As part of our WOC Nurse Week 2025 celebrations, the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) is thrilled to announce the newest individuals that will be inducted into the 2025 Class of the WOCN Fellow Program. This year’s distinguished class includes eight individuals, including two inductees to a newly formed Honorary Fellow category. Each inductee has demonstrated outstanding commitment, expertise, and leadership in the wound, ostomy, and continence nursing field and beyond.
The following individuals will be inducted during the WOCN Fellow Induction Ceremony, on Monday, June 2, during WOCNext 2025, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida:
WOCN Fellows
- Diane Bryant, MS, RN, CWOCN
- Jo Catanzaro , MSN, RN, CWOCN-AP
- Mary Josephine Famorca, MAN, RN, CCCN, COCN, WCC, FACCWS
- Dea Kent, DNP, RN, NP-C, FNP-BC, CWOCN
- Catherine Ratliff, PhD, RN, GNP-BC, CWOCN, CFCN, FAAN
- Cynthia Walker, MSN, RN, APRN-CNS, CWON
WOCN Honorary Fellows
- Barbara Bates-Jensen, PhD, RN, FAAWC, FAAN
- Ruth Bryant, PhD, RN
“It is my distinct honor and privilege to welcome the 2025 Class of WOCN Fellows,” said Vicky Pontieri-Lewis, MS, RN, ACNS-BC-CWOCN, WOCN President. “This program was developed in 2022 to recognize the excellence of nurses who have made outstanding contributions within the WOCN Society and/or WOC nursing profession, reflective of education, research, public policy and advocacy, membership engagement, and quality improvement. This honorable designation is based on clinical expertise, leadership, scholarly experience, and contributions to the profession and healthcare systems.”
About the WOCN® Fellow Program
The WOCN Fellow Program honors exceptional contributions to the WOCN Society and the WOC nursing profession. Through this prestigious designation, Fellows exemplify leadership, expertise, and dedication, shaping the future of WOC nursing practice and healthcare systems.
We are proud to offer two prestigious designations within the WOCN Society:
- WOCN Fellow: Recognizes nurses who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and made significant contributions to the WOCN Society and the WOC nursing profession. Candidates for this category must be members of the WOCN Society.
- WOCN Honorary Fellow: Honors individuals who have made distinguished contributions to advancing healthcare, science, and health equity within the field of WOC nursing. Candidates for this category are not eligible for a regular WOCN Fellow category (i.e., is not a nurse, is no longer certified, is deceased, is not a member of the WOCN Society, etc.).
About the WOCN® Society
Founded in 1968, the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) is the largest and most recognized professional nursing community dedicated to advancing the practice and delivery of expert healthcare to individuals with wound, ostomy, and continence care needs. Through relevant education, effective advocacy, cutting-edge science, a supportive network, and a patient-centric approach, the Society enables professional growth for 5,000+ members and aids in improving patient outcomes.