Laura Benedetto-Rugen has been a registered nurse for over twenty years at North Shore University Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center and part of Northwell Health system in Long Island, NY. For the last 17 years she has been privileged to exclusively function as the Ostomy RN specialist and do what she loves, educate, support and promote “normalcy” for her patients with ostomies throughout the continuum of care from preoperatively, post-op and for follow-ups as outpatients. Laura has been an integral part of growing the WOC nurse department. She provides in-house educational programs on ostomy, fistula and drain management to the nursing staff and members of the multi-disciplinary team. Laura has spoken locally and nationally on ostomy and fistula management and care. Laura also serves as the Ostomy RN advisor for the UOAA local chapter and is a member of the WOCN Society and Sigma Theta Tau.