You Never Stop Learning: Why You Should Attend WCPC

“Aren’t you done yet?” That is what my dad’s best friend, Uncle Ray, would ask me every time I would come home during a break from school. I was the nerd. Everyone was “getting on with their lives” while I was the perpetual student. In the eyes of Uncle Ray, I was always studying, always a resident, and always in training. Truthfully, a career in medicine is cradled within the never-ending pursuit of clinical expertise.

Knowledge is power, so even after 15 years in solo practice as a board-certified plastic surgeon, I attended the Wound Certification Prep Course (WCPC) in Las Vegas. I remember the detail of the course description in the WOUNDS journal that drew my attention, as well as the advantage of becoming certified by the American Board of Wound Management. Yippee! This nerd was excited!
Now, 10 years later, I am ever so grateful for having met Dot Weir, RN, CWON, CWS; and Pamela Scarborough, PT, DPT, MS, CDE, CWS, both of whom changed the direction of my practice in medicine. My subsequent involvement with the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) exposed me to an entirely new group of diverse, respected colleagues, all of whom share an equal passion for their chosen paths. I have been privileged and inspired by the great minds and skills of Suzie Ehmann, PT, DPT, CWS, CLT; Caroline Fife, MD, FAAFP, CWS; and Gregory Schultz, PhD, just to name a few.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has stifled our ability to physically join within the same space. However, the dynamism that underscores the strength of such multifaceted educational opportunities will not fade. Although we may need to distance ourselves, we shall continue to draw collectively from past scientific knowledge while applying present advanced technologies to create future solutions during this worldwide crisis.

I commonly advise students to remember that no one can take away your knowledge, and no one should compromise your enthusiasm. Seek the things that bring joy to your day. Life is learning.

In the words of Dr. Charles Stanley, “the legacy you leave is a reflection of the life you live.” I am passionately committed to purposeful, lifelong learning, and I shall not stop. So no, Uncle Ray, I am not done yet.

Until next time …

Monique Abner, MD, CWSP, is affiliated with Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine, part of Tower Health Medical Group, in Wyomissing, PA. Dr. Abner's professional affiliations include the American Board of Wound Management, the American Society of Plastic Surgery, Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, member of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, and member of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care.