Announcing the 2024-2025 NSWOCC Inaugural Fellows

CEO Statement - Catherine Harley eMBA, RN, IIWCC

At Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC), we support a culture that values and celebrates excellence. Recognizing excellence involves acknowledging and celebrating exceptional performance, achievements, or contributions in the tri-specialty of wound, ostomy and continence specialized nursing care. The goal is to motivate individuals and teams to maintain high standards and foster this culture of excellence. By launching a Fellowship program, NSWOCC has taken a significant step towards recognition focusing on the careers of select individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the tri-specialty. This Fellowship program is grounded in promising practices and we are privileged to be launching the new program on May 24, 2024.

On behalf of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC), I am excited to welcome our first, inaugural Fellows. Fellowship represents the highest honour for NSWOCC’s most recognized nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence. NSWOCC honours its clinical thought leaders, its significant voices in education and policy. This Fellowship Program is intended to celebrate contributions to NSWOCC and the nursing specialty of wound, ostomy and continence. Fellows selected for this program are recognized for their major impact on the advancement of the clinical, evidence and practice and are chosen not at their request or intent to be recognized. Rather, Fellows are identified and chosen based on outstanding practice. Within the framework of the tri-specialty, Fellows contribute to critical quality initiatives that support effective, evidence-based patient/resident care.

The future of specialized wound, ostomy and continence leadership rests on dedication, shaping thought leadership through education, policy and exemplary nursing practice, and positively impacting change in the specialized areas of wound, ostomy and continence. As the first group of NSWOCC Fellows, these individuals will serve as role models and mentors to the next generation of nurses. As this Fellowship program grows, these individuals will continue to be impactful as a remarkable resource of wisdom and expertise to advance nursing care, education, research and policy leadership.

The NSWOCC being inducted as inaugural Fellows reflect a wide diversity of nursing leadership and impact. Every one of these individuals has clearly demonstrated a sustained and powerful commitment to unique issues present in wound, ostomy and continence health. These clinical thought leaders are not only viewed by their peers as leaders in the field of the tri-specialty of wound, ostomy and continence nursing, they are also seen as a leading legacy of the extraordinary leadership contributions they have made.

I would like to thank them personally for their dedication and efforts during some very challenging years, where clinical and health system complexity has increased, as have patient needs, acuity, and risk. Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence do not abandon their patients, or their colleagues, or the broader profession – they want the very best outcome and they do what it takes: they care, support, advocate, educate, and lead. As we move into the future, we know we are better for their wisdom, experience and voice. Their impact will shape the future of wound, ostomy and continence specialized healthcare provision in Canada, and inspire the next generation of nurses in the field.

For making a difference for nurses, aligned healthcare professionals and patients, we salute you. They deserve to hold the credential of NSWOCC – Fellow in Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence, and are worthy holders of this credential. We celebrate you, we recognize you and we look forward to many more NSWOCCs following in your footsteps as we move into the future.

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Nicole Denise, MScN, BScN, NSWOC

Nicole Denis is the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute Preceptor Manager. In 1996 she was the founding director of the Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy Wound, Ostomy and Continence Bilingual Education Program

Key Contributions and Recognitions:

• Founding director of the Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Bilingual Education Program

• Past President of Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy

• Mentored numerous nurses in wound, ostomy, and continence care

• Developed bilingual education ensuring accessible quality training

• Recipient of the CAET President’s Award for leadership in wound, ostomy and continence

Louise Forest-Lalonde, MEd, RN, NSWOC, ET

Louise Forest-Lalonde is an Academic Advisor for the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute. She is retired from her role as an Enterostomal Therapy Nurse at The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine

Key Contributions and Recognitions:

• Past President of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET)

• Led development of Pediatric Stoma Care Best Practice Guidelines

• Author of books and papers on wound care and stoma management

• International lecturer on Enterostomal Therapy Nursing

• She has received several awards, at regional, national, and international levels. Recently she received the Norma N. Gill WCET President Award

Corey Heerschap, MScCH, BScN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C)

Corey Heerschap is the President of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada and is a Wound and Ostomy Clinical Nurse Specialist at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie, Ontario.

Key Contributions and Recognitions:

• President and Past Treasurer of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada

• Co-chaired development of the RNAO Pressure Injury Best Practice Guidelines and served as an expert panel member on multiple national wound and ostomy guidelines

• Inaugural Secretary of CPIAP and Education Co-Lead for the Commonwealth Wound Care Resource Alliance

• Authored NSWOCC designation and credentials position statement

• Lead editor for upcoming NSWOCC wound care textbook

• Participated in a wound care mission to Argentina in 2019

Mary Hill, MN, BScN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C)

Mary Hill is a Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence educator and consultant for Integrated Home Care for Alberta Health Services in Calgary where she supports nurses and clients in community care.

Key Contributions and Recognitions:

• Past President and Professional Practice Group Coordinator for NSWOCC

• Regional Director for North America for the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel

• Lead for NSWOCC National Conference Planning Core Program for the past 13 years

• Educator and consultant for community care nurses

• Author of publications on wound, ostomy, and continence care

• Participated in a wound care mission to Cambodia

Rosemary Hill, BSN, RN, CWOCN, NSWOC, WOCC(C)

Rosemary Hill is Past President of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada and is a Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence for Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver Costal Health, in Vancouver, British Columbia

Key Contributions & Recognitions:

• Past President of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC)

• Chair of the British Columbia Provincial Nursing Ostomy Committee

• Recognized with the Award of Excellence in Practice from the Association of Registered Nurses of British Columbia

• Worked closely with the Ostomy Canada Society on education initiatives, particularly related to the Disability Tax Credit

• 2024 NSWOC Recognition Award from the Ostomy Canada Society

Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, PhD, MN, BScN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), FCAN

Kimberly LeBlanc is the current President of the Canadian Nurses Association and Academic Chair of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute as well an Advanced Practice and Certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse working with KDS Professional Consulting

Key Contributions & Recognitions:

• Current President of the Canadian Nurses Association

• Founding member of the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel

• Inaugural Co-chair of the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel

• Serves on the boards of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies, International Wound Infection Institute, and the Commonwealth Wound Care Resource Alliance

• Awarded Canadian Nurses Association Order of Merit Award for Nursing Education

• Author of numerous publications and book chapters

• Holds academic appointments at Curtin University, McGill University, and Cardiff University

Lina Martins, MScN, BScN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C)

Lina Martins is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Certified Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC) at London Health Sciences Centre in Canada. She is also the Editor in Chief of The Canadian Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence (Previously the NSWOC Advance)

Key Contributions and Recognitions:

• Editor-in-Chief of The Canadian Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (Previously the NSWOC Advance)

• Canadian Feature Editor of JWOCN

• Contributes to Best Practice Guidelines for ostomy and wound care through the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and NSWOCC

• She is a mentor and educator to nurses, patients, nursing students, and medical and surgical residents through the Schulich School of Medicine at Western University

• Member of the NSWOCC conference planning committee x 10 years

Dr. Christine Murphy, PhD, MClSc(WH), BSc, NSWOC, WOCC(C)

Dr. Murphy works at The Ottawa Hospital Limb Preservation Centre in the vascular surgery department. Currently she has a clinical, education and research focus in complex vascular wounds, diabetic foot ulcer and limb preservation.

Key Contributions and Recognitions:

• Past President of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada

• Co-lead of Diabetes Action Canada SPOR Network Foot Care

• Chair of the International Biofilm-Based Wound Care Panel

• Developed globally recognized Wound Hygiene Consensus Document

• Faculty member at Western University’s Master of Clinical Science program

Dr. Kevin Woo, PhD, RN, FAPWCA, NSWOC, WOCC(C)

Dr. Kevin Woo is an Associate Professor at Queen’s University, School of Nursing, School of Rehabilitation Therapy in Kingston, Ontario and Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence at the University Health Network in Toronto, Ontario.

Key Contributions and Recognitions:

• Founding member of the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel

• Published numerous best practice guidelines and peer-reviewed articles

• Awarded Canadian Nurses Association Order of Merit Award for Nursing Research

• Current Co-Chair of the NSWOCC Research Committee

• Adjunct research professor at Western University