Featured Member of the Month (Mar. 2023): Heather Barnhart

Heather Barnhart (née Hettrick), PT, PhD, CWS, AWCC, CLT-LANA, CLWT is a Professor in the Physical Therapy Program at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Dr. Barnhart has been a licensed physical therapist since 1995. She received her PhD in physical therapy in 2003 and has dedicated her entire professional career to integumentary function and dysfunction, becoming a key opinion leader on integumentary function, repair, regeneration, and wound, lymphedema, and burn management. Dr. Barnhart’s diverse clinical background is complemented by experience in research, professional writing, and publication, speaking on the national and international circuit, volunteering on professional board organizations, consulting, lobbying for legislative change on Capitol Hill, organizing humanitarian work in Haiti, and creating entrepreneurial endeavors and medical devices for wound management. 

She is a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS), Advanced Wound Care Certified (AWCC), Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), and internationally dual certified in Lymphedema and Wound Care (CLWT). She is LANA credentialed by the Lymphology Association of North America and is an Experiential Learning Fellow. She has attended over 90 continuing education courses, authored over 30 journal articles, published 6 book chapters, and presented over 200 professional programs and conference presentations on various integumentary-related topics. 

Dr. Barnhart is a Past President of the American Board of Wound Management and is a past Board and Executive Committee member of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care. She is currently on the board of the World Alliance of Wound and Lymphedema Care, the advisory board for the Why Wound Care Campaign, and Editorial Board for Today’s Wound Clinic. Additionally, she is on the planning committee for the American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS) as well as Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), and Faculty/Director of Wound Education for the International Lymphedema and Wound Training Institute (ILWTI). She is co-chair of the Space Forum at AVLS and is actively involved in research encompassing space medicine, sea turtles, and forensic applications to wound management among other areas of interest.

How and why did you start practicing in the field of vein/lymphatic care?

I graduated with my Master’s in PT in 1995 specializing in burn and wounds.  During my time as a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU, they sponsored me to become lymphedema certified in 2001.  This training completely changed my way of thinking about integumentary dysfunction.  It also inspired me to do my PhD dissertation on the incidence and prevalence of lymphedema following burn injury.  I feel my added knowledge of the lymphatic system bolstered all my education and experience in burn and wounds and it completely changed the direction of my professional career.

How long have you been a member of the AVLS and why did you decide to join?

I have been a member of AVLS since 2019.  My decision to join was based on the leadership and direction the organization was and is going, reflected in its name.  It is an inclusive organization, embracing all health professionals to advance the evidence, raise awareness, advocate for patients, and elevate the medical specialties of vascular and lymphatic medicine, including integumentary dysfunction.

In what ways has the AVLS helped you as a vein/lymphatic care provider?

I would say the biggest benefit for me has been the networking and learning opportunities provided by AVLS, its leadership and Congress.  

What resources does the AVLS provide that would benefit them?

There are so many resources AVLS provides.  For me, I would say the educational opportunities as well as the ability to join committees, special interest groups and task forces have been tremendous.  Seek out from the many offerings what speaks to you and take advantage of them!

Any advice for your peers new to the field? 

Get involved!  The more you seek knowledge, opportunities, and networking, the better you become personally and professionally.

When you are not at work, how do you spend your time? 

Enjoying time with family and friends (including my fur baby Winston), traveling, working on my bucket list, and helping my twin boys get ready for college this fall!  I am also a newlywed, so spending time with my best friend and love of my life, Darrell, brings me joy and happiness.