Midwest Chapter Leaders

President

Isabelle Brew, RN, BSN, CWOCN

Isabelle Brew, BSN, RN, CWOCN, has been a WOCN member since 2017. She currently works at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago, her first job in acute rehabilitation after a career in acute care. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of science, nursing, from Lewis University and a Bachelor of Arts in classical civilization from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nursing at Lewis University. Isabelle served on the board of the Northern Illinois affiliate and was the chair of the engagement committee. On her spare time, Isabelle enjoys spending time reading and doing needlework.

Treasurer

Carolyn Crumley, RN, DNP, ACNS-BC, CWOCN

Carolyn Crumley, RN, DNP, ACNS-BC, CWOCN, has worked in health care for nearly 50 years, serving as a Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health and WOC Nurse for over 30 years. Dr. Crumley is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing and previously served as a JWOCN Section Editor (Evidence-Based Report Card). She has participated on various WOCN committees including the Continence Clinical Practice Subcommittee, National Conference Planning Committee, Nominating Committee, Center for Clinical Investigation Board and as a Wound Treatment Associate Course Coordinator. She has served as the Kansas City Affiliate Secretary, Treasurer and President and currently serves as the Midwest Chapter Treasurer.

Secretary

Teresa K. Novy, DNP, GERO-BC, CNEcl, CWON

I have worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) for 13 years in Long Term Care (LTC) before coming to the acute care setting for the last 17 years in multiple roles. Most recently, I have been very interested in the Geriatric population and Wound/Ostomy care delivery with foci of patient teaching. In addition, as a Certified Clinical Nurse Educator, I have been teaching nursing ideals, in multiple capacities, for over 20 years. My research background, interest, and publication in the JWOCN relate to teaching patients with wounds to improve their health outcomes with a standardized discharge process. I currently am researching perceptions of people living with an ostomy and their acute care patient teaching experiences. I have been a certified WOC Nurse since 2015 and practice in a Midwestern Medical Center. I was very involved in the Central Illinois Affiliate of the WOCN (CIA) and now I am the Midwest Chapter Board Secretary. I consider myself a lifelong learner! I have the best of both worlds’ academia and practice. My passion for teaching and patient care is my daily mission and I enjoy helping people in our local community and beyond understand their health needs. Dr. Teresa K. Novy DNP, GERO-BC, CNEcl, CWON

Immediate Past President

Danielle Robinson, RN, BSN, CWON

Danielle Robinson, RN, BSN, CWON, has been a member of the WOCN Society for over ten years. During her nursing career she has worked as an outpatient wound care nurse at Mercy Wound and Hyberbaric Center in St. Louis where she held her hyberbaric certification (CHT). She then moved to an in-patient role as a Certified Wound and Ostomy Nurse for Mercy St. Louis. In 2016 Danielle was promoted to the Director of Wound Care for Mercy Jefferson inpatient and outpatient services. Since 2019 Danielle has held a role in industry serving several states.
During her free time she enjoys spending time with her amazing family, she has been married for Fifteen years and has a beautiful daughter (Josie) who is seven.

Chapter Liaison

Laura Williamson, MSN, RN, CWON, AGCNS-BC

Laura Williamson is an Outpatient Ostomy Clinical Nurse Specialist at the University of Chicago and facilitates a hospital-based Ostomy Support Group. A nurse since 1991, she developed a passion for wound and ostomy care, working full-time in the specialty since 2009. A recipient of the National Daisy Award, Laura has been actively involved with the WOCN Society, serving in various leadership roles, including Board Member, President, and Midwest Chapter Liaison. She presented her co-authored abstract, “Lifting Away” Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries on the Heel, at the 49th Annual WOCN Conference in 2017, later published in JWOCN. Committed to education and mentorship, Laura is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Saint Xavier University in Chicago.

Conference Planning Committee Chair

Renee Paulin, MSN, RN, CWOCN

Renee Paulin, MSN, RN, CWOCN currently serves as Conference Chair for the Midwest Chapter of the WOCN Society Inaugural Conference, The Heartland: Five States, One Midwest WOC Vision, taking place September 18–19, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. In this role, she is driving a unified vision across the region by ensuring that each of the five participating states, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, is represented in planning and content. Her leadership is focused on elevating diverse voices, building strong inter-state collaboration, and delivering a high-impact educational experience for WOC nurses including the interdisciplinary team throughout the Midwest.

Renee also continues to serve as Chair of the Nebraska Ostomy Workshops, which she pioneered as the first direct-care hands-on learning opportunity of its kind in the state along with her ostomy expert team. She also serves as President of the Nebraska WOCN community’s annual conference since 2019. She also enjoys working with other key initiatives including the Ostomy Podcast for Nebraska nurses and played a central role in organizing the state’s annual WOCN conferences.

With over 14 years of experience as a registered nurse and a certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurse (CWOCN) since 2010, Renee has long been committed to advancing wound care education. She is the Course Coordinator for the WTA Program through UNMC College of Nursing’s Continuing Professional Development and Innovation (CiPDI) since 2019 training over 200 health care professionals, expanding access to education across both urban and rural areas of Nebraska.

Currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at UNMC, Renee continues to lead with purpose and passion, supporting professional development, building interprofessional networks, and championing excellence in wound and ostomy care throughout the Midwest.