The 15th Annual Symposium for Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) and Medical Research Forum is rapidly approaching. This year's meeting is sure to be the best ever. A world class faculty has been assembled, the facilities are superb, and Baltimore is a great convention city.
The first-ever presentation of the John Boswick, MD, Memorial Lectureship promises to be a highlight of the conference. John was a leader in the fields of burn and wound care. His many legacies include his participation in the planning of the SAWC and his role as a founding board member for the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC). The annual lectureship will honor John and celebrate the contributions of another leader in wound care. This year's recipient is Thomas Hunt, MD. Dr. Hunt will discuss his accomplishments regarding oxygen and wound healing. In addition, two investigators who have been inspired and influenced by Dr. Hunt - Drs. Chandren Sen and Harriet Hopf - will join him during this session to discuss their work in this area.
The SAWC allows attendees to weave their way through the various sessions within the four major tracts. But what really sets the SAWC apart is the translational nature of the meeting. New research and evidenced-based information presented in the Advanced Clinical Practice Track and the Research Track allow clinicians to interpret the material and understand its practical application. One session on tissue engineered skin features four different speakers, each addressing different constructs: Dr. Eaglstein (use of Apligraf for acute wounds), Dr. Silberklang (bilayered, FDA-approved living skin construct OrCel, Dr. Marston (living dermal equivalent, Dermagraft, and the data that led to its recent FDA approval for diabetic foot ulcers), and Dr. Morgan (data regarding his work on genetic-altering skin constructs). A session on Proteinases and the Wound Environment brings together distinguished scientists who will discuss the latest insights and innovations regarding the pathology and control of tissue-degrading enzymes in the chronic wound. Novel strategies for pharmacologic intervention with drugs and dressings will be addressed.
This year, the SAWC will be the focus of the wound healing world. Several organizations have agreed to participate, including the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), the Wound Healing Society, the American Diabetes Association, the Hyperbaric Medicine Society, and the American Academy of Wound Management. All told, the expert faculty presenting state-of-the-art information in a wonderful setting where you can enjoy the company of your colleagues makes the 15th Annual Symposium for Advanced Wound Care and Medical Research Forum an event you don?t want to miss. - OWM