WOCTalk

WOCN Society
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  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to WOCTalk, a podcast courtesy of the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society. WOCTalk is your opportunity to learn more about advocacy, education, and research that support the practice and delivery of expert healthcare to individuals with wound, ostomy, and continence care needs.

  1. 5H AGO ·  BONUS

    (BONUS) EP 30: Mentorship Matters: Growing Your Career in WOC Nursing

    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.

    1 hr

  2. APR 7

    Back to Your Nursing Roots: Cultivate the Next Ostomy Specialists

    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.

    45 min

  3. MAR 25 ·  BONUS

    (Bonus) Wound Talk Wednesday S1E1: Expanding the Role of Hypochlorous Acid in Wound Care

    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.

    34 min

  4. MAR 17

    Four Eyes Method: A Data-Driven Approach to Pressure Injury Prevention

    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.

    28 min

  5. MAR 3

    Zeroing in on Quality: How the Hospital Harm-Pressure Injury eCQM Changes Reporting

    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.

    37 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    Beyond the Bandage: The Role of Physical Therapy in Wound Care

    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)

    48 min

  7. 12/26/2025 ·  BONUS

    (BONUS) Ostomy Observations Series S4E6: What Happens Next?: The Ostomy Nurse’s Responsibility in Discussing Supplies Post-Discharge

    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.

    51 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    From Reluctance to Recognition: An Unconventional WOC Nursing Journey

    Interested in advancing your pediatric WOC care knowledge? Click here to view all active courses available for Contact Hours in the WOCN Society’s Continuing Education Center (CEC). To view a collection of hot topic pediatric articles in the Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing (JWOCN®), click here. The Editorial Board of the Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing invites Authors to submit Manuscripts. Click here for additional information. Applications are now live for the next class of WOCN Fellows. Learn more and submit a nomination by January 30, 2026. To view the WOCN Society’s Public Policy hot topics and resources, click here.   About the Speaker Ferne Elsass is a dedicated Wound and Ostomy Nurse based in Norfolk, VA, bringing over 26 years of experience in pediatric nursing. Her clinical background includes extensive work in neonatal and pediatric intensive care, as well as trauma education. Ferne holds a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in nursing from Liberty University. She completed her wound and ostomy certification through the WebWOC program at Metropolitan State University and received local clinical training. For the past three years, Ferne has served as a Clinical Resource Specialist with Smith and Nephew, focusing on the advanced wound care portfolio. Her expertise in pediatric wound and ostomy care has been nationally recognized through published journal articles and two book chapters. Ferne has presented her work both nationally and internationally, contributing significantly to education and advancement in the field. A committed leader in the wound care community, Ferne is the Past President of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, reflecting her dedication to supporting professional development and best practices across the region. She was inducted as a member of the 2024 Class of WOCN Fellows.

    48 min
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4.6
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Welcome to WOCTalk, a podcast courtesy of the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society. WOCTalk is your opportunity to learn more about advocacy, education, and research that support the practice and delivery of expert healthcare to individuals with wound, ostomy, and continence care needs.

Information

  • Creator
    WOCN Society
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © WOCTalk 2018
  • Show Website
    WOCTalk

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