2025 Faculty
Charles Andersen, MD, FACS, FSVS, MAPWCA
Chief of the Vascular/Endovascular Surgery Service (Emeritus)Chief of the Wound Care Service
Clinical Professor of Surgery UW, USUHS
Madigan Army Medical Center
Tacoma, WA
After graduating from Utah State University, Charles Andersen, MD, MAPWCA, FACS earned his medical degree at the University of Utah where he also completed an internship and one year of surgical training. He then entered the military where he completed his surgical residency at Madigan Army Medical Center and a Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He remained in the military where his positions included program director in General Surgery and Chief of the Department of Surgery at Madigan Army Medical Center for 20 years. After retirement from the Army he remained at Madigan Army Medical Center as a civilian and chief of the Vascular Surgery Service. He has spoken nationally and internationally on Vascular Surgery, Limb Preservation and Wound Care. He has over 150 peer reviewed publications and over 500 professional presentations. Currently he is Chief of the Wound Care Service and Medical Director of Wound Care Clinic at Madigan Army Medical Center. He is the (Emeritus) Chief of the Vascular/Endovascular/Limb preservation Service at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma Washington. He is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.
Robert G Frykberg, DPM, MPH, MAPWCA, FRSM, FFPM(Glasg)
Honorary Professor of Podiatric MedicineUniversity of Galway
Adjunct Professor
Midwestern University
Phoenix, AZ
Robert G Frykberg, DPM, MPH, MAPWCA, FRSM, FFPM (Glasg), is a graduate of the California College of Podiatric Medicine in 1976. Dr Frykberg went on to complete his residency training at the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston. He served as the President of the Massachusetts Podiatric Medical Society and a Member of the Board of Registration in Podiatry. From 1992 to 1994, he attended the Harvard School of Public Health and graduated with a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in quantitative methods. After 21 years of private practice, Dr Frykberg accepted the position as Clinical Dean of the Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery prior to moving to Phoenix. After 15 years of dedicated service to our Veterans, Dr Frykberg has decided to retire from his role as Chief of Podiatry at the Phoenix VA Medical Center and as Director of the Phoenix VA Medical Center Podiatric Residency Program. He continues to hold the academic rank of Professor, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix and Adjunct Professor, Midwestern University Program in Podiatric Medicine. His research and writing interests have included all facets of lower extremity disorders, but are specifically focused on diabetic foot ulcers, infections, Charcot foot, and wound care. The author of nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications, he has also been the Editor of two textbooks: The High-Risk Foot in Diabetes Mellitus (1991) and the Diabetic Charcot Foot (2010). His expertise in the Diabetic Foot translated into hundreds of speaking invitations nationally and internationally with numerous lecture engagements in China, India, Russia, South America, the UK, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Italy, and across Europe.
Matthew G Garoufalis, DPM, FASPS, FACPM, CWS, FFPM, RCPS Glasg, FRSM
Professional Foot Care Specialists, PCChicago, IL
Matthew G Garoufalis, DPM, FASPS, FACPM, CWS, FFPM RCPS (Glasg), FRSM, graduated from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio with degrees in Biology and Economics and went on to graduate from the Dr Wm M Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr Garoufalis is a past president of the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association, a Past President of the American Podiatric Medical Association, and is the Immediate Past President of the International Federation of Podiatrists. Dr Garoufalis is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and American Board of Podiatric Medicine with Added Qualification in Wound Care and Limb Preservation. He is a Founding Fellow of American Society of Podiatric Surgeons and a Fellow of American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine. He is also a Certified Wound Specialist by the American Board of Wound Management. Dr Garoufalis is a Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He is a noted authored of many articles and, as an invited speaker, has accepted speaking engagements for educational lectures, seminars, and workshops, both nationally and internationally, on a variety of topics pertinent to wound care, podiatric medicine and surgery, and practice management. He is considered a Key Opinion Leader in many areas.
E. Lynette Gunn, APRN, GCNS-BC, CWCN, CFCN
Chief of Outpatient Nursing ServiceEastern Oklahoma VA HCS
E. Lynette Gunn, APRN, GCNS-BC, CWCN, CFCN is an Advanced Practice RN – Clinical Nurse Specialist with specialization in gerontological nursing, case management, wound and foot care. She has over 25 years of direct care nursing experience beginning with medical/surgical, pediatric, orthopedics, wound care, foot care, education, and telehealth. She is currently the Chief of Outpatient Nursing at the Eastern Oklahoma VA HCS. As the Chief of Outpatient Nursing, she is responsible for the development, maintenance, and expansion of Veteran outpatient programs – both in person and virtual Care for northeastern Oklahoma. Lynette received her Associate degree in Nursing from Connors State College in Warner, OK, her BSN in nursing from Washburn University in Topeka, KS, and her MS in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma. Lynette is a firm believer in active participation in professional practice organizations being a member of ANA/ONA, NACNS (National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist) WOCN (Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Association), AAWC (Association for the Advancement of Wound Care) and NOVA (Nurses of the VA). Presentation Experience: 1. Developed Skin School – A Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program for EOVAHCS in Muskogee, OK 2. Course Coordinator for Wound Treatment Associate Program (through the WOCN). Only one for State of Oklahoma. 3. Telehealth Trainer – Eastern Oklahoma VA HCS 4. Venous Insufficiency: Assessment and Treatment Strategies (2014) 5. Ethical Implications of Bullying – Session during “Workplace Bullying” (2015) 6. Implementation of a Tele-Wound Program (2018) 7. Use of Virtual Care during the COVID Crisis (2020)
Cathy Harmon, DNP, MSN Nrg Ed, FNP-BC, CWOCN
Wound and Ostomy Outpatient Clinic ProviderLake City VA Medical Center
Lake City, FL
Cathy Harmon, DNP, MSN, FNP Nrg Ed, FNP-BC, CWOCN is the Wound and Ostomy Outpatient Clinic Provider for the Veteran population at the Lake City VA Medical Center in Lake City, FL. The Clinic also provides telehealth services to the Veteran population in outlying rural clinics in South Georgia and North Florida. She serves the Veteran population as a memorial to her dad, a combat wounded WWII Veteran. Dr Harmon earned her nursing degrees - BSN, MSN in Nursing Education and DNP - from Florida State University. She is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (AANC). Dr Harmon received her wound care education from The Medical University of South Carolina, her Foot Care education from WebWOC and her Ostomy education from Emory University. She is certified in all 3 specialties through the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certifying Board (WOCNCB) where she also serves as a board member. Dr. Harmon is a member of the Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) and the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC). She also serves as a reviewer for the WOCN and has published articles in the peer-reviewed journals Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing (JWOCN) and Ostomy Wound Management as well as several WoundSource blogs. Prior to coming to the VA, Dr Harmon’s nursing career included Acute Care, Pediatrics, Long-Term Care, Home Health Care and as Associate Professor in Nursing. Dr Harmon resides in North Florida with her husband, John, and dog, Vader. She enjoys running, martial arts, gardening, going to the beach and Tampa Bay Lightning hockey.
Thomas Serena, MD, FACS, FACHM, MAPWCA
CEO and Medical Director of the SerenaGroupCambridge, MA
Thomas E Serena, MD, FACS, FACHM, MAPWCA, CEO and Medical Director of The SerenaGroup, a family of the wound, hyperbaric and research companies, is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of The College of William and Mary and Penn State Medical School. He completed his residency in Surgery at The Milton S Hershey Medical Center with an additional year of training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Southern Illinois University. To date, he has opened and operates wound care centers across the United States and globally. Dr Serena has been the lead or Principal investigator in over 100 clinical trials, including gene therapy for critical limb ischemia, antimicrobial dressings, growth factors, topical and parenteral antibiotics, and CTP therapy. He founded the first wound healing cooperative research group that produced more than 12 manuscripts in 2016 alone. In 2011 he developed a diagnostic technique that now bears his name (The Serena Technique). He holds numerous patents on wound care devices and dressings. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the field of wound healing: He has more than 200 published papers and has given more than 1000 invited lectures throughout the world. He has published three medical textbooks and authored numerous book chapters. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Wound Healing Society and served two terms on the board of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) and is now the President. He has also been Vice-President of the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine and President of the American Professional Wound Care Association.