The American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA) is a national multidisciplinary professional association dedicated to advancing wound care through clinician education, professional collaboration, advocacy, and evidence-informed practice.Since 2001, APWCA has brought together physicians, nurses, podiatrists, therapists, advanced practice providers, researchers, educators, and healthcare professionals committed to improving wound healing outcomes and patient access to quality care.
Through educational initiatives, professional networking, industry engagement, and clinician advocacy, APWCA supports healthcare professionals working across the continuum of wound prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery. Learn more about APWCA Membership and available Educational Programs.
For Clinicians. By Clinicians.
Founded in 2001, the American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA) is a nonprofit professional medical association representing healthcare providers involved in the prevention, treatment, and management of wounds.APWCA was created to bring together the many disciplines involved in caring for patients with complex wounds. The organization recognizes that successful wound management often requires collaboration among multiple healthcare specialties working together to address the clinical, medical, functional, and quality-of-life challenges associated with wound healing.Today, APWCA serves a diverse professional community that includes physicians, podiatrists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, therapists, educators, researchers, administrators, and other healthcare professionals committed to advancing wound care and improving patient outcomes through collaboration and education. Meet our Board of Directors.
The mission of APWCA is to advance the prevention and treatment of acute, chronic, and complex wounds through multidisciplinary education, professional collaboration, clinician advocacy, evidence-informed practice, and patient-centered care.APWCA serves as an educational and professional forum where healthcare providers from diverse specialties can share knowledge, exchange clinical perspectives, support innovation, and work together to improve patient outcomes. Through its commitment to education, advocacy, and professional engagement, APWCA promotes excellence in wound healing while supporting healthcare professionals dedicated to delivering high-quality, accessible care.
APWCA envisions a healthcare environment where every patient has access to evidence-based, multidisciplinary wound care delivered by knowledgeable, collaborative, and well-supported healthcare professionals.The organization strives to be a leading voice for wound care education, advocacy, professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration while helping shape a future where innovation, quality care, patient access, and improved clinical outcomes remain central to wound management across all healthcare settings.
APWCA is distinguished by its multidisciplinary, clinician-led approach to wound care education, advocacy, and professional engagement.
Unlike organizations focused on a single specialty, a single treatment category, or a single certification pathway, APWCA brings together professionals from across the wound care ecosystem to address the real-world challenges affecting clinicians and patients. The organization combines education, policy awareness, advocacy, collaboration, and practical clinical relevance to support healthcare professionals working in diverse care settings.
APWCA is committed to:
This unique combination of education, advocacy, and professional community helps APWCA serve as a trusted resource for wound care professionals nationwide. Through professional collaboration, educational initiatives, and Special Interest Groups (SIGs), APWCA helps members remain engaged while supporting long-term professional growth through active participation and ongoing membership benefits.
Complex wounds often involve multiple contributing factors including vascular disease, diabetes, infection, pressure injury, immobility, nutrition, surgical complications, and chronic medical conditions. Effective wound management frequently requires the expertise of healthcare professionals from multiple specialties working together to address the needs of each patient.
Research and clinical experience continue to demonstrate that coordinated interdisciplinary care can improve outcomes, reduce complications, support limb preservation, and enhance quality of life for patients with chronic and complex wounds.
APWCA was founded on the belief that collaboration among healthcare professionals leads to better clinical decision-making, stronger educational opportunities, improved patient advocacy, and more effective wound care delivery. By bringing diverse perspectives together, APWCA helps support a more integrated approach to wound prevention, treatment, and healing.
Support ongoing clinical advancement, research, innovation, and evidence-informed approaches to wound prevention, treatment, and healing.
Provide accessible, practical, and clinically relevant education that supports healthcare professionals across all stages of their careers.
Promote policies, practices, and initiatives that improve patient access to appropriate wound care while supporting healthcare professionals delivering that care.
Encourage communication, partnership, and professional engagement among the many specialties involved in wound management and patient care.
Support initiatives that advance quality, safety, accessibility, and effectiveness in wound prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Education remains a cornerstone of APWCA’s mission. Through conferences, webinars, review courses, continuing education opportunities, certification preparation resources, publications, and professional networking, APWCA helps healthcare professionals stay informed on evolving clinical practices, emerging technologies, reimbursement developments, and evidence-based approaches to wound management.
The organization is committed to providing practical educational experiences that support both clinical excellence and real-world application across diverse healthcare settings.
APWCA actively supports advocacy efforts and professional engagement related to issues affecting wound care clinicians, patient access, reimbursement policy, coverage decisions, quality reporting, and healthcare delivery.
The organization works to amplify the voice of wound care professionals while helping members better understand the regulatory, policy, and reimbursement environments that impact patient care. Through collaboration with stakeholders, professional organizations, healthcare leaders, and industry partners, APWCA contributes to ongoing conversations focused on advancing wound care and improving outcomes for patients nationwide.
By combining education, advocacy, and multidisciplinary expertise, APWCA continues to serve as a trusted professional resource and a leading voice within the wound care community.
Connect with a multidisciplinary community dedicated to advancing wound care education, clinical excellence, certification support, and professional collaboration.
Dr. Jeffrey Niezgoda is a nationally recognized leader in wound care, hyperbaric medicine, limb preservation, and regenerative medicine with more than 30 years of clinical experience. He is the Past President of the American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA) and the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine.
Dr. Niezgoda has directed advanced wound care and hyperbaric programs, contributed to medical device development and clinical research, and served in leadership roles supporting innovation in wound management technologies and patient care. His expertise includes wound healing, vascular care, hyperbaric medicine, and regenerative clinical services.
Dr. Barbara Delmore is a board-certified wound care nurse, researcher, educator, and Senior Nurse Scientist at NYU Langone Health. With more than 35 years of nursing experience, she specializes in pressure injury prevention, chronic wound management, and evidence-based wound care practices.
Dr. Delmore has authored numerous publications, served on professional advisory boards, and received national recognition for her contributions to wound care research, education, and clinical innovation.
Dr. Jeffrey Lehrman is a nationally recognized expert in wound care documentation, coding, compliance, and podiatric medicine. Through Lehrman Consulting, LLC, he provides education and guidance related to healthcare coding, reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.
Dr. Lehrman serves as a staff liaison at the AMA CPT® Editorial Panel meetings and has held leadership positions within APWCA and other professional organizations focused on wound care and podiatric surgery.
Dr. Mark Melin is a Senior Associate Consultant at the Mayo Clinic specializing in wound care, vascular medicine, and advanced wound healing technologies. His clinical expertise includes vascular assessment, chronic wound management, and emerging technologies in wound care.
Dr. Melin actively contributes to research, education, and advancements in wound healing practices focused on improving patient outcomes and interdisciplinary care.
Dr. Kathya Zinszer is a podiatric physician specializing in diabetic foot care, wound management, limb preservation, and public health advocacy. She currently serves at Geisinger Medical Center and has extensive experience in both clinical practice and wound care education.
Dr. Zinszer has contributed to wound care publications, professional organizations, and clinical guideline initiatives related to diabetic foot management and wound prevention strategies.
Dr. Thomas Serena is an internationally recognized wound care specialist, researcher, educator, and founder of The SerenaGroup®. He has established wound care centers throughout the United States and internationally and has led more than 100 clinical trials focused on wound healing and advanced therapies.
Dr. Serena has authored hundreds of scientific publications, delivered lectures worldwide, and held leadership positions within multiple wound care organizations, including APWCA, the Wound Healing Society, and the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine.
