Founded 50 years ago, Cleveland Clinic’s R. B. Turnbull Jr., School of Wound, Ostomy, Continence (WOC, formerly Enterostomal Therapy ET/WOCN) Nursing Program was the first of its kind in the world. Since then, it has graduated more than 4,000 of the approximately WOC nurse specialists practicing throughout the world.
On April 20, 2011, the school’s 50th anniversary will be celebrated with a special program: “Past, Present, Future: Spanning 50 years of WOC Nursing Education.”
The school is named for the late Dr. Rupert Turnbull, a colorectal surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, who developed the concept of enterostomal therapy in 1958 when he recognized the rehabilitative value of providing patients with specialized, one-on-one support and instruction. Akron native Norma Gill, herself a person with an ostomy, was the first E.T. and worked with Dr. Turnbull to advance the specialty worldwide.
Today, the well-established, well known and highly respected school continues to educate nurses to provide care of patients with abdominal stomas, dermal wounds, pressure ulcers, incontinence and related skin conditions. To learn more or register for the 50th anniversary program, visit www.ccfcme.org/WOCNursing11.
