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.).
Applications close at midnight on February 28, 2025.
WHAT IS A WOCN FELLOW
The WOCN Fellow designation recognizes nurses who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and made significant contributions to the WOCN Society and the WOC nursing profession. Fellows are celebrated for their achievements in areas such as education, research, public policy, advocacy, membership engagement, and quality improvement.
This prestigious recognition is awarded based on a combination of clinical expertise, leadership, scholarly accomplishments, and impactful contributions to healthcare systems. WOCN Fellows continue to inspire and shape the future of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing through their dedication and expertise.
Responsibilities of a WOCN Fellow
- Individuals selected as WOCN Fellows must attend (in person) the induction ceremony that will be held during the WOCNext 2025 in Orlando, FL (the exact date, time, and location will be announced at a later date). This is a ticketed event; the cost of the ticket is not included in the WOCNext 2025 registration. Semi-formal attire is required.
- Continue to further the mission, vision, and values of the WOCN Society.
- Mentor novice and other nurses/clinicians to successfully contribute to the growth of the WOC nursing specialty.
- The inductee is responsible for nominating at least one (1) deserving and qualifying individual each year.
- Maintain membership with the WOCN Society and pay the annual Fellow fee by the established deadline and at the rate established by the WOCN Society Board of Directors.
WOCN HONORARY FELLOW
An Honorary Fellow is an individual whose distinguished service to WOC nursing benefited science and healthcare in advancing and promoting health equity and social justice.
The candidate made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the WOCN Society and WOC specialty nursing as evidenced by long-term involvement in national and/or local leadership positions; support and mentorship of WOC nurses; development of innovative programs for support of wound, ostomy, and/or continence practice, and/or
sustained or significant contributions to the evidence base of WOC nursing practice through publications and/or research/evidenced-based projects.
FEES
- Application fee: $275.00 (non-refundable)
- Once inducted, annual Fellow’s dues are $350.00 plus the cost of annual WOCN membership (Society membership is required). These fees do not apply to individuals inducted into the WOCN Honorary Fellow category.
IMPORTANT
DATES AND DEADLINES
- Application deadline is midnight on February 28, 2025.
- Incomplete/late applications will not be considered.
- Candidates will be selected and notified by the first week of April 2025.
- WOCN Fellows will be inducted at a special recognition event at WOCNext 2025 (attendance is required; event date, time, location, and other details will be announced later).
PHOTO GALLERY
Scroll through the moments captured from our WOCN Fellow Program, highlighting the exceptional individuals who embody leadership, innovation, and dedication in WOC nursing.
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Congratulations WOCN Fellows
2024
Linda Droste, MSN, RN, CWOCN, CBIS, WOCNF
Kevin Emmons, DrNP, RN, APN, AGPCNP-BC, CWCN, CFCN, WOCNF
Ferne Elsass, MSN, RN, CPN, CWON, WOCNF
Kelly Jaszarowski, MSN, RN, CNS, ANP, CWOCN, WOCNF
Kate Lawrence, MSN, RN, CWOCN, WOCNF
Catherine Milne, MSN, APRN, ANP/ACNS-BC, CWOCN-AP, WOCNF
Ann Marie Nie, PhD, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CWOCN, WOCNF
Joyce Pittman, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, CWOCN, FAAN, WOCNF
Bonnie Rolstad, MS, RN, CWOCN, WOCNF
2023 Inaugural
Janice Beitz, PhD, RN, CS, CWOCN-AP, WOCNF, FAAN
Linda Benskin, PhD, RN, SRN (Ghana), CWCN, CWS, DAPWCA, WOCNF
Donna Bliss, PhD, RN, FGSA, WOCNF, FAAN
Charles Buscemi, PhD, APRN, CWCN, WOCNF
Mikel Gray, PhD, RN, FNP, PNP, CUNP, CCCN-AP, WOCNF, FAANP, FAAN
Diane Krasner, PhD, RN, CWCN, CWS MAPWCA, FAAN, FAAWC, WOCNF
Mary Arnold Long, DNP, APRN, CRRN, CWOCN-AP, ACNS-BC, WOCNF
Laurie McNichol, MSN, RN, CNS, GNP, CWOCN, CWON-AP, WOCNF, FAAN
Barbara Pieper, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN, WOCNF, FAAN
Charleen Singh, PhD, MBA, FNP-BC, CWOCN, RN, WOCNF
Laura Swoboda, DNP, APNP, FNP-C, FNP-BC, CWOCN-AP, WOCNF
Stephanie Yates, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, CWOCN, WOCNF