1997 – John Boswick, MD
The first recipient of the Distinguished Member Award was the late Dr. John Boswick for his contributions to wound care and the establishment of the AAWC. Dr. Boswick was well known in the Wound Care Community. He had been a driving force in all areas of our mission: education, clinical practice, research and public policy and international initiatives.

1998 – Dr. Diane L. Krasner
Dr. Diane L. Krasner was awarded the second AAWC Distinguished Member Award for her efforts to establish the AAWC and for her service as the Association’s first Executive Director.

In 2003, the Distinguished Member Award was presented to three individuals to make up for the previous years when it was not awarded.

2003 – Laura Bolton, PhD and Lisa Corbett, APRN, BC, CWOCN
Dr. Laura Bolton and Lisa Corbett, APRN, BC, CWOCN received this honor for their leadership as Co-Chairs of the Government and Regulatory Affairs Task Force and for their hard work on this Task Force’s first major project, the Venous Ulcer Care Initiate (VUCI).

2003 – Nick Przystawski, DPM
Dr. Nick Przystawski was also bestowed with the award for his outstanding work with the AAWC Finances as AAWC Treasurer (2000-2004) and for the development of the AAWC Scholarship Program in 2001.

2004 – Harriett Loehne, PT, DPT, CWS
AAWC honored Harriett Loehne, PT, DPT, CWS for her commitment to AAWC and for her work on the AAWC Public Awareness Task Force.

2005 – Evonne Fowler, RN, CWN, CWOCN
Who better to receive the AAWC Distinguished Member Award on our 10th Anniversary than Evonne Fowler, RN, CWN, CWOCN, the Founding President of the AAWC? Evonne was honored at the 10th Anniversary Membership Meeting and Celebration at SAWC in San Diego in April for her vision as AAWC Founding President in 1996 and for her continued support of the Association as an active and enthusiastic Charter Member.

2006 – Tim Paine, PT, FCCWS
Under Tim’s steadfast leadership since 2002, the AAWC Quality of Care Task Force has carefully drafted, thoroughly revised and finalized for publication a board-approved white paper entitled “AAWC Conceptual Framework of Quality Systems for Wound Care.” The AAWC Conceptual Framework of Quality Systems for Wound Care is a comprehensive quality management guide designed for wound care. This framework can and should be used to encourage positive change in wound care practices across the country.

2007 - Renee Cordrey, PT, MSPT, MPH, CWS and Laurie M. Rappl, PT, CWS
A presentation of two awards to two very brilliant and deserving AAWC members was appropriate in 2007. Renee Cordrey, PT, MSPT, MPH, CWS was awarded this honor for her work as site editor for the Advancing the Practice (ATP) Campaign’s website, www.advancingthepractice.org from 2004 – 2007. Renee also conducted pilot studies in Cambodia for the World Wound Care Alliance initiative, an AAWC program established in 2006 to bring the basic science of wound care to developing areas of the world. Laurie M. Rappl, PT, CWS was given the award for advocacy for the patient, for work on various committees to create educational materials and products, and for World Wound Care Alliance leadership. Laurie joined Renee on the site visit trips to Cambodia, where the two traveled as a pair to assess the educational needs of two hospitals, Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope in Phnom Penh and Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap. Laurie will now serve as the Program Director for the Cambodian sites, vetting applications of those AAWC Members who would like to volunteer to teach at the sites. Renee will work on a task force to create educational templates and teaching tools for the sites.

2008 – Christine Eremento, LPN, CWS and Teresa Conner Kerr, PT, PhD
Christine Eremento, LPN, CWS was awarded the Distinguished Member Award for her outstanding service as Treasurer. During her four years of service, Christine completely revised the way the Association handles it finances, from consulting with a dedicated AAWC financial advisor to implementing savvy yet safe investments to establishing dedicated funds for specific projects. AAWC’s annual budgeting system also has been redesigned under Chris’s leadership. The new system provides adequate financial preparation for the current atmosphere and ensures financial accountability and future stability.

Teresa Conner-Kerr, PT, PhD was an equally deserving award winner in 2008. Teresa is a past Secretary of the AAWC, and she continues to be a hard working volunteer. Teresa has served as the AAWC Network Newsletter Editor for many years. In just a few years, the Association’s publication has gone from 8 to 16 pages, from simple news to cutting edge information for all disciplines, from plain in appearance to blazing with amazing color and eye-catching appeal. One of AAWC’s best communication tools keeps getting better and better, and AAWC thanks Teresa for her continued dedication to this important members-only benefit.

2009 - Mary Jo Geyer, PhD, PT, ECCWS, CLT-LANA, C.Ped
Of special significance to 2009's AAWC Distinguished Member Award, we list the following contributions of Mary Jo Geyer:
•     Member of the AAWC since 1997
•     AAWC Public Policy Committee 1998
•     Elected to AAWC Board of Directors, 2009
•     Chair, Steering Committee: HVO / AAWC Global Alliance
•     Founding member of the WHO-Global Initiative for Wound and Lymphedema
Care (GIWLC) Geneva, Switzerland 2007
•     Co-Editor: World Health Organization White Paper "Best Practice
Recommendations for Wound and Lymphedema Management"
•     Project Director: AAWC Global Alliance / HVO training program for the
management of Lymphatic Filariasis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, August 2007
•     Consultant: AAWC / WHO Global Initiative for Wound and Lymphedema Care
site evaluation Ghana, West Africa, July 2008
•     Faculty: AAWC / WHO Global Initiative for Wound and Lymphedema Care
teaching seminars, Ghana West Africa, February, 2009
•     Project Director: AAWC / HVO --WHO Global Initiative for Wound and Lymphedema Care Training program for Lymphatic Filiariasis management, Ghana West Africa: August 21 to September 13, 2009