Journalists: To secure an interview with Wounds Canada CEO Mariam Botros please contact Larry Sawyer, Wounds Canada Media Relations, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Wounds Canada informs the public and stakeholders about key issues related to skin and wound care. The media is one communication vehicle used to raise awareness of current matters:
October 11, 2024
Inaugural class of Wound Care Champions to be honoured at Wounds Canada National Conference
Wounds Canada and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) have partnered to develop and deliver the Wound Care Champion Program for regulated health-care providers. Through this program, which has been generously funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, clinicians are helping to improve the skin health and quality of life for Ontarians.
Education and training are critical components in closing the wound care knowledge and practice gaps across health systems. The Wound Care Champion Program is creating a critical mass of clinicians ready to lead sustained evidence-based skin and wound management practices and policies in their organizations.
The inaugural class of Wound Care Champions who have completed this important program will be honoured on Thursday, October 17, at the upcoming Wounds Canada National Conference in London, ON, October 17–19, 2024.
Click here to view the media release.
October 11, 2024
Wounds Canada works with Canadian Institute for Health Information to reveal inequities in care to prevent diabetes-related leg amputations
Wounds Canada CEO Mariam Botros, DCh, DE, IIWCC, MEd, and Irmajean Bajnok, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD, Wounds Canada education and policy director, have partnered with Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) researchers on the recently published report “Equity in diabetes care: A focus on lower limb amputation.” (Additional researchers involved include Zaina Albalawi, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Charles de Mestral, Unity Health Toronto and Diabetes Action Canada; Louise McRae, Public Health Agency of Canada; Cynthia Robitaille, Public Health Agency of Canada; and Baiju Shah, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University of Toronto.)
The CIHI report was prompted by the 2021 National Framework for Diabetes Act, which called for expanded data collection and reporting on diabetes-related indicators with a focus on health inequities. Equity of preventative care is an issue across Canada. Wounds Canada speaks for Canadians to promote prevention and to ensure that all Canadians have the same, and timely, access to best-practice-based care. Because lower-limb amputations are largely preventable, timely access to care is essential.
Click here to view the media release.
October 10, 2024
Wounds Canada partners with Memorial University to host key policy roundtable at its national conference on October 16 in London, Ontario
Wounds Canada, a non-profit association, is partnering with Memorial University (Newfoundland/Labrador) and the Limb Preservation Alliance to bring the “Canadian DFU Policy Roundtable: Moving Recommendations to Action” to the public at the annual Wounds Canada National Conference on October 16 at RBC Place in London, ON.
The burden of diabetic foot complications (e.g., diabetic foot ulceration [DFU] and amputations) is alarmingly high in Canada. For individuals with diabetes, these devastating foot complications can lead to illness, lower quality of life, amputation, disability and death. For Canadian health-care systems, the financial costs are staggering. A factor contributing to this burden is limited health-care policies that effectively address the prevention and treatment of these complications.
Dr. Kathleen Stevens, assistant professor and researcher in the Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University, and Wounds Canada CEO, Mariam Botros, DCh, DE, IIWCC, Med, will participate in the roundtable with a keynote address from Dr. Zulfiqarali Abbas, president of D-Foot International. Facilitators include Joel Alleyne, Simone McConnie and Georgia Krehbiel.
Click here to view the media release.
October 9, 2024
Wounds Canada prioritizes the voices of patients by partnering with Lakehead University
Wounds Canada, a non-profit organization, has partnered with Lakehead University to host a national exchange focused on the patient experience and journey through wound care in Canada, as part of a long-term research project begun in 2022.
The project, called Our Voices, Our Stories, kicked off with a unique knowledge mobilization event where patients and patient advocates shared their stories of navigating Canada’s health-care systems and social life challenges to access wound care services. Event participants, including health-care providers and researchers, used the shared stories, reflections and dialogue to highlight several key areas of focus, including advocacy, change, collaboration, wound specialists, barriers, cultural safety and accessibility.
Click here to view the media release.
June 29, 2024
T.I.M.E. To Heal - Inaugural Caribbean Wounds Network (CariWN) Hybrid Symposium & Exclusive training agreement with Wounds Canada
Wounds Canada is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with the Caribbean Wound Care Network (CariWN). This collaboration is set to advance wound care and skin health in the Caribbean through an exclusive training agreement with the Wounds Canada Institute.
Under this partnership, CariWN will gain direct access to Wounds Canada's extensive expertise and educational resources, enabling the development of specialized wound care competencies within the Caribbean. This initiative not only aims to strengthen the local healthcare systems but also fosters a robust platform for bilateral knowledge exchange.
Through this alliance, Wounds Canada reaffirms its commitment to advancing practices in wound management and promoting patient outcomes. Together, Wounds Canada and CariWN are setting new standards in healthcare excellence
Wounds Canada, is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with the Caribbean Wound Care Network (CariWN). This collaboration is set to advance wound care and skin health in the Caribbean through an exclusive training agreement with the Wounds Canada Institute.
Click here to view the media release.
February 21, 2024
Wounds Canada and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) are pleased to launch the Skin Health Program for Personal Care Providers. This new program, offered through the Wounds Canada Institute, is an innovation in skin health education specifically designed for personal care providers to enhance their knowledge in skin health and the prevention of common forms of skin damage, within their role as unregulated care providers supervised by nurses.
The Skin Health Program for Personal Care Providers was built on the success of a previous collaboration between Wounds Canada and RNAO, launched in 2022 – the Wound Care Champion Program was aimed at regulated health professionals. The new skin health program was developed specifically to support and equip unregulated care providers with the knowledge needed for healthy skin.
Click here to view.
November 1, 2023
Earlier this year Wounds Canada joined forces with the American Limb Preservation Society, the Canadian Podiatric Medical Association and D-Foot International to create a Limb Preservation Alliance to address, promote and advocate for limb preservation. The new alliance aligns with Wounds Canada’s mission to enable health-care providers to improve their practice and ensure the best possible care for persons with wounds or at risk for developing wounds.
Wounds Canada is pleased to join our partners in the Limb Preservation Alliance by participating in Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2023, to raise awareness of and confront diabetes as a critical global health issue.
Click here to view.
October 1, 2023
Wounds Canada’s National Hybrid Conference, the largest wound-related event in Canada, welcomed nearly 600 attendees in person at Fallsview Casino Resort in beautiful Niagara Falls, Ontario, last week on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe people. Over 1200 individuals attended in total including virtual participants.
The conference, themed Knowledge and Innovation to Drive Change, began on September 28 and included three full days of impressive programming and networking delivered both in-person and online. It was an opportunity to reunite with colleagues, peers and faculty, engage in discussions, participate in educational sessions, network with peers and stay current with the latest information in wound prevention and management.
Click here to view.
September 1, 2023
September is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) awareness month. The American Limb Preservation Society, the Canadian Podiatric Medical Association, D-Foot International and Wounds Canada are excited to announce a new vital public awareness campaign, bringing together regional, national, and international organizations to address the growing concern of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). This disease, affecting millions worldwide, encompasses all non-coronary arterial diseases and often leads to reduced or blocked blood flow to limbs.
The "If You Think It’s Just Leg Pain…Think Again” PAD awareness campaign will provide:
- Information for clinicians to enhance patient collaboration.
- Awareness programs targeting individuals with diabetes and the professional healthcare community.
Click here to view.
July 28, 2023
We are thrilled to announce Wounds Canada has joined with the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC) to develop a set of resources focused on skin health and wound management in Indigenous-oriented home care in Alberta. Developed with funding from Indigenous Services Canada, the set of resources was the result of a need identified by First Nation Home and Community Care staff directly providing services in First Nation communities.
Click here to view.
October 12, 2022
To help address an increase in acute and hard-to-heal wounds, Wounds Canada and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) are launching a program designed to deliver evidence-informed, interdisciplinary proficient-level wound education for front-line clinicians. The Wound Care Champion Program (WCCP) will train regulated health professionals in Ontario as wound care champions, with 200 spots to be funded by the provincial Ministry of Health.
Click here to view.
April 11, 2022
Wounds Canada is thrilled to announce we have partnered with Lakehead University's School of Nursing and School of Social Work to host the first-ever virtual Patient Journey Conference on Thursday, June 9 and Friday, June 10. Called Our Voices, Our Stories, the conference will bring individuals, families and caregivers affected by complex wounds together with researchers, health and social service providers, educators, community leaders, and policymakers. The even is funded through a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and Dr. Ide Costa from the School of Nursing is the conference’s chair.
Click here to view.
April 11, 2022
We're excited to announce Wounds Canada and Health Espresso have partnered on a digital solution that enables front-line clinicians, patients, policymakers, and researchers to digitize a patient’s journey and connect members of allied health teams at the right time to decrease acute and hard-to-heal wounds, reduce hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes. Leveraging this technology will enable Wounds Canada to establish a Canadian national registry that can inform further research in wound care and provide quick and easy access to Wounds Canada’s validated tools and resources for immediate bedside action by clinicians and help support wound management by patients, especially those living in outlying communities.
Click here to view.
May 19, 2021
We're excited to announce that Diabetes Canada and Wounds Canada have partnered to address the gaps in care related to foot care and amputation prevention that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A special webinar event for patients living with diabetes and their caregivers will be presented on Facebook Live, Thursday, May 20 at 2 p.m. EDT.
April 18, 2016
A Positive Response from the Quebec Health Minister
On February 13th, Wounds Canada, in collaboration with CAET and RQSP, sent a letter to the Minister of Health of Quebec (click to view). Together, we raised concern for the potential closing of the clinique des plaies complexes de l'hôtel-Dieu de Lévis. This interprofessional wound care clinic provides essential, cost-effective patient care and an effective net cost-savings to the healthcare system. On April 18th, the Minister’s office replied requesting a face-to-face meeting with Wounds Canada and one of the Minister’s staff members.
April 12, 2016
Wounds Canada and RNAO are advocating for policy change to prevent diabetes-related foot ulcers and amputations.
October 31, 2014:
New awareness campaign aims to close the care gap, reduce limb amputations for Canadian peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients.
September 19, 2013
RNAO and Wounds Canada join forces to produce quarterly Diabetic Foot Canada Journal, helping to aid in the national eradication of diabetic foot ulcers.
May 2, 2012
New survey reveals Canadians living with diabetes aren’t putting their best foot forward when it comes to proper foot care.
November 8, 2010
Wounds Canada identifies ways to strengthen wound care delivery, reallocate health care dollars.
June 28, 2010
To reduce the prevalence of amputations due to complications of the diabetic foot, Wounds Canada is stepping up their awareness and public education campaign. Through funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Wounds Canada developed a new website that is easy for those with diabetes and health care providers to navigate. It contains steps to take for healthy feet, contacts for foot care professionals, questionnaires and a wealth of other invaluable information every person living with diabetes should know.