SYLVIA, D NURS, MSc, MA, RN, CWCN

Charles Town, WV 25414

(703) 371-5964 • csylvia@nachos.net • www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiasylvia

NURSE EXECUTIVE, STRATEGIC CONSULTANT                                                           

Leader in professional relations and knowledge management of chronic wound healing, pressure injury/ulcer prevention, patient and caregiver safety, evidence-based practice and the medical device industry.  Clinical nursing specialty, CWCN; published author and international speaker.  Facilitator of two Consensus Development Initiatives on the Prevention of Pressure Injuries that generated multiple global publications and presentations.  Doctor of Nursing, Cardiff University, with a Master of Science Degree in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair, also from Cardiff University. Passions include being the Voice of Nursing in wound healing, pressure injury prevention, support surface standards and qualitative research.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE - Legacy

Cynthia Sylvia, LLC                                                                                                                                                                     3/2018 – present

Managing Member

Managing member of a nurse executive consultant service.  Specialization in wound healing and tissue repair; support surface allocation, design and standardization; pressure injury prevention and treatment; knowledge management and transfer of continuing nursing education; writing and editing of manuscripts, abstracts and presentations, oversight of human subject clinical studies and expert opinion on quality and risk management of at risk populations.  Schedule includes wide scope of high value, quality deliverables executed on a timely schedule with customized and thoughtful integration to the needs of each client.      

Sage Products, now a part of Stryker                                                                                                        1/2017 - 12/2017

Manager, Professional Education & Relations

Lead development of clinical education events, nationally and internationally.  Strategic oversight of professional relationships with Key Opinion Leaders.  Represent the company as clinical leader in collaboration with professional organizations.  Partner with cross-functional leaders of project teams to identify current and future needs of product development. 

Stryker Medical, Kalamazoo MI                                                                                                                               2/2015 - 12/2016

Clinical Sciences Manager

Overall responsibility for Clinical Sciences at the Medical Division; establishing and executing an effective strategy of clinical evidence in support of business growth; writing of clinical evaluation reports.  Professional Subject Matter Expert in wound healing, temperature management, and patient and caregiver safety. Clinical strategist in New Product Development and legacy business development. Divisional clinical leadership of Risk Management Board and Adverse Event Review Board.

Stryker Medical, Kalamazoo MI                                                                                                                               11/2012 - 1/2015

Senior Clinical Affairs Specialist

Leadership of the Clinical Affairs, with responsibility for innovation in nursing and healthcare education.  Chief strategist for execution of clinical approach to our customer base.  Leadership for clinical component of regulatory, compliance and quality activities, in addition to risk management and new product development.  

Stryker Medical, Kalamazoo MI                                                                                                                        10/2010 - 11/2012

Program Manager, Professional Development

Knowledge management of organizational and professional development, consultant on wound healing, temperature management and patient safety.  Liaison to the wound-care community. Nurse Leader for continuing accreditation of nursing education.  Designer and coordinator of protocol for pressure ulcer prevalence audits.  Clinical responsibility for regulatory and quality activities, compliance; clinical consultant for risk management, medical assessment and severity of harm.  Consultant for new product development and acquisition. (Gaymar was acquired by Stryker 10/10)

Gaymar Industries, Inc., Orchard Park, NY                                                                                                    6/2006 – 09/2010

Program Manager Educational Development

Knowledge management of organizational and professional development, project management of adult education, consulting on wound healing and temperature management, and liaison to the wound-care community. Nurse Leader for continuing education through the NYSNA and the California Board of Nursing.  Designer and coordinator of protocol for pressure ulcer prevalence audits.  Consultant for new product development.

Gaymar Industries, Inc., Orchard Park, NY                                                                                                                8/1995-5/2006

Educational Services Administrator

Full curriculum design of continuing education programs for nursing, case managers and physical therapists. Editor of clinical newsletter. Designed and implemented research protocol for pressure ulcer prevalence audits. Developed and delivered poster and oral presentations at health care conferences internationally. Liaison to health care professionals, organizations.

INOVA Home Health, Georgetown University Hospital, Capital Hill Hospital

Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse, Clinical Specialist

George Washington Medical Center, Beth Israel Hospital, Mass. General Hospital

Staff Nurse

EDUCATION

Doctor of Nursing, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, 2018

Master of Science, Wound Healing and Tissue Repair, University of Wales, College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, 2006

Master of Arts, Health Promotion Counseling, concentration in Case Management, Trinity University, Washington, DC, 1994

Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI

LICENSE

Washington, DC Registered Nurse, RN41381

CERTIFICATION

Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse, 2003254032

Enterostomal Therapy Certificate Program, Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 1981

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse Society

World Council of Enterostomal Therapists

Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction

American Nurses Association

American Organization of Nurse Executives

European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Reviewer, WOUNDS, journal publication part of the Wound Care Learning Network, Spring 2020.

Nurse Coach, Nurse Entrepreneur Course, Future of Nursing, West Virginia, 2019.

Doctor of Nursing, University of Cardiff, Wales, Thesis, “Exploring the Identity of the Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse in Industry: An Interpretative Analysis of Professional Ecology,” July 2018.

Support Surface Standards Initiative, Chair, Work Group on Publications, 2017 to the present.

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, Corporate Advisory Council Representative, 1995 to 12/31/2017.

Support Surface Standards Initiative, Co-Chair of Terms & Definition Group, 2000 to 2014, participant member to the present.

American Nurses Foundation, Corporate Advisory Board Representative from Stryker Medical, 2015 to 12/2017, participation in ANA Lobby Day, 2015 to the present.

Leader of poster submission process, Mid-Atlantic Region WOCN Conference, 10/2017.

American Organization of Nurse Executives, Education Committee, 8/2015 to 2016.

Expert reviewer of poster presentations at NPUAP Consensus Conference, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Advisory Panel, Grant, PCORI, proposed study UPMC, Primary Investigator, David Brienza, Ph.D., 2015.

Association for the Advancement of Wound Care, WIN Committee, 1/2012 to the present.

Professional Blogger, Ostomy Source, 2011 to 2013.

Expert reviewer of poster presentations for Mid-Atlantic WOCN Regional Conference, 10/2013.

Program Facilitator, Shifting the Original Paradigm on Staging Expert Panel, Consensus Panel, 2010 to the present, first publication of the Panel in Advances in Skin & Wound Care, December 2011.

Program Facilitator, Skin Changes At Life’s End, Consensus Panel (SCALE), 2008 to present, multiple publications of the Panel (Nursing Management, 2011; Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 2010; Wounds, 2009).

Expert reviewer of poster abstract submissions for National WOCN Conference, 2010.

President, Mid-Atlantic Region, WOCN Society, 2006-07.

President-Elect, Mid-Atlantic Region, WOCN Society, 2004-06.

WOCN Scholarship, Nurse in Washington Internship, 2006.

Expert reviewer for Content Validation, WOCN Clinical Practice, 2006.

Guest lecturer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, WOC Nurse Training Program, 2006; Guest lecturer, Medical University of South Carolina, WOC Nurse Training Program, 2006; Guest lecturer, Wicks Educational WOC Nurse Training Program, 2005 to 2008; Guest lecturer, LaSalle University, WOC Nurse Program, 2004 to 2008.

Conference faculty, The Advantage of Managing Pressure Ulcers, 2003-06.

Conference faculty, Critical Analysis/Test Methodology seminar, 2002-06.

Conference faculty, five-city Wound Care Seminar Tour, Japan, 2000.

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Consensus Conference Planning Committee, 1999 and 2001.

Editor, Gaymar Institute Journal, 1996 to 2006.

Editor, Gaymar’s Pictorial Guide to Pressure Ulcer Assessment, 2005.

HONORS

125 Scholarship Award, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, 2014.

Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare, nominated by International Nursing Association, 2012.

Clinical Practice Award, 1st Place Poster, Annual Wound Care Symposium.

Citation for Clinical Excellence, Georgetown University Hospital.

Who’s Who in America Nursing.

Who’s Who of Women Executives.

PUBLICATIONS

Advances in Skin & Wound Care, “Informed Application of Standards on Support Surface Performance for Clinically Meaningful Use.” Accepted for publication, December 2019.

Advances in Skin & Wound Care, “Pressure Injuries in the Pediatric Population: A National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel White Paper.” 32(9):394-408, September 2019.

Advances in Skin & Wound Care, “Patient Transfer Devices.” 31(10):443-445, October 2018

Journal of WOCN, “Standardizing Support Surface Testing and Reporting.” 42:5, Sept/Oct 2015.

White paper, NPUAP, “Do Lift Slings Significantly Change the Efficacy of Therapeutic Support Surfaces?” 3, 2015 http://www.npuap.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/NPUAP-Lift-Sling-White-Paper-March-2015.pdf

Position Statement, NPUAP, Hand Check Method: Is it an Effective Method to Monitor for Bottoming Out?  7/2015, http://www.npuap.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Hand-Check-Position-Statement-June-2015.pdf

Advances in Skin & Wound Care, “Skin Changes At Life’s End”, December 2011

Journal of WOCN, “The Lived Experience of the WOC Nurse in Wound Care,” May/June 2010           

Advances in Skin and Wound Care, “Support Surface Initiative Support Surface Terms and Definitions: How Will They Impact Patient Care?”, 2006         

Journal of Wound Care, Vol. 12, #1 “Inflammation: Influence of Apoptosis on Tissue Repair,” 2002         

Subacute Care Today, Vol. 3, #3, “Best Practice in Pressure Ulcer Management,” 2000       

Japanese Gastroenterological Surgery Nursing, Vol.4, #4, “The Story of Pressure Ulcer Management in America . . . Perspectives of a WOC Nurse,” 1999

Patient Management, October, “Holistic Care Should Be Considered,” 1999

Ostomy and Wound Management, Vol.39, #8, “Determining the Right Mix of Support Surfaces to Minimize Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers,” 1993.

PRESENTATIONS

Poster Presentations

Exploring the Identity of the Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse in Industry: An Interpretative Analysis of Professional Ecology, WOCN Conference, 2019.

Informed Application of Standards on Support Surface Performance for Clinically Meaningful Use. NPUAP Conference, SAWC and WOCN Conference, 2017.

The Emergency Department as the Gateway to Inpatient Admissions: Implications for Pressure Ulcer Prevention. SAWC, Las Vegas, 2016; WOCN, Montreal, 2016.

Exploring the Identity of the Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Care Nurse in Industry: An Ethnographic Study of Professional Ecology. Cardiff University, PGR Symposium, Cardiff, Wales, 11/2014.

Is There an Association Between Length of Stay in the Emergency Department and Development of Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers? Part 2 Follow Up Study. NPUAP Consensus Conference, Las Vegas, NV, 2/2011; WOCN, New Orleans, LA, 6/2011.

Is There an Association Between Length of Stay in the Emergency Department and Development of Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers? WOCN, Phoenix, AZ, and SAWC, Orlando, FL, 2010.

Is There an Association Between Length of Stay in the Operating Room and Development of Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers? WOCN, Phoenix, AZ, 2010.

Skin Changes at Life’s End, WOCN, St. Louis, MO; SAWC, Dallas, TX; and NPUAP Consensus Conference, Washington DC, 2009.

How Are You Managing Skin Integrity During Temperature Management? European Wound Management Association, Lisbon, Portugal; Symposium for Advanced Wound Care, San Diego, CA, 2008; WOCN National Conference, Orlando, FL, 2008.

Manipulating the Microclimate at the Interface of Tissue Load and Support Surface, WOCN National Conference, Orlando, FL, 2008; European Wound Management Association, Lisbon, Portugal; and Symposium for Advanced Wound Care, San Diego, 2008

To Reposition or Not to Reposition During Lateral Rotation . . . That is the Question, WOCN National Conference, Orlando, FL; Symposium for Advanced Wound Care, San Diego, CA; and European Wound Management Association, Lisbon, Portugal, 2008

Lived Experience of Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse in Wound Care, Clinical Symposium, Orlando, FL; WOCN National Conference, Minneapolis, MN; SAWC, San Antonio, TX; and Tissue Viability Society, Birmingham, England, 2006; Mid-Atlantic Regional WOCN Conference, Cumberland, MD, 2005.

The Team Approach – Review of the Evidence, Symposium Advanced Wound Care, Las Vegas, NV, 2003; NPUAP, 8th National Conference, 2003; WOUNDS UK, Harrogate, England, 2002.

Pressure Ulcer Audit: Research Design, NPUAP, Tampa, FL, 2005;

WOCN, Las Vegas, NV, 2002; EPUAP, Amsterdam, Holland, 1999.

Determining the Right Mix of Support Surfaces for the Right Patient, Symposium Advanced Wound Care, San Diego, CA, 1993.

Oral Presentations

Webinar, Spanning the Boundary of SPHM & PIP at the Patient Interface, Association of Safe Patient Handling Professionals, October, 2019.

Why Standards: Terms and Definitions, S3I The Undercover Story, Salt Lake City, September 28, 2019.

What’s in a Name? Terms, Definitions & Performance Evaluation, S3I.  NPUAP Annual Conference, St. Louis, March, 2019.

An Interpretive Analysis of Professional Ecology, Nurses doing boundary work. Roots and Branches of Interpretative Sociology, Society for the Study of Symbolic Interactionism, Philaelphia, August, 2018

Support Surface Standards Initiative: Explore what’s new and Discover what’s in it for you. NPUAP Webinar, May 2018

Igniting Partnerships, ENA National Conference, 10/2016 and ACEP, 10/2016.

Update on Skin Changes At Life’s End, Capital Health Systems, October 2016.

Igniting Partnerships, now and for the future.  ACEP, Las Vegas, 2016; ENA, Los Angeles, 2016.

An Ethnography of Professional Ecology . . . nurses doing boundary work, PGR Symposium, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, 11/2015

Is There an Association Between Length of Stay in the Emergency Department and Development of Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers? Part 3 Follow Up Study. ACEP, Seattle WA, 10/2013

Update on Support Surface Standards Initiative, WOCN Affiliate Meeting, Baton Rouge, LA, 7/2013; Affiliate WOCN Meeting, Nashville, TN, 7/2013; WOCN National Conference, Seattle, WA, 6/2013; Magnet Conference, LA, CA, 10/2012, Philadelphia 11/2012

Skin Changes at Life’s End, WOCN, NYU NYC, 5/2013; WOCN Affiliate Meeting, Baton Rouge, LA, 6/2012

Support Surface Terms & Definitions: New Standards, AACN/NTI, Boston, MA, 5/2013

Is There an Association Between Length of Stay in the Emergency Department and Development of Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Part 2, ENA Leadership Conference, 02/2012; ENA Affiliate of Orlando, FL, 06/2012

Skin Changes At Life’s End, Consensus Development.  LSUMC & WOCN Affiliate, New Orleans, LA, 10/2011; WOCN Affiliate Birmingham, 05/2012; WOCN Tucson Affiliate, Tucson AZ, 06/2011; WOCN Phoenix Affiliate, Phoenix AZ, 06/2011.

Pressure Ulcers in the ED, ENA, Philadelphia PA, 06/2011.

What you need to know about pressure ulcer prevalence audits, Inquisit, Audio Conference, 2010.

Evidence on the Braden Scale, Positioning for Best Practice, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL; Utica, NY, 2010.

Skin Changes At Life’s End, the Delphi Process, Peterborough, Ontario, CA, and Utica, NY, 2010.

Best Practice for Optimizing Outcomes on Heel Pressure Ulcers, Inquisit, Audio Conference, 2009.

Best Practice; Implementation of the Braden Scale, Inquisit, Audio Conference, 2009.

Optimizing Patient Outcomes and Decreasing Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Inquisit, Audio Conference, 2009.

Prevention of Perioperative Pressure Ulcers, Buffalo, NY, 2009.

Skin Changes at Life’s End, Initial Findings, Seattle, WA; and Buffalo, NY, 2009.

CMS Regulatory Changes: POA Indicator, Inquisit, Audio Conference, 2008.

CMS Regulatory Changes – Be Accurate and Be Timely, Association for Critical Care Nursing, Chicago, IL, 2008.

Reducing High Risk Pressure Ulcers, Arkansas Healthcare Association, Hot Springs, AR, 2008.

Support Surface Standards Initiative, Mid-Atlantic Regional WOCN Conference, Baltimore, MD, 2007; New England Regional WOCN Conference, Boston, MA, 2007.

NPUAP Update on Staging and Terminology, Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown, MD and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, 2007.

Update on Support Surface Standards Initiative, Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown, MD, 2006.

Lived Experience of Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse in Wound Care, Research Abstracts, WOCN National Conference, Minneapolis, MN; and Tissue Viability Society, Birmingham, England, 2006; Mid-Atlantic Regional WOCN Conference, MD, 2005.

Art and Science of Support Surfaces, Wicks Educational Program, Harrisburg, PA; Wicks Offsite Educational Program, Chicago, IL, 2006; LaSalle University, Philadelphia, PA; and Wicks Educational Program, Harrisburg, PA, 2005.

Evaluation of Support Surface Performance, Orangeburg Regional Medical Center, Orangeburg, SC, 2006.

Best Practice in Pressure Ulcer Management, Colorado Springs, CO, 2003.

Support Surfaces . . . Myths and Evidence, Kansas City, KS, 2003.

WOUNDS UK 2002, The TEAM Approach – Total Education and Management, Harrogate, England, 2002.

The Importance of Shear in the Etiology of Pressure Ulcers, Medtratde, Atlanta, GA, 2002.

Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Audit Going Beyond the Baseline Occurrence, Medtrade, Atlanta, GA, 2002.

Best Practices in Pressure Ulcer Management, Medtrade, Atlanta, GA, 2002.

Evidence-Based Criteria for Evaluation of Support Surfaces, Philadelphia, PA; Teaneck, NJ; Chapel Hill, NC; and Detroit, MI, 2002

Chronic Wound Management, Boston, MA, 2002.

The Myth of Static Air, Chicago, IL, 2002.

Support Surfaces – Myths and Evidence, Denver, CO, 2002.

Topical Therapy, Utica, NY, 2002.

Skin of the Frail Elderly, Utica, NY, 2002.

Evidence-Based Practice Support Surfaces in Pressure Ulcer Management, Phoenix, AZ; Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA; Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Long Beach, CA; and Winnipeg and Montreal, Canada, 2001; Columbia, MD, 2000.

Pressure Ulcer Audit: Research Design, EPUAP, Amsterdam, Holland, 1999.

The Story of Pressure Ulcer Management in America . . . Perspectives of a WOC Nurse, five-city tour in Japan, 1999.