Ashley Shoultz, FNP

Treating wounds with fresh eyes – and the latest medicine

While studying to become a registered nurse, Ashley Shoultz worked closely with her site instructor, who was a wound and ostomy nurse. That was all she needed to know to find her future specialty. “I was able to see the major difference my instructor made in her patients’ lives. That inspired me to do the same,” she says.

Shoultz, who continued her education to become a nurse practitioner, specializes in treating patients – from newborns to elderly individuals – with chronic wounds. As part of our plastic surgery team, she taps into a growing catalog of wound-care products, working to find the right combination to help both acute and chronic wounds heal. “Each year, we find new options that work differently to help a patient heal,” she says. That keeps VCU Health on the leading edge of wound care in the region.

Patients come to Shoultz with wounds caused by many different things. Shoultz may treat patients with wounds resulting from diabetes and arterial disease one day, and those with autoimmune-related wounds or non-healing surgical sites the next. By getting to know her patients, she can develop the right treatment plan. “Patients can expect me to sit down and listen to their story,” she says. “They know that I’m hearing them, particularly as I look at their situation with fresh eyes in order to find a solution that works for them.”

Many individuals have concerns about their wounds, and they should be encouraged to reach out to providers. In fact, wound care is often part of more comprehensive care for a chronic condition. “My goal is to help patients feel more at ease and cared for,” she says. “We can only help if patients tell us what is bothering them. Some wounds I see are very small, but they greatly affect that individual’s quality of life. Anything that is disrupting daily life is worth my attention.”

Her research looks at new treatment options, and she is committed to understanding how diet and nutrition changes can contribute to wound healing. “I love being able to experience the joy on my patient’s face when their wound heals,” she says.

Shoultz spends her time away from the clinic with family and friends, as well as her pets, Pookie Poo and Tia. Her outside interests including reading, making art and enjoying nature.