The Full Story
Meet the Team Behind Kindling
Our Mission
Kindling Consulting exists to bring clarity to wound care operations in complex, reimbursement-driven environments. Our mission is to help wound care teams make confident decisions by providing clear guidance, operational structure, and compliance-ready strategies that support sustainable growth.​
Our Expertise
We bring deep experience in wound care operations, clinical workflows, and mobile and outpatient delivery models. Our team understands what it takes to launch, stabilize, and scale wound care programs that perform in the real world, not in theory.
Why Choose Us
✓ Clear, practical strategies for launching and expanding wound care programs
✓ Reimbursement-aware workflows built for audit readiness and execution
✓ Trusted relationships with vetted technology, product, and service partners
✓ Personalized strategic support from experienced wound care and operations leaders
Nikki Johnston
Founder/Chief Strategy Officer
Nikki Johnston is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 15 years of experience leading high-growth, multi-site organizations across various healthcare industries including wound care, outpatient services, and private equity-backed healthcare platforms. As the founder of Kindling Consulting, Nikki brings a unique blend of operational strategy, leadership development, and culture-driven execution to every engagement.
Before launching Kindling, Nikki served as the Senior Vice President of Operations and Growth for a multi-location wound care company, where she led enterprise-wide initiatives across operations, business development, marketing, and compliance. Her leadership helped scale the organization by over 50% in revenue within 12 months, reduce turnover by more than 90%, and build out internal departments from the ground up.
Throughout her career, Nikki has been known for bridging the gap between vision and execution. She has deep experience in launching wound care programs, building strategic partnerships, driving workforce performance, and navigating the operational complexities of regulated environments. Whether advising startups or stabilizing mature clinics, she takes a practical, people-first approach that balances growth with sustainability.
At Kindling, Nikki leads the strategic direction of the firm while partnering directly with clients on startup execution, organizational development, and long-term scalability. She is passionate about helping wound care teams do more than keep up-she helps them lead.
Kati Kaushal DNP, FNP-C, CWS, WCC
Co-Founder/Chief Clinical Officer
Kati Kaushal is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and doctoral-prepared clinician with a deep and diverse background in wound care, hyperbaric medicine, trauma, and surgical care. As Kindling Consulting’s Chief Clinical Officer, Kati brings hands-on clinical expertise and executive-level leadership to organizations across the country-helping teams deliver safer, smarter, and more effective wound care.
Prior to joining Kindling, Kati served as the Senior Director of Clinical Operations & Efficiency for a PE-backed multi-site wound care organization, where she oversaw clinical strategy, regulatory compliance, provider development, and patient safety initiatives. Her experience spans complex wound procedures, graft surveillance, and advanced therapies, with a particular focus on aligning evidence-based care with operational and financial performance.
Known for her calm leadership style, clinical precision, and deep commitment to education, Kati is passionate about upskilling providers and strengthening the systems that support them. She’s worked in trauma bays, ORs, and outpatient wound centers and understands firsthand what high-functioning wound care looks like on the frontlines.
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At Kindling, she leads clinical expertise, audits, and protocol development while mentoring teams to deliver consistent, compliant, and patient-first care. Whether supporting a new startup or guiding a large clinical team through compliance changes, Kati brings depth, clarity, and a solutions-oriented approach to every engagement.