Co-Chair

Robert Kirsner

MD, PhD
Professor
University of Miami

Dr. Kirsner is Chairman, Tenured Professor and the endowed Harvey Blank Chair in the Dr. Phillip Frost Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is Chief of Dermatology at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Jackson Memorial Hospital and directs the University of Miami Hospital Wound Center. Dr. Kirsner received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, his medical degree from the University of Miami and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Miami, after he completed his clinical training. His clinical training included internal medicine, a clinical and research fellowship in wound healing and dermatology at the University of Miami. His research interests include Wound Healing and Skin Cancer Epidemiology. Dr. Kirsner serves as one of 3 academic editors for the journal Wound Repair and Regeneration and on the editorial boards for several other journals in dermatology and wound healing. Dr. Kirsner serves in national leadership positions in both Wound Healing and Dermatology, including serving as past Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology and is currently President of the Wound Healing. In addition to career development awards, foundation, industry sponsored funding and CDC funding, he currently leads or is part of several NIH funded grants. Independent of books, book chapters and abstracts, he has published over 650 articles.

2026 Sessions

Innovation Theater Breakfast: Evidence Based Outcomes in Chronic Complex Wounds (non-accredited)

In this session, updated compositional analysis of both amnion and umbilical cord derived materials will be discussed, as well as recent clinical study results in patients with complex wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers. Finally, a series of cases will also be discussed involving these types of patients with challenging wounds to demonstrate real world patient outcomes when these perinatal products are used as wound coverings as part of the treatment algorithm. Sponsored by BioStem Technologies

Presenter (IT)

Friday, October 16 7:30–9:00 AM
Room Milano 7
Faculty

Tracy Basso

DPM, FACFAS, FAENS
President
California Foot & Ankle Centers

Dr. Basso majored in physiology at UC Davis, and then went on to graduate from the California School of Podiatric Medicine in 1988. Dr. Basso has more than 36 years of wide and diverse medical and surgical expertise, both in podiatry, peripheral nerve surgery, and in limb salvage. Dr. Basso is the managing partner for the Basso Podiatry Group, as well as three endovascular labs dedicated to limb salvage and amputation prevention. And his
specialty is lower extremity nerve surgery.
Dr. Basso is certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the Association for Extremity Nerve Surgery. Dr. Basso holds Fellowship in the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, the American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine, and the Association for Extremity Nerve Surgery.
Dr. Basso is dedicated to the treatment of neuropathy and has received training in advanced peripheral nerve surgery through the Mayo Clinic, including micro nerve surgery.
Dr. Basso is a past president of the Association for Extremity Nerve Surgery, and a past president of the California Podiatric Medical Association.
Dr. Basso demonstrates a kind and thoughtful approach to his patients, combining that with a depth of expertise as a foot and ankle surgeon. He is a sought-after peripheral nerve surgeon. He has lectured in various parts of the country in peripheral nerve surgery, wound care, and limb salvage. And is a published author in the area of wound care and limb salvage.
Dr. Basso is dedicated to his family, his church and his community. And he is an avid cyclist. He enjoys reading and music.

Co-Chair

Robert Kirsner

MD, PhD
Professor
University of Miami

Dr. Kirsner is Chairman, Tenured Professor and the endowed Harvey Blank Chair in the Dr. Phillip Frost Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is Chief of Dermatology at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Jackson Memorial Hospital and directs the University of Miami Hospital Wound Center. Dr. Kirsner received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, his medical degree from the University of Miami and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Miami, after he completed his clinical training. His clinical training included internal medicine, a clinical and research fellowship in wound healing and dermatology at the University of Miami. His research interests include Wound Healing and Skin Cancer Epidemiology. Dr. Kirsner serves as one of 3 academic editors for the journal Wound Repair and Regeneration and on the editorial boards for several other journals in dermatology and wound healing. Dr. Kirsner serves in national leadership positions in both Wound Healing and Dermatology, including serving as past Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology and is currently President of the Wound Healing. In addition to career development awards, foundation, industry sponsored funding and CDC funding, he currently leads or is part of several NIH funded grants. Independent of books, book chapters and abstracts, he has published over 650 articles.

Faculty

Alexander Reyzelman

DPM, FACFAS
Co-Director, Center for Limb Preservation
University of California San Francisco
Faculty

Wendy Weston

PhD, CTBS
Vice President for Research and Development Biostem Technologies
BioStem Technologies

Dr. Weston began her research career with studies of muscle regeneration following spinal cord injury and muscle development in sub-ideal conditions (e.g., spinal cord isolation). Following several years investigating hematopoietic stem cell characteristics and self-renewal in response to micro-environmental factors, she began studying bone development and regeneration. Interest in stem cell microenvironments led her to the investigation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) efficacy through exosome delivery and its effect on healing
(these mechanisms include growth factor elution from reparative microenvironments, either endogenous or created). Successes in MSC work led Dr. Weston to Vivex Biomedical where she expanded her interest in the
mechanisms of allograft healing in healthy and damaged environments. As Principal Research Scientist, her work in product development and validation resulted in highly effective products and multiple patents. Dr. Weston was offered the opportunity to conduct her research at the very impressive Cell Therapy Institute at Nova Southeastern University where she participated numerous collaborations evaluating the role of microvesicles in sarcoma initiation and progression for the purpose of biomarker elucidation, as well as serving on numerous Medical School admission and evaluation committees. Through consulting activities in the biotechnology space, she developed strong and prosperous relationships with several companies and has developed and characterized several impressive products for market use. Currently, Dr. Weston serves as Vice President of Research and Development for BioStem Technologies. In this role, she is investigating the capacity of birth tissues to promote regeneration and healing in various tissue microenvironments, with emphasis on non-healing wounds.

First to Podium Presentations

Technology-Enabled Humanization of Pressure Injury Prevention: Sub-Epidermal Moisture Scanning to Advance Equity and Person-Centered Care Rhonda Sullivan, DNP, PhD, MSN, MBA, CWON, LNCC, NE-BC, CSPHA, CLSSBB Where Ankle Pressures Fail: NIRS-Derived Tissue Oxygen Saturation as a Calcification-Independent Marker of Peripheral Arterial Disease Alisha Oropallo, MD, PhD, FSVS, FACS, FABWMS Autologous Cutaneous Multicellular Units in Non-Healing Wagner 1 Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Results of the Phase 3 COVER DFUS II Trial Robert Kirsner, MD

Moderator

Speaker

Friday, October 16 10:15–10:45 AM
Room Octavius 11
Faculty

Michael Desvigne

MD, FACS, CWS, FACCWS, MAPWCA
Plastic surgeon
Abrazo Arrowhead Hospital & Wound Center

Dr. Michael N. Desvigne is a true plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has chosen to dedicate his expertise to reconstructive surgery, specifically wound reconstruction. Dr, Desvigne believes performing reconstructive surgery has made him a better wound healing clinician and managing complex wounds has made him a better reconstructive surgeon. Dr. Desvigne brings a wealth of experience from a variety of disciplines. He is board certified in plastic surgery, general surgery, wound care and hyperbaric medicine. With this quadruple certification he approaches each wound problem with a staircase approach including surgical and nonsurgical solutions.

Dr. Desvigne is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the Arizona Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is also a member of the American Academy of Wound Specialists, Wound Healing Society and the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. He is a world-renowned lecturer and consultant in wound healing technologies. He has created multiple programs for inpatient and outpatient centers of excellence in wound care, with a focus on the continuum of care.

Co-Chair

Robert Kirsner

MD, PhD
Professor
University of Miami

Dr. Kirsner is Chairman, Tenured Professor and the endowed Harvey Blank Chair in the Dr. Phillip Frost Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is Chief of Dermatology at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Jackson Memorial Hospital and directs the University of Miami Hospital Wound Center. Dr. Kirsner received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, his medical degree from the University of Miami and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Miami, after he completed his clinical training. His clinical training included internal medicine, a clinical and research fellowship in wound healing and dermatology at the University of Miami. His research interests include Wound Healing and Skin Cancer Epidemiology. Dr. Kirsner serves as one of 3 academic editors for the journal Wound Repair and Regeneration and on the editorial boards for several other journals in dermatology and wound healing. Dr. Kirsner serves in national leadership positions in both Wound Healing and Dermatology, including serving as past Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology and is currently President of the Wound Healing. In addition to career development awards, foundation, industry sponsored funding and CDC funding, he currently leads or is part of several NIH funded grants. Independent of books, book chapters and abstracts, he has published over 650 articles.

Faculty

Alisha Oropallo

MD
Lead
Northwell Health's Comprehensive Wound Healing Center and Hyperbarics

Alisha Oropallo, MD FACS, FSVS, FABWMS is a Professor of Surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University/Northwell and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. She practices as the Director of the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center at Northwell Health and Program Director of the Wound and Burn Fellowship program at Northwell Health. Dr. Oropallo completed her residency in Vascular Surgery at Boston University Medical Center and her General Surgery residency at Maimonides Medical Center, NY. She has been the lead investigator on multiple clinical trials, published papers, and has been invited to present lectures in wound healing globally. She is interested in education, research, and quality measures in tissue regeneration to help improve patient outcomes.

Faculty

Rhonda Sullivan

DNP, PhD, MSN, MBA, CWON, LNCC, NE-BC, CSPHA, CLSSBB
Vice President, Implementation & Clinical Outcomes
Bruin Biometrics, LLC

Rhonda Sullivan, DNP, PhD, MBA, MSN, CWON, LNCC, NE-BC, CSPHA, CLSSBB, is a nurse executive, researcher, educator, and legal nurse consultant with 33 years of nursing experience, including 26 years in wound, ostomy, and legal nursing specialties. She currently serves as Vice President of Implementation and Clinical Outcomes at Bruin Biometrics, LLC, where she leads harm reduction initiatives, including path to zero implementations, outcomes measurement, and collaboration with healthcare organizations to improve practice, workflow, and clinical and financial outcomes.

Dr. Sullivan holds doctoral preparation in nursing practice and business and is board certified as a Nurse Executive, Wound-Ostomy Nurse, Legal Nurse Consultant, Safe Patient Handling Associate, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. She is a published author, award-winning researcher, and international speaker whose scholarly and clinical work focuses on pressure injury prevention, with a focus on deep tissue pressure injury, skin assessment in persons with darkly pigmented skin, acute skin failure, harm and waste reduction, evidence-based practice, health economics, and medic-legal issues.

Her leadership extends into her roles as President of Legal Nurse Partners™, Executive Director of the iWOC Nursing Foundation™, and Director on the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants Certification Board. Dr. Sullivan is passionate about empowering nurses and other healthcare leaders to advance clinical excellence, improve outcomes, and strengthen organizational performance by reducing preventable harm, avoidable hospital-acquired conditions, waste, and unnecessary variation in care.

Accredited Industry-Supported Symposia: Rethinking the Reconstructive Ladder: Innovation in Autologous Cutaneous Multicellular Therapy for DFU Reconstruction

HMP Education has designated an unrestricted grant from PolarityBio for this session.
Learning objectives: 1. Assess gaps in the reconstructive ladder for diabetic foot ulcers, including limitations of flaps and grafts on the plantar surface, to improve durable wound closure. 2. Evaluate where autologous cutaneous multicellular therapy fits within the reconstructive ladder for diabetic foot ulcers, including its role in bridging gaps between traditional grafting and advanced reconstruction to promote tissue regeneration and wound closure. 3. Evaluate the scientific rationale and clinical evidence supporting autologous cutaneous multicellular units (ACMU), including Phase 2 outcomes demonstrating improved wound closure, alongside emerging late-breaking Phase 3 data supporting BLA submission in diabetic foot ulcers. 4. Evaluate clinical outcomes associated with autologous cutaneous multicellular units (ACMU) through case-based analysis HMP Education has designated an unrestricted grant from PolarityBio for this session. This session will award 1.00 pharmacotherapeutic contact hour.

ISS Speaker

Friday, October 16 4:30–5:30 PM
Room Milano 1
1.00 Credits
Pharmacology
Faculty

Jason Hanft

DPM, FACFAS
CEO
Defender Operations

Jason R. Hanft DPM FACFAS

Founder Defender Operations
Director, Doctors Research Network, South Miami, FL.
Multiple USA and international patents and trademarks
50+ peer reviewed journal publications
Multiple book chapters published
30 years of clinical research experience
Board Certified American Board of Podiatric Surgery
Fellow American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons
AO/ASIF Fellow, St. Gallan Switzerland
Residency training, Larkin Gen. Hospital, South Miami, FL.
Frequent lecturer
Active clinician and researcher
Past Director Podiatric Medical Education, South Miami Hospital/Baptist Health

Co-Chair

Robert Kirsner

MD, PhD
Professor
University of Miami

Dr. Kirsner is Chairman, Tenured Professor and the endowed Harvey Blank Chair in the Dr. Phillip Frost Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is Chief of Dermatology at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Jackson Memorial Hospital and directs the University of Miami Hospital Wound Center. Dr. Kirsner received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, his medical degree from the University of Miami and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Miami, after he completed his clinical training. His clinical training included internal medicine, a clinical and research fellowship in wound healing and dermatology at the University of Miami. His research interests include Wound Healing and Skin Cancer Epidemiology. Dr. Kirsner serves as one of 3 academic editors for the journal Wound Repair and Regeneration and on the editorial boards for several other journals in dermatology and wound healing. Dr. Kirsner serves in national leadership positions in both Wound Healing and Dermatology, including serving as past Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology and is currently President of the Wound Healing. In addition to career development awards, foundation, industry sponsored funding and CDC funding, he currently leads or is part of several NIH funded grants. Independent of books, book chapters and abstracts, he has published over 650 articles.

Faculty

Erwin Kruger

MD
Assistant Professor, Divisions of Plastic Surgery & Hand Surgery
Mayo Clinic Arizona

Erwin A. Kruger, M.D. is a reconstructive plastic surgeon and hand surgeon at Mayo Clinic Arizona, with additional special interest in the management of complex wounds and regenerative medicine. His clinical interests include:

Reconstructive plastic surgery and hand surgery
Advanced wound care and regenerative medicine
Translational Biomedical Engineering
Military medicine

In addition his clinical activities, Dr. Kruger is active in translational research and education, investigating regenerative medicine technologies and providing mentorship to medical students and residents. He is the Medical Student Subinternship directore and enjoys teaching surgical skills through the Center for Military Medicine.

Accredited Industry-Supported Symposium Breakfast: Building the Foundation for Healing: The CAMPs Readiness Algorithm for Risk Stratification, Wound Bed Preparation, and Treatment Decision-Making

HMP Education has designated an unrestricted grant from Organogenesis Inc. for this session.
Learning Objectives: 1. Apply evidence-based assessment strategies to accurately diagnose chronic wounds, including vascular evaluation, nutritional assessment, prognostic indicators, and diagnostic imaging to guide treatment planning and risk stratification. 2. Implement foundational wound bed preparation principles by incorporating appropriate debridement, biofilm management, and moisture balance strategies to optimize healing potential and prepare patients for advanced therapies, including CAMPs. 3. Evaluate treatment effectiveness and clinical decision-making through the use of wound measurement, including four-week area reduction benchmarks, and case-based application of established guidelines to improve patient outcomes. HMP Education has designated an unrestricted grant from Organogenesis Inc. for this session.

ISS Speaker

Saturday, October 17 7:30–9:00 AM
Room Milano 5
Co-Chair

Robert Kirsner

MD, PhD
Professor
University of Miami

Dr. Kirsner is Chairman, Tenured Professor and the endowed Harvey Blank Chair in the Dr. Phillip Frost Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is Chief of Dermatology at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Jackson Memorial Hospital and directs the University of Miami Hospital Wound Center. Dr. Kirsner received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, his medical degree from the University of Miami and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Miami, after he completed his clinical training. His clinical training included internal medicine, a clinical and research fellowship in wound healing and dermatology at the University of Miami. His research interests include Wound Healing and Skin Cancer Epidemiology. Dr. Kirsner serves as one of 3 academic editors for the journal Wound Repair and Regeneration and on the editorial boards for several other journals in dermatology and wound healing. Dr. Kirsner serves in national leadership positions in both Wound Healing and Dermatology, including serving as past Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology and is currently President of the Wound Healing. In addition to career development awards, foundation, industry sponsored funding and CDC funding, he currently leads or is part of several NIH funded grants. Independent of books, book chapters and abstracts, he has published over 650 articles.

Faculty

Paula Pons

MD, CWSP
President
Paula Pons Physician, LLC

Dr. Paula Pons is a General Surgeon, board certified in Wound Care.

A native of Argentina, Dr. Pons attended Medical School at the Catholic University of Cordoba. She immigrated to the US in 1994 and completed her General Surgery Residency at Georgetown University Hospital and SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Since 2004, she has dedicated her carreer to wound care. She has served as the Medical Director at the St. Joseph’s Hospital Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is Fayetteville, NY, and most recently as the Senior Vice president for Physician Development and Medical Support Systems at Healogics, Inc.

Dr. Pons enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She lives in Manlius, NY with her husband and two children.

Wound Infection Controversies: Antibiotics for Wound Patients: When and What to Use and Update on Novel Antibiotics

This session will tackle current controversies in the use of antibiotics for wound care patients, emphasizing evidence-based decision-making in an era of rising antimicrobial resistance. Expert faculty will review indications for systemic versus topical therapy, optimal antibiotic selection, and updates on novel agents and emerging treatments. Attendees will gain practical guidance to balance efficacy, safety, and stewardship in the management of wound infections.

Co-Presenter

Moderator/Presenter

Sunday, October 18 3:15–4:15 PM
Room Octavius 11
Faculty

William Kirsner

PharmD
Clinical Program Manager of Specialty Pharmacy Services
Veterans Affairs

William Kirsner, Pharm.D., is the Clinical Program Manager for Specialty Pharmacy Services at the Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. In this role, he oversees clinical operations, medication management, and interdisciplinary coordination to advance specialty pharmacy care for veterans. He previously served as a Home-Based Primary Care Clinical Pharmacist and as Anticoagulation Program Manager, a role he continues to oversee, guiding periprocedural anticoagulation practices and medication safety initiatives across the facility.

Dr. Kirsner completed both his PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY-2 Residency in Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership at the Miami VA. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Colorado, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Miami. He is ASHP-certified in Compounded Sterile Preparations and Pharmacy Informatics.

His professional experience spans clinical, operational, and administrative pharmacy practice, including roles as an acting inpatient and outpatient pharmacy supervisor, budget and procurement management, and pharmacy informatics. Dr. Kirsner has led numerous quality improvement projects and medication use evaluations, several presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and regional residency conferences.

Committed to public health and education, he has spent over a decade leading community outreach to underserved populations, precepting APPE students, and serving as an active member of ASHP. His work reflects a focus on medication safety, technological equity, and improving care for the veteran population.

Co-Chair

Robert Kirsner

MD, PhD
Professor
University of Miami

Dr. Kirsner is Chairman, Tenured Professor and the endowed Harvey Blank Chair in the Dr. Phillip Frost Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is Chief of Dermatology at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Jackson Memorial Hospital and directs the University of Miami Hospital Wound Center. Dr. Kirsner received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, his medical degree from the University of Miami and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Miami, after he completed his clinical training. His clinical training included internal medicine, a clinical and research fellowship in wound healing and dermatology at the University of Miami. His research interests include Wound Healing and Skin Cancer Epidemiology. Dr. Kirsner serves as one of 3 academic editors for the journal Wound Repair and Regeneration and on the editorial boards for several other journals in dermatology and wound healing. Dr. Kirsner serves in national leadership positions in both Wound Healing and Dermatology, including serving as past Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology and is currently President of the Wound Healing. In addition to career development awards, foundation, industry sponsored funding and CDC funding, he currently leads or is part of several NIH funded grants. Independent of books, book chapters and abstracts, he has published over 650 articles.

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