We Are PAWSIC: A Call to Reflect, and to Act

Jeanine Maguire, PhD, MPT, CWS  •  Founding President

Dear PAWSIC Family,

Every so often, it is worth pausing, not to catch our breath, but to look up. To truly see what we have built together. This is that moment.

PAWSIC is not a place, a logo, or a membership number. PAWSIC is each of you. And right now, every one of you is part of something that is quietly becoming extraordinary.

We moved to a free membership model because we believe cost should never stand between a professional and the knowledge they need. With a premium tier of just $12.50 per month, we have kept the lights on, and look what has happened since. In only five months, we are approaching nearly double our 2025 membership. Not a small increment. Not modest growth. We are multiplying.

And the growth is not just in numbers. It is in depth, in reach, in the courage to try new things.

What We Have Built Together

Add to that: a front-cover feature in WoundSource (in print, in your hands, free), stellar presentations at WoundCON, SAWC, RISE Phila, APPACN, and the WCET-NSWOCC Joint Conference (Canada), a transformed exhibit hall presence shaped by our member volunteers, a fully redesigned website with our very first MERCH page, seamless electronic voting by Shayne, an expanded Advisory Board, and ROOT, a fully donated internal digital platform guided by Dahlia, Marylee, and Jen, increasing transparency and collaboration across every layer of our organization. Special thanks to ROOT owners Ryan Wallace and Edward Maguire.

What is Immediately Ahead

Jen, Therese, and Max are launching our podcast, Healing By Design. Dahlia is launching our chat forums. Partnerships that align with our mission and advance our vision continue to grow. The pace of meaningful change is not slowing, it is building.

How is all of this happening, driven almost entirely by volunteers? I have asked myself that question. I keep arriving at the same answer: we have the right people, at the right time, around the right cause.

Every person I know in this organization is purpose-driven. You do not show up for a title or a line on a resume. You show up because this work fills something in you, because you know that you are building something that matters. Something that will outlast any single conference, any single year, any single role. The PAWSIC legacy is yours. You are writing it right now.

"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Together, we truly are better. And we are doing it."

With deep gratitude and awe,
Jeanine Maguire, PhD, MPT, CWS
President, Post-Acute Wound & Skin Integrity Council

Cultivating a Collaborative Network for Post-Acute Consultants

The Consultant SIG will cultivate a collaborative support network that elevates the operational success and clinical impact of post-acute skin health consultants. Through structured professional development, peer troubleshooting, and a defined directory of expertise, the SIG will empower consultants to:

This initiative aligns with PAWSIC's broader mission of advancing wound care and skin health in the post-acute space.

Meet the Co-Chairs

Dr. Julie Britton, DNP Co-Chair, Consultant SIG Brings over 35 years of expertise to the post-acute and long-term care sectors as a board-certified Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist. Currently serving as the Chief Clinical Officer designate at Prestige Healthcare Management, she holds influential leadership roles including Chair of the Nurse Executive Council and member of the AHCA Regulatory and Survey Committee.

Therese Laub Co-Chair, Consultant SIG Has dedicated nearly 30 years of expertise to elevating wound care delivery throughout the post-acute sector. Through her work with Cicerone Consultants, she assists providers, agencies, and organizations in bridging the gap between clinical best practices, regulatory compliance, and real-world workflows. A seasoned specialist in clinical operations, she focuses on translating complex standards into sustainable, bedside-focused care.

Jeanine Maguire serves as the executive team liaison.

Julie Britton, DNP and Therese Laub, Co-Chairs

Elevating Our Impact

Patient Voice at SAWC  •  A growing presence at APPACN

Our recent conference season has been a testament to the power of collaboration. The momentum we built at APPACN and SAWC was not just about showing up; it was about a collective effort to refine our message and professionalize our outreach.

Learning and Evolving

At APPACN, Karen Kennedy and Isaac Zralii led a deep-dive evaluation and debrief. By taking a hard look at what resonated and where we could improve, they provided the blueprint that allowed us to significantly raise our presence by the time we reached SAWC. This feedback loop is now being codified into our new Digital Media Conference Kit, ensuring that every PAWSIC presence is backed by data-driven strategies.

Expert Insights at SAWC

The energy at SAWC was bolstered not only by the incredible turnout of our members but also by the specialized expertise of Max Bierhup and Sarah Check. Their professional backgrounds in digital media provided us with invaluable feedback on how to better engage our audience in a digital-first world.

The Road Ahead

Building on these successes, we are working with Dahlia and our newly formed Digital Media Committee to standardize these wins. We are developing a professional checklist designed to empower any PAWSIC member. Whether you are at a local workshop or a global summit, you will have the tools and guidance to represent our mission with excellence.

PAWSIC's Assessment-Action Blueprint aligns precisely with the RISE endowment's mission to measurably improve clinical outcomes in Pennsylvania long-term care facilities, and it gives participating facilities an evidence-based framework they can actually put into practice.

Dr. Nicole Osevala

Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Penn State University College of Medicine

With more than a decade of helping clinicians manage chronic and other hard-to-heal wounds, MIMEDX has been dedicated to advancing wound care, burn, and surgical recovery across healthcare settings.

Learn more about MIMEDX →

We thank MIMEDX for their support of our mission to advance wound care and skin health across the continuum.

RISE: A Statewide Partnership in Pennsylvania

Penn State College of Medicine  •  Harry Albertman Endowment  •  Healiant

PAWSIC is collaborating with the Penn State College of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine, sponsored through the division's Harry Albertman Endowment, and Healiant, a certified continuing education provider, to bring PAWSIC's Assessment-Action Blueprint for Transforming Post-Acute Wound Prevention and Care to nursing homes across Pennsylvania. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in PAWSIC's mission to elevate clinical standards in wound care and skin health, and to support the clinicians who deliver that care every day.

Through this collaboration, participating facilities gain free access during a sponsored timeframe to a structured, quality improvement curriculum developed and delivered by PAWSIC wound experts. The program combines facility self-assessment tools, a systems approach to quality improvement, and evidence-based team strategies for the best patient-centered outcomes.

Regulatory Roundup

April through early May 2026  •  Federal action you need to know

April through early May brought a flurry of federal action: final rules, major proposals, and budget blueprints that carry significance for wound care and skin health providers.

This piece is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, compliance, or billing advice.