[Malvern, PA – May 2, 2007] – The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) awarded Laurie Rappl, PT, CWS a 2007 Distinguished Member Award during the AAWC Membership Meeting at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care on Sunday, April 29, 2007 in Tampa, Florida. Laurie (Simpsonville, SC) is the Clinical Support Manager for Span-America, Greenville, SC.

The AAWC Distinguished Member Award is determined by the AAWC Awards Committee and given on behalf of the AAWC Board of Directors to one or more persons annually. It is awarded for steadfast commitment to the mission of the AAWC, productive efforts that move the organization forward and consistent, outstanding leadership.

“Laurie’s ongoing, steadfast leadership and unstoppable, positive attitude makes her shine brightly as an AAWC star,” states AAWC President John Macdonald, MD, FACS.

Outside of her continued service to the AAWC Board of Directors as the Consumer Representative since 2004, Laurie has been a valuable member of AAWC since 2003. As a true patient representative, Laurie leads efforts to bring awareness of the patient perspective not only by sharing her own experiences, but also by encouraging patient memberships and activities. One example of her efforts, Laurie has conducted patient interviews that are published in the AAWC Network Newsletter.

Tina Thomas, Executive Director explains, “Patient interviews help the clinician to better understand patients’ feelings and experiences, and it also gives patients a much needed voice. Laurie has made patients feel welcome at AAWC, as they should feel, no matter if they join or not.”

Laurie chaired a task force beginning in 2006 to develop two additional wound image CDs for the AAWC Educational Image Series on CD ROM. The CDs are now available for purchase. Sales from the CDs will provide much needed non-dues revenue to the AAWC. This is important to the Association, because the current largest source of revenue is derived from modest membership dues.

Additionally, Laurie has volunteered to enhance AAWC’s presence at conferences by working to secure and design an enhanced AAWC booth display. She always is eager to volunteer to man AAWC booths at various conferences, including the recent NPUAP, Buck Stops Here and SAWC meetings, where she enthusiastically promotes awareness of the Association.
Laurie recently demonstrated an immense amount of volunteerism as she traveled to two hospitals in Cambodia, Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope in Phnom Penh and Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap. The purpose of her travels was to conduct site assessments for the World Wound Care Alliance (WWCA), an initiative established by AAWC in 2006 that will help to establish wound programs in developing areas of the world. These sites were deemed appropriate as potential locations to establish wound care programs by AAWC’s partner in the endeavor, Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO.) While in Cambodia, Laurie assessed the possibilities for wound care education as well as the challenges that may lie ahead for future disabled volunteers. Laurie will continue as the Program Director for the Cambodian sites, assisting in vetting applications from AAWC Members who want to volunteer to teach in that country, and developing the education modules that will be implemented.

Also awarded an AAWC Distinguished Member Award for 2007 was Renee Cordrey, PT, MSPT, MPH, CWS, for her work as site editor for the Advancing the Practice (ATP) website, www.advancingthepractice.org. Renee joined Laurie on the site visit trips to Cambodia for the WWCA initiative and now will work to establish educational templates for the sites. While dual awards are not given often, the presentation of two awards to two very brilliant and deserving AAWC members was appropriate this year.

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