The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery’s Wound, Ostomy and Continence care team received the 2025 Employer Recognition Award from the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB), joining an elite group of institutions recognized for outstanding support of nursing in wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) care.
Announced in early June at WOCNext 2025 in Orlando, Florida, this national honor celebrates the UAB Hospital WOC team’s commitment to professional development and excellence in nursing practice. UAB Hospital stood out among numerous nominees for fostering a culture of advancement and empowering nurses to achieve national specialty certification. This award also recognizes WOC nurses for their dedication, expertise and compassion.
The UAB WOC team includes 16 full-time certified wound, ostomy and continence nurses (CWOCN) and one advanced practice certified wound care nurse and maintains an exceptional ratio of one CWOCN for every 100 patients. The team has pioneered an interdisciplinary Wound Scholar Program that welcomes applicants from diverse cohorts to learn about the latest in WOC treatments.
The nurses are encouraged to engage in research and have presented their work at state and national conferences.
Additionally, the WOC team recently led a statewide partnership aimed at increasing Medicaid coverage for ostomy supplies, enhancing access for thousands of patients.
Martin Vander Noot, M.D., a professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and Chief of the UAB Inpatient Wound Care Service, said the WOC team at UAB has grown in the past eight years to improve the care of patients. He said nurses and technicians help prevent pressure injuries across the hospital, educate multidisciplinary teams on pressure injury prevention, and provide clear instructions and compassionate care to all ostomy patients and their caregivers.
“I am so proud of the wound care team at UAB as they are passionate about providing excellent care, as well as teaching other nurses about how to take care of patient’s wounds,” Vander Noot said. “I believe the team that UAB has built is the gold standard for wound care.”
About the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board
With more than 10,000 certified nurses across the globe, the WOCNCB is internationally regarded as the gold standard in WOC and foot care nursing certification. UAB’s recognition by this prestigious board is a testament to the hospital’s ongoing investment in clinical excellence, patient-centered care and nurse empowerment.
The WOCNCB Employer Recognition Award is presented annually to organizations that demonstrate exceptional encouragement and infrastructure for WOC nurses pursuing board certification.