About the wuwhs
The World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) was formed in September 2000, at the First World Wound Healing Congress that was held in Melbourne, Australia. Representatives from 11 societies took the decision to form what was initially called the International Society of Wound Healing Societies but was subsequently changed to the WUWHS.
The WUWHS adopts a global approach to issues in wound healing, thereby not competing with or duplicating the efforts of individual societies.
The activities of the WUWHS take this global approach to issues related to education, research, relations with industry and the delivery of the highest quality of wound‐healing practice that is aimed at providing the best available care to all patients with wounds. In addition, the WUWHS will also organise the World Wound Healing Congress that is held every 4 years. A website will also be established, and it is hoped that information will eventually be in multiple languages and that it will be interactive.
Other activities and initiatives will be considered as appropriate following discussion by the Board of the WUWHS.
The WUWHS is an affiliation of interested societies involved in wound‐healing education research treatment and health delivery. It is not a formalised society that has individual members.
Wuwhs board
In order to direct the functions of the WUWHS, a Board and several official positions have been established. Positions on the Board are open to any formal national or multinational society or association that wishes to be involved. The Board will meet annually, usually in conjunction with an annual conference of a participating society and at the World Union Congress.
The Board will consider and decide on issues related to the activities of the WUWHS.
Official positions
The WUWHS has a Chair, a Deputy Chair, Treasurer and two secretaries. The Treasurer will be responsible for administering any funds that are raised to support the activities of the WUWHS in an open and accountable manner in accordance with good accounting practice.
The current office bearers of the WUWHS are:
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Chair: Michael Stacey, Australia
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Deputy Chair: Luc Téot, France
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Secretaries: Geoff Sussman, Australia and Mark Ferguson, UK
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Treasurer: Mieke Fleur, Belgium
Commissions
A number of commissions have also been established to provide focus to specific areas. These are:
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Education — Chair: Gary Sibbald, Canada
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Industrial liaison — Chair: Keith Harding, UK
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Wound care in developing countries — Chair: George Cherry, UK
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Research — Chair: Vincent Falanga, USA
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Organisation of Wound Healing Services — Chair: Finn Gottrup, Denmark
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Publication — Chair: Raj Mani, UK
It is intended that the Commissions will be active and productive, and that they will produce regular reports.
World wound healing congresses
It was decided at the meeting in Melbourne that a World Wound Healing Congress would be held every 4 years. The responsibility for organising and funding the World Congress would then rest with the hosting society or societies.
Second world wound healing congress
The Second World Wound Healing Congress will be held in Paris from 8–13 July 2004.
The organiser is Luc Téot.
The hosting societies are:
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European Tissue Repair Society (ETRS)
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European Wound Management Association (EWMA)
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La Société Française et Francophone des Plaies et Cicatrisations (SFFPC)
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European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP)
This meeting intends to provide education for all involved in wound healing, from the most practical hands on patient management through to the most advanced scientific research. The meeting will have multiple simultaneous sessions and will include plenary sessions, workshops, free paper sessions, symposia and interactive groups discussing difficult cases.
It is anticipated that this will be the largest Wound Healing meeting that has ever been held, with 4000–8000 registrants.