Dear Readers,

The 2008 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and Wound Healing Society Meeting (SAWC/WHS) is now history. As I dragged my weary body onto the airplane for the long flight across the country, I reflected on what just happened. Sometime in the midst of running to meetings and sessions, giving talks, moderating sessions, viewing posters, and viewing the exhibits, there is little time to actually reflect on the experience and what application it will have in your practice. I hope that all in attendance learned something new and exciting that will help them provide better care to their patients. The sessions were stimulating, thought provoking, and had up to date information. Anyone who did not learn something new was probably not listening. From the opening session where Ms. Deborah Adler, an award-winning designer, showed how she had made changes in the packaging of medical products to make them safer and more “user friendly” to the closing ceremony, the excitement of the program was apparent. The Wound Healing Society’s portion of the program provided tremendous insight and excitement into what is being done on the basic science research level in wound care. The presence of the Wound Healing Society adds an additional level of excellence to the meeting, and I hope the affiliation will continue.

The exhibit hall was something to behold. There seemed to be more exhibitors than in previous years. The spectrum of products was amazing. Although there were many new products being shown, the majority were just “new and improved” models of products we have. Ms. Adler’s presentation was a taste of what was to come—same products, new packaging. We still need new and innovative wound therapies that improve wound healing. Will we see them next year?

The AAWC had its changing of the guard at its annual business meeting. Dr. John Macdonald turned over the presidency of the organization to Dr. Bill Ennis, who presented an exciting vision of the future for the AAWC and wound care. Dr. Macdonald is responsible for the AAWC’s new Global Alliance program involving the organization with wound care education around the world and with the World Health Organization. The future of this worldwide program is unlimited in what can be done. On another AAWC-related note, Dr. Robert Kirsner is no longer in a leadership role after most recently serving two terms as Immediate Past President of the AAWC. “Advancing the Practice,” the program he developed in conjunction with the AAWC, has been truly innovative and continues to provide much needed wound care information.

The 2008 SAWC/WHS meeting was a great success. HMP Communications, the AAWC, and the WHS are to be congratulated for a program that provided something for everyone in wound care and outlined the future of wound research. As I drifted off to sleep on the airplane, I realized what I had learned at this meeting would have a significant impact on my wound care practice.

I am already looking forward to next year’s meeting in Dallas, Texas.