WELCOME to AFCNA 2026 Virtual Conference
OCTOBER 3-4 2026
8am-6pm EST 7am-5pm CST 6am-4pm MST 5am-3pm PST
8am-6pm EST 7am-5pm CST 6am-4pm MST 5am-3pm PST
Alejandro Otero is a nurse, entrepreneur, and co-founder of CompanyOn, a Canadian healthcare technology platform designed to support care providers working beyond traditional clinic settings. With nearly 20 years of nursing experience, Alejandro brings a deep understanding of clinical practice, regulatory expectations, and the administrative realities faced by nurses, foot care providers, home care teams, and community-based clinicians. His work focuses on helping healthcare professionals reduce documentation burden, strengthen compliance, improve billing workflows, and make care delivery more connected and measurable. Alejandro is especially interested in how thoughtful technology, including AI-supported documentation, can help clinicians capture more accurate, meaningful, and patient-centred notes while preserving professional judgment and accountability. Through his leadership at CompanyOn, he continues to advocate for practical, human-centred innovation that gives care providers more time, better data, and stronger tools to support safe, high-quality care.
Brian Freeman, DPM, FACFAS, is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and the founder of Clipt Care. With a clinical background in trauma, reconstruction, and diabetic limb salvage, he spent years witnessing a critical gap in routine senior foot care. He saw compassionate, capable nurses stepping into this need, recognizing they deserved better systems, clearer standards, and stronger professional support.
To truly understand these real-world challenges, Dr. Freeman continues to personally visit seniors in their homes. This ongoing, hands-on experience shapes Clipt Care, a practice-building platform providing the education, technology, and competency verification necessary for licensed nurses to confidently build professional foot care practices.
As a colleague and educator to nurses, Dr. Freeman is passionate about bridging advanced surgical knowledge with actionable strategies that help keep people safe, mobile, and comfortable.
Dr. Conway McLean is a physician practicing foot and ankle medicine and surgery in the greater Chicago area. McLean is triple board certified in wound care, surgery, and orthotic therapy (APWH, ABFAS, ABPO [former]). He has lectured on many topics to the general public and physicians alike and is a former full time professor of surgery. Dr. McLean is married with 4 children, 4 grandchildren and 2 german shepherds. He is an avid artist, sculptor and musician.
Dr. Cyaandi Dove, DPM, is an Assistant Professor at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where she serves as Director of the Diabetes Foot Program within the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center. She holds a joint appointment in the Divisions of Endocrinology and Vascular Surgery and specializes in multidisciplinary limb preservation, diabetic foot complications, and clinical research. Dr. Dove has served as principal investigator on more than 50 clinical trials and is an investigator with the NIH Diabetic Foot Consortium. Her work focuses on improving access to limb preservation, advancing health equity, and developing innovative models of care that reduce preventable amputations through research, education, and community partnerships.
Donna Golden MSN, CWON, ANP-c, CFCS, is a nurse practitioner with almost 50 years of experience in nursing, specializing in wound and ostomy care. She currently serves as President of the American Foot Care Nurses Association, where she supports the advancement of foot care nursing practice and education.
For the past 20 years, she has practiced in primary care as well as wound and hyperbaric therapy, developing extensive expertise in the management of chronic lower extremity conditions.
Recognizing a growing need for accessible, specialized foot care in the community, Donna founded Mobile Medical Foot Care, serving patients across the South Shore of Massachusetts. Her clinical focus includes lower leg edema, venous insufficiency, and wound prevention, with an emphasis on practical, patient-centered care.
She is passionate about equipping foot care nurses with effective, evidence-based strategies for edema management and the safe, appropriate use of compression therapy in everyday practice.
Jennifer L. Ferguson, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C, CWCN, CFCN is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner and nationally certified wound and foot care specialist through the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB). She has over 15 years of wound care experience across acute care, outpatient wound centers, hyperbaric medicine, and long-term care.
Jennifer is a wound care subject-matter expert with expertise in pressure injury prevention, debridement, advanced and adjunctive therapies, and evidence-based standards of care. She has a particular clinical interest in lower-extremity biomechanics and offloading, including how pressure, shear, deformity, and gait contribute to wound development, delayed healing, and recurrence. Her work focuses on translating complex wound and biomechanical principles into practical, patient-specific strategies that promote healing, prevent recurrence, and improve clinical outcomes.
Jerry L. Schutz is a seasoned nurse leader and entrepreneur passionate about helping foot care nurses thrive in both clinical and business environments. He oversaw a 45‘resident facility, led a large nursing team, and currently operates several successful businesses, including Sole Support Footcare. With experience in branding, communication, and operational leadership, Jerry teaches practical business fundamentals and proven tips that empower clinicians to confidently navigate the world of entrepreneurship. His mission is to equip AFCNA members with the tools to grow, communicate effectively, and build meaningful, sustainable practices.
Dr Laura Swoboda is a translational scientist, family nurse practitioner, and wound specialist from Milwaukee, WI. They serve on the editorial boards of American Nurse Journal, the official journal of the ANA, and WOUNDS journals. Dr. Swoboda chairs the Health Equity Task Force for the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care, and co-chairs the Patient and Community Education Committee for the American Heart Association's PAD Collab. They also represent North America as a diplomat on the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel.
Dr. Swoboda's clinical philosophy is founded upon humanism and social justice. Their advocacy for patients is exemplified when delivering guidance in avenues including participation in federal policy, state regulations, and institutional teams.
Dr. (NURSE) Burdette-Taylor lives in Alaska and teaches in Washington. She is celebrating 50 years as a Registered Nurse. She completed her MSN and PhD in nursing education and has been an educator as the CEO of TayLORD Health and Professor teaching Population Health, Wound Care, Foot Care, and Professional Development. Shelly has been board certified in wound care, foot care, and professional development for decades. She retired as a US Army nurse in 2015 after 30 years of service. She specializes in professional development to encourage nurses to expand their knowledge, experience, and practice to the full extent of their expertise. She was instrumental in launching foot and nail care as a specialty in early 2000 after practicing as a foot care nurse in the US Army and civilian sector since 1986. She is a mother, grandmother (ABBY) and avid enthusiast of promoting health care for all.
Raeann Genevieve LeBlanc holds a PhD in nursing and a DNP in public health nurse leadership and is certified as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and as a Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse. Raeann has served as the Seedworks Endowed Associate Clinical Professor of Social Justice in Nursing from 2019-2023 and teaches at the University of Massachusetts in the graduate and undergraduate programs. Raeann's clinical practice, research and scholarship engage with community organizations and seeks to address care needs of persons with chronic conditions and serious illness, an area where nurses hold a critical role in research, practice, and education, now and in the future.
Dr. Janicke bring a diverse group of experiences to foot care nursing. She has worked in inpatient oncology, dermatology, and spinal cord injury, and outpatient in wound care, hospice, and home healthcare.
Tannis Sorge, RN, FCNEd, CFCN, CFCS has been practicing foot care nursing since 2002 and is the owner and lead educator of PEDEd. She has educated thousands of nurses across Canada, the United States, and internationally through advanced foot care nursing programs, workshops, and conference presentations. Tannis has over 29 years of nursing experience and is actively involved in national and international initiatives related to foot care nursing competencies, standards, and certification. She is passionate about translating evidence into practical skills that improve patient outcomes and support clinicians in delivering safe, purposeful care.
Please note, that the time, speakers and sessions are subject to change
To receive contact hours, you must attend each session in its entirety and complete the electronic evaluation for every session attended. Partial attendance will not qualify for contact hour credit.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP18223 for 12 contact hours.
Session topics, speakers, and times are subject to change without prior notice.
Download & Print the Agenda ➤ Agenda AFCNA Membership
10/03/2026 08:00 am10/03/2026 08:30 am10/03/2026 09:00 am
Michele Burdette-Taylor
Professor
Saint Martin University
As the field of foot care advances and seeks validity as a distinctive nursing healthcare specialty, it becomes imperative to define practice competencies for related professionals in the arena. As such, the myriad nurses practicing footcare in settings across the continuum should be understood for their unique contribution to the proactive team approach to prevent wounds, falls, and amputations while promoting comfort, improved quality of life and confidence. The hierarchy of foot care nursing with varying levels can be clarified to delineate leadership, competencies, professional issues, and unique opportunities to meet the current health care challenges.
10/03/2026 09:50 am
Laura Swoboda
Scientist, Practitioner, Wound Specialist
Skin Gurus
How naturally occurring microbes impact wounds and neuropathy.
10/03/2026 10:40 am10/03/2026 11:20 am
Tannis Sorge
PEDEd
Educator
Critical decision-making: When to treat vs. when to refer
10/03/2026 12:10 pm10/03/2026 01:10 pm
DONNA GOLDEN
Private Practice
Owner-Mobile medical Foot Care
Edema is a symptom of a problem. It can be caused by side-effects of medications, disease or injuries to surrounding tissue. Chronic edema in lower extremities and feet can lead to skin and tissue changes that may affect wound healing and mobility. Many clients and providers are unaware of the long term effects of chronic untreated lower extremity edema. Venous disease when identified using the CEAP classification is one way to assess your Clients risk, response to treatment and aid in referral.
10/03/2026 02:00 pm
Cindy Miller
10/03/2026 02:15 pm
Jerry Schutz
Owner
Sole Support Footcare
Connecting clinical skills to a successful professional business model.
10/03/2026 03:05 pm10/03/2026 03:40 pm
Conway McLean
DPM
A look at the consequences of time and gravity on the long-term health of those joints involved in weight bearing. The traditional approach has failed to prevent treated the common, painful condition that is degenerative arthritis, so prevalent in our culture.
10/03/2026 04:40 pm10/03/2026 04:50 pm10/04/2026 08:00 am10/04/2026 08:30 am10/04/2026 08:45 am
Jennifer Ferguson
Nurse Practitioner
Redefine Medicine LLC
Recurrent foot wounds are often more than a wound-care problem they may signal an unresolved mechanical driver. This presentation explores how pressure, shear, deformity, limited joint mobility, gait, and footwear contribute to ulcer formation, delayed healing, and recurrence. Through clinical examples and practical assessment strategies, participants will learn to look beyond the wound bed, recognize biomechanical clues in wound and callus patterns, select individualized offloading approaches, and identify when persistent or recurrent wounds may warrant referral for evaluation and correction of an underlying structural or biomechanical abnormality.
10/04/2026 09:35 am10/04/2026 09:50 am
Susan Janicke
Nurse Practitioner
Joyful Feet Foot Care
Almost 40% of individuals over the age of 60 have a hearing loss. Individuals with hearing loss experience reduced quality of life and are at risk for other health problems. This program considers the types of hearing loss, the risk factors for hearing loss, and how hearing loss can impact the foot care visit. Appropriate interventions and technologies can improve the lives of your clients with hearing loss.
10/04/2026 10:40 am10/04/2026 11:00 am10/04/2026 11:10 am
Alejandro Otero
CompanyOn
This 40-minute session explores how care-centred, data-informed documentation can strengthen foot care nursing practice. Participants will examine how meaningful charting supports safe care, continuity, patient goals, outcome measurement, and professional accountability. The session will highlight practical ways to document assessment findings, interventions, patient concerns, response to care, education, follow-up planning, and measurable changes over time. It will also introduce how AI-supported documentation can help nurses capture more accurate, complete, and relevant notes while preserving nursing judgment. Stronger documentation can make care more visible, measurable, and meaningful for patients, nurses, and the broader healthcare team.
10/04/2026 12:00 pm10/04/2026 01:00 pm
Raeann LeBlanc
Clinical Professor
UMass Amherst
This presentation explores stories of community, connection, and foot health, highlighting the unique role of foot care nurses. Grounded in the principles of Watson's Caring Science, it demonstrates how holistic, person-centered care is built on trust, dignity, empathy, and compassion. Through real-world experiences, participants will discover how foot care nurses conduct comprehensive assessments, provide education, promote independence, support individual health goals, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to improve outcomes. Ultimately, this presentation affirms that excellence in caring for people” and their feet” is advanced through compassionate practice, shared learning, and a commitment to walking alongside one another.
10/04/2026 01:50 pm10/04/2026 02:00 pm
Cyaandi Dove
DPM
Oregon Health and Science University
I would like to do a scoping talk about how structural barriers in hospitals, communities and ensurers have contributed to our failure to prevent lower extremity amputations.
10/04/2026 02:50 pm10/04/2026 03:10 pm10/04/2026 03:20 pm
Brian Freeman
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Clipt LLC
Foot care nurses frequently treat patients who struggle to maintain conservative podiatric treatments or who have completely undiagnosed toe deformities. As the critical first line of defense, nurses are uniquely positioned to initiate or continue effective over-the-counter interventions. This presentation provides a practical overview of conservative management for toe deformities while exploring modern surgical options that offer long-term resolution of pain, corns, calluses, and ulcerations. Finally, it highlights essential strategies for identifying and referring to highly qualified foot and ankle surgeons and vascular surgeons to build a robust patient care network.
10/04/2026 04:20 pm10/04/2026 04:40 pm10/02/2026 06:00 pm10/02/2026 06:02 pm10/02/2026 06:05 pm10/02/2026 06:08 pm10/02/2026 06:18 pm10/02/2026 06:28 pm10/02/2026 06:45 pm10/02/2026 06:50 pm10/02/2026 07:00 pm10/02/2026 07:20 pm10/02/2026 07:30 pm10/02/2026 07:55 pm10/02/2026 08:00 pm12/02/2026 07:45 pmBy registering for and participating in the AFCNA 2026 Virtual Conference, you agree that all session content and educational materials are the exclusive intellectual property of the American Foot Care Nurses Association Corporation (AFCNA) and are licensed for your individual use only. Recording, capturing, reproducing, distributing, or retransmitting any conference content by any means and in any form is strictly prohibited without AFCNA's prior written consent. Unauthorized use may constitute a violation of applicable copyright law and will be subject to appropriate legal action.