Faculty

The field of wound care requires input and commitment from specialists working across a wide range of disciplines and care settings. Interprofessional collaboration in education and practice is vital to optimizing patient care, enhancing clinical and health-related outcomes, and strengthening the health system. Our course is deeply rooted in these fundamentals and is led by an interdisciplinary team of educators representing the medical, nursing, and physical therapy communities.  

Acute Care Wound Care
HCA Grand Strand Medical Center
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Suzie Ehmann, PT DPT, PhD(c), CWS, CLT-LANA, is a clinical specialist working at Atrium Health Stanly. Over the last 20 years, she has dedicated her practice to the evaluation and comprehensive treatment of patients with lymphatic disorders and chronic non-healing wounds. Dr. Ehmann has a focused interest on the science of compression and impact of edema management on functional ability and mobility. She is currently pursuing her PhD investigating the biophysical aspects of different compression pressure profiles. She has spoken nationally and internationally on this topic. Dr. Ehmann is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through the Lymphology Association of North American and a Certified Wound Specialist through the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM). She is a proud member of the Lymphology Association of North America and the AAWC. She has been a featured speaker at national and international conferences, such as SAWC, Wild On Wounds, National Lymphedema Network International Conference, International Lymphatic Framework Conference, European Wound Management Association, International Compression Club, and numerous regional lymphedema and wound conferences. In addition, she has authored several articles published in peer-reviewed journals.

Catholic Health Advanced Wound Healing Centers
Cheektowaga, New York

Dr. Jill Eysaman-Walker specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic wounds, including venous, arterial, and diabetic ulcers. She also practices Hyperbaric Medicine in conjunction with wound care. Dr. Eysaman-Walker received her medical degree at the Lake Erie College of  Osteopathic Medicine. She completed a residency in Osteopathic Family Medicine at Sisters of Charity Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Wound Care at the Catholic Health Advanced Wound Healing Centers.

As  an  osteopathic  physician, Dr.  Eysaman-Walker has a strong belief in treating the entire person, not just the patient’s wound. She believes that wounds affect all aspects of a patient’s health, mind, and body, and without addressing all facets, true healing cannot occur. Dr. Eysaman-Walker’s goal is to increase awareness of wound care and promote prevention strategies within the community.

Director of Learning and Operational Education
Healogics, Inc.
Collierville, Tennessee

Hollie is a physical therapist bringing more than 20 years of experience in wound care to her presentations. She has worked in the wound care field since 1995 in many settings, including acute, outpatient, home health, and some consultant work for long-term care. She became a Certified Wound Specialist through the ABWM in 2000 and currently serves on the Board of Directors and Speakers Bureau for the AAWC. She graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2013 and is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association. She has worked as the manager of a physical therapy–based clinic that she opened in 2000, a Program Director of a physician-based wound center, and an Area Vice President over several wound centers in the southern region of the U.S. and most recently was promoted to Director of Learning and Operational Education for Healogics, Inc. Dr. Mangrum is passionate about education and wound healing and lectures nationally to healthcare professionals as well as students in various universities. In her spare time, Hollie enjoys exercising, outdoor activities, and spending time with family.

Breast, Vascular, Soft Tissue, Skin, & Wound Surgery
VITA Surgery
Medical Director, Archbold Center for Wound Healing 
Trauma Medical Director, Archbold Level II Trauma Center
Thomasville, Georgia

Dr. Patterson has more than 25 years of experience as a surgeon and wound care provider. He is the Medical Director of the Archbold Center for Wound Management and the Trauma Medical Director of the Archbold Level II Trauma Center at the John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital. Dr. Patterson received his bachelors of science in biology from Mercer University of Atlanta, where he also attended graduate studies in physiology. He has been in surgery for more than 35 years, working his way through college as a Certified Surgical Technologist and scrub nurse, eventually becoming a surgical assistant in the field of cardiac surgery and cardiac transplant for several years and during portions of medical school. He received his Doctorate of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia, where he stayed for his internship and residency in general surgery. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS), having sat for the very first CWS examination in 1999. Dr. Patterson has a very active surgical practice, specializing in breast cancer, vascular surgery, including venous surgery and distal arterial reconstruction, access surgery, skin, soft tissue, and wound-related surgeries. His nonsurgical interests are in the areas of noninvasive vascular evaluation, nutrition, atypical wounds, and environmental wounds. He also has an interest in snake bites and other envenomations. He holds positions as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, and as a Clinical Instructor of Surgery, Florida State University College of Medicine. He enjoys teaching and has won several awards in education. He is involved with the teaching of residents, medical students, and physician assistant students. He and his team from the Archbold Center for Wound Management and Hyperbaric Medicine won the 2003 SAWC research award for their work, Venous screening by photoplethysmography for the pre-ulcer detection of venous insufficiency in the general population. Dr. Patterson is a former member of the Board of Directors for the AAWC. When not working, Dr. Patterson enjoys reading, cooking, hunting, traveling, raising his Boykin and Springer spaniels, and spending time with his family.

Complex Abdomen Specialist
Regions Hospital
St. Paul, Minnesota

A native of Minnesota, Mary Anne graduated as a nurse in 1987. She has extensive experience in ICU nursing and also spent many years as a flight nurse. Mary Anne's experience at Regions Hospital includes staff nurse on the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Trauma Nurse Clinician, Neurosurgical Nurse Clinician, and FCCS (Fundamentals of Critical Care Support) coordinator. Mary Anne helped establish clinical research efforts for the Department of Surgery and has coordinated multiple research studies. Mary Anne and her team have established the Complex Abdominal Reconstruction Service (CARS) at Regions Hospital. The CARS team has developed novel and structured approaches for managing complex abdominal wounds and enteric fistulae. The CARS team focuses on the best possible patient outcomes and a good quality of life on the "journey to surgical repair." The CARS team currently services over two hundred patients with all aspects of patient care: nutrition, conditioning, surgery, and wound care.

Medical Director 
Saratoga Hospital Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine
Saratoga Springs, New York

Dr. Ruotsi is the Medical Director of the Saratoga Hospital Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine in Saratoga Springs, NY. In this role, he is responsible for outpatient wound care services as well as inpatient wound care consultative services. He is board certified in Wound Care by the American Board of Wound Medicine and Surgery, is certified as a Wound Specialist (CWS-P) by the American Board of Wound Management, and is board certified in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He is additionally certified as a Diving Medical Officer (DMO) by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and is on the Board of Directors of the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP). Dr. Ruotsi is a Founding Diplomate and sits on the Board of Di-rectors of the American Board of Wound Medicine and Surgery and is Co-Chair of the Wound Care Summit for the Amputation Prevention Symposium. He sat on the Board of Directors of the American College of Clinical Wound Specialists and was Chair of its Education Committee from 2013 through 2015. He is a member of the CLI Global Wound Care Board, the Wound Healing Society (WHS), is a faculty member of the Wound Certification Prep Course, and lectures nationally as well as internationally on topics related to wound care and hyperbaric medicine. Dr. Ruotsi lives in Grand Island, NY, enjoys boating, flying, fishing, bicycling, skiing, and keeping up with the lives of his three adult children.

Vice President of Clinical Affairs
Restorix/American Medical Technologies
Wimberley, Texas

Dr. Pamela Scarborough is currently Vice President of Clinical Affairs for American Medical Technologies, headquartered in Irvine, California. Her clinical career spans more than 35 years, having practiced in a variety of settings including acute, outpatient, home health, and long-term care. Her clinical experience has included traditional physical therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine, cardiac rehabilitation, and wound management. Pamela has published book chapters, articles, and monographs on the topics of diabetes and wound care, in addition to being a highly sought-after speaker. She has been invited to present to interdisciplinary audiences at conferences, on webinars, and at wound management educational activities around the country. Pamela is the Founding Director of the WCPC. She holds an active license as a physical therapist in Texas and is board certified as a CWS. In addition, Dr. Scarborough is certified by the Geriatric Section of the American Physical Therapy Association as a Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults. Pamela has served on numerous symposium planning panels and association boards over her extensive career including the board of the AAWC and as an affiliate member of the Nation-al Pressure Injury Advisory Panel. She served as the Clinical Editor for Wound Source and is on the Editorial Board of Today's Wound Clinic. Pamela travels extensively, teaching and training healthcare providers in wound prevention and management with a focus on the long-term care setting. When not traveling, she enjoys a quiet, nature-filled life in the Texas Hill Country.

Nurse Practitioner
Wound Clinic, Family Health Centers of San Diego
San Diego, California

Susie Seaman is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Wound Care Nurse (CWCN), and Wound Specialist (CWS). She holds a Master's degree in Nursing from San Diego State University, and a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate from the University of California, San Diego. She has been a Certified Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse for 32 years, practicing in the home health care arena for eight years before moving to the outpatient clinic setting 24 years ago. Ms. Seaman founded the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Wound Healing Center in La Mesa, California in 1998 as an adjunct to their Hyperbaric Oxygen program. She left there in 2006 to open a wound clinic for Sharp Rees-Stealy, a 600+ provider multi-specialty medical group with offices throughout San Diego. She left the wound clinic environment in January 2019 to work for Infectious Disease Consultants in La Jolla, California where she oversaw antibiotic therapy for patients with skin and soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, and other challenging infections. Ms. Seaman is now back in wound care, having started a wound clinic in 2022 for Family Health Centers of San Diego, one of the nation’s ten largest Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). In this setting, she is honored to support their mission to provide caring, affordable, high quality health care to all patients, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons. Ms. Seaman has been a principal investigator on several research projects involving wound and ostomy care. Her Master’s thesis examined Braden Scale scores and the incidence of pressure ulcers in the home hospice setting. Ms. Seaman speaks nationally on a variety of topics, including chronic wound care, wound assessment, lower extremity wounds, topical therapy, and use of advanced technologies. She has also authored numerous articles and book chapters on both wound and ostomy care. She has a special interest in the treatment of lower extremity ulcers and the diagnosis and treatment of atypical wounds. Ms. Seaman serves on the Planning Committee for the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, Spring and Fall meetings, and is on the Executive Committee for the International Wound Infection Institute. 

Wound/Education Consultant
Clinician; Saratoga Hospital Center for Wound Healing and
Hyperbaric Medicine
Saratoga Springs, New York

Dot has been a registered nurse since 1976 and began her practice of ostomy and wound management in 1980. She has practiced in acute care, home care, and long-term care, spent 7 years in industry, and has practiced in outpatient care since 2001. She has been Board Certified by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Certification Board since 1985 (CWON) and The American Board of Wound Management since 2004 (CWS). After a long career in the Orlando, Florida area, she relocated to the New York area in 2017 and is in practice at the Saratoga Hospital Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine.

Current Activities

• Co-Chair of the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care
• Co-Director of the Wound Track for the Amputation Prevention Symposium
• Faculty of the Wound Certification Prep Course (since 2004)
• Member and Secretary of the Board of the International Wound Infection Institute
• Chair of the Practicing Clinician Panel for Why Wound Care
• Member of the International Planning Committee for the 2020 World Union of Wound Healing

Societies & Conferences

• Member the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
• Member of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapy
• Member Wound Healing Society
• Member of the CLI Global Society for whom she sits on the Wound Committee
• On speaker's bureau and Medical Advisory Boards for several wound manufacturers
• National and International lecturer on all aspects of wound management

Past Activities

• Was on the founding Board of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care and held the positions of the first Treasurer and the third President and is now an honorary lifetime member
• Founding Editor of Today's Wound Clinic journal
• Board of Directors Wound Reach Foundation
• Has authored 13 book chapters and numerous journal articles

President
Carolina Wound Care
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Carolyn Cuttino is a board-certified wound care nurse and certified wound specialist who practiced at the Medical University of South Carolina, a 600-bed teaching hospital in Charleston, SC for more than 36 years. She now owns Carolina Wound Care, a consulting company that provides education and wound management to skilled care facilities and industry. Carolyn is also the Vice President of Clinical Affairs for CORSTRATA, a telehealth company that focuses on providing quality wound care outcomes for clients in all sites of service. 

Carolyn is one of the Founding Directors of the Association for Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) and presently is on the planning committee for the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC). She has authored numerous wound care publications and has lectured extensively throughout the country on wound management. Carolyn has more than 36 years of wound care experience that she shares willingly with the wound care industry. She is a past President of the Southeast Region and past Chair of the National Conference Planning Committee of the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Society. She was the 2009 recipient of the SAWC Founders Award, given for contributions toward the success of the symposium and the advancement of wound care.

Carolyn also serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving wound care and medical malpractice for various law firms throughout the country.