its eighth national clinical conference, which was marked by a record attendance of nearly 900 participants. A cutting-edge scientific program and special award presentations to legendary singer, Patti LaBelle, and distinguished physician and educator, R. Gary Sibbald, BSc, MD, MEd, FRCPC (Med Derm), MACP, FAAD, FAPWCA, highlighted the conference. In addition, the program served as the national meeting for the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine (ACHM), a collaborating society, and for iLegx from Europe, also a collaborating society.
This year's recipient of the APWCA's Distinguished Achievement Award was Dr Sibbald, who delivered the keynote address, "Wound Bed Prep and Bacteria." He is the current president of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies and professor of public health sciences and medicine at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
For her role as an advocate to educate the public about diabetes, the APWCA presented Patti LaBelle with the first Community Outreach Award. Ms LaBelle, who lost her mother and her 3 sisters to diabetes, was diagnosed with the disease 15 years ago. As a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association and a role model for effective diabetes self-care, she has been instrumental in encouraging the public to have diagnostic testing for diabetes and ongoing medical treatment for the disease.
"Saving Peri-Wound Cells: New Life for Dying Cells" was the annual scientific address, organized and supported by McCord Research. Darlene McCord, PhD, FAPWCA, brought PhD research scientists from the University of Iowa to participate in the panel presentation.
Joining the faculty for the first time from Switzerland was renowned vascular surgeon, Dieter Mayer, MD, who lectured on "Osteomyelitis: The European Perspective." His presentation on "World Perspective: Global Impact of Critical Limb Ischemia" was a collaborative effort and presented by the APWCA and the ACHM.
The APWCA extends its appreciation for the significant support that made the conference possible and filled the exhibit hall with 80 exhibitors. These supporters included McCord Research; Medline Industries, Inc, Advanced Skin and Wound Care; Cubist Pharmaceuticals; Derma Sciences, Inc; Healthpoint Ltd; Kinetic Concepts, Inc; Omega Medical Health Systems; and Organogenesis, Inc.
"Everything the Patient and Caregiver Wanted to Know About Wounds[horizontal ellipsis] But Were Afraid to Ask," a free community event focusing on wounds, including diabetic, circulatory, and arterial, was offered by the American Wound Care Foundation (AmWCF) during APWCA2009. The patients and caregivers learned about wound types, scope of the problem, and how to participate in the treatment plan. The issues concerning patient compliance with prescribed treatment and the disease process, as well as depression associated with chronic illness, were also addressed. The APWCA, through its regional districts and House of Delegates, provides volunteer educators from across the country. The AmWCF is a charitable, nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public regarding treatment for nonhealing wounds, possibly leading to limb loss, major infection, and death. For additional information, visit the AmWCF Web site, http://www.AmWCF.org, or call 215-364-1780.
APWCA2010 will be held April 8 to 11, 2010, at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.apwca.org; 215-364-4100