The Special Interest Groups (SIG) hold meetings in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the ABA.  These meetings provide an opportunity for exchange of ideas, networking with colleagues, and information sharing.  All ABA meeting participants are encouraged to attend these meetings, which are scheduled at times that do not conflict with the general meeting.  These meetings are open to both members and non-members of the ABA.  Currently, there are 20 Special Interest Groups.  To contact the chairs for the individual SIGs, please refer to the names listed below the SIG description.

Anesthesiology/Respiratory
This SIG provides a forum for anesthesia providers to share information regarding peri-operative care of burn patients including pain management, critical care and respiratory care issues.

Sam R. Sharar, MD, Chair
Harborview Medical Center
325 Ninth Ave
Box 359724, Dept of Anesthesiology
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 731-5765
sharar@u.washington.edu

Jeffrey M. Berman, MD, Vice Chair
University of North Carolina
Department of Anesthesiology
CB7010, N2201, UNC Hospitals
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7010
(919) 966-5136
jberman@aims.unc.edu

Bioengineering/Biophysics
The Bioengineering/Biophysics SIG is a forum for exchange between clinicians and scientists interested in the application of basic physical and engineering science to understanding burn path physiology, development of molecular repair therapeutics and tissue engineering science.
  
William Dougherty, MD, FACS, Chair
KUMC
Department of Plastic Surgical Group, PC
3901 Rainbow Blvd
Kansas City, KS 66160
Mobile: (501) 650-4401
Pager: (913) 917-0825
wdougherty@kumc.edu
wrdmd@yahoo.com

Burn Camp
Provides a forum for problem solving and instruction in the various aspects of establishing and running camp programs for the burn injured child.

Nan Edens, Chair
Program Manager
Foundation for Burns and Trauma
P.O. Box 1329
Phoenix, AZ  85001
(602) 230-2041
Nan.edens@azburn.org

Burn Center Disaster

The purpose of a Burn Center Disaster Special Interest Group is to provide a designated forum at the ABA Conference for all BC staff, especially those within the northeast region, to come together and deal with burn disaster-related issues.

Kathe M. Conlon, BSN, RN, CEM
Burn Emergency Preparedness Education Coordinator
Saint Barnabas Medical Center
95 Old Short Hills Road
West Orange, NJ 07052
Office: (973) 322-4430
Mobile: (973) 768-2385
Fax: (973) 322-4126
KConlon@SBHCS.com

Andrea Valenta, RN, MSN, Vice-Chair
7105 College Heights Dr.
Hyattsville, MD  20782

Burn Center Physicians 
An informal meeting of physicians and others who are interested in discussing issues, such as burn unit management, physician role responsibilities and reimbursement.

Louis H. Riina, MD, Chair
Long Island Plastic Surgeons Group
999 Franklin Ave
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 742-3404
lriina@optonline.net or lriina@lipsg.com

Burn Prevention
Devoted to the dissemination of information about activities in the burn prevention sphere. Deliberations of the Burn Prevention Committee are provided as an update on committee projects and activities.

James Floros , Chair
Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer
Burn Institute
8825 Aero Drive, Suite 200
San Diego, CA   92123
(858) 541-2277, ext. 16
jfloros@burninstitute.org

Burn Registry Users
Provides an opportunity for all users of the Burn Registry to network with other registry users and ABA leadership of the National Burn Repository. Provides a format for updates of N-TRAC burn module and provides a forum for the exchange of information, problem sharing and problem solving.

Eldon Stephsensen, RN, Chair
UC Davis Regional Burn Center
2315 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA  95817
Ph: (916) 734-4531
Fx: (916) 734-0102
eldon.stephensen@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

Burn Survivor and Reintegration
Creates an opportunity for burn survivors and health care professionals to share ideas and information on providing psychosocial support to burn patients and their families.

Christine Juris, Chair
(800) 888-2876
Christine@phoenix-society.org

Canadian
The agenda includes a guest speaker and a number of papers selected from submitted abstracts. The meeting also provides an opportunity for Canadians who are attending the ABA to meet and discuss issues that are relevant to burn care in Canada.

Edward E. Tredget, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Chair
2D3.81 WMHSC
University of Alberta Hospital
8440-112 Street
Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7 Canada
(780) 407-6979
etredget@ualberta.ca
Alternate Contact: Heather Shankowsky, RN, CCRP
Heather.Shankowsky@albertahealthservices.ca

Robert Cartotto, MD, FRCSC, Vice Chair
Ross Tilley Burn Center
Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Science Center
2075 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, ON M4N 3M5 Canada
(416) 480- 6706 
Robert.Cartotto@sunnybrook.ca

Chaplains/Pastoral Caregivers
Chaplains/Pastoral Caregivers meet to discuss the various professional methods of meeting the spiritual/emotional needs of the patients, families and staff.  The Chaplains/Pastoral SIG is an opportunity for networking and communicating the challenges of caring for the burn patient and their families. The Chaplains/Pastoral SIG provides us with an avenue to explore the professional role of the Chaplain on the Burn Unit.

Art Snedeker , MDiv, Chair
MetroHealth Medical Center
2500 MetroHealth Drive
Cleveland, OH 44109
(216) 778-5620
Asnedeker@metrohealth.org

Federation of Burn Foundation
The Federation helps empower burn-related organizations to better serve their communities with communication and information exchange that enhance the capabilities of members to promote and assist in the development of burn foundations.

James Floros , Chair
Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer
Burn Institute
8825 Aero Drive, Suite 200
San Diego, CA   92123
(858) 541-2277, ext. 16
jfloros@burninstitute.org

Firefighters
This informal meeting provides firefighters and others an opportunity to share information on current burn-related projects and issues. This round table format allows participants equal time, and the meeting is open to all.

Benjamin H. Alder, Fire Captain, Chair
7 Margaret Avenue
Pasadena, MD 21122-2152
(410) 360-0744 home
(410) 717-0671 mobile
docodb@verizon.net

Mid-Level Providers
This SIG was created as a forum for nurse practitioners, physician
assistants and other mid-level health care practitioners to exchange ideas and
practices, promote professional growth and facilitate continuing education in
burn care.

Nicole (Farrar) Coyne, PA-C, Chair
Arizona Burn Center
2601 E. Roosevelt
Phoenix, AZ 85008
Ph: (602) 344-5726
Fx: (602) 344-1499
Nicole_Coyne@dmgaz.org
nicole.farrar@medproddoctors.com

Lee Moss, APRN, MS, NO-C, Vice Chair
University of Utah Burn Center
51 N. Medical Dr.
Salt Lake City, UT 84032
Ph: (801) 581-3050
Fx: (801) 581-8446
Lee.moss@hsc.utah.edu

Nursing
Provides an opportunity for burn nurses to network with colleagues, gain
information about the ABA and share ideas.  Issues relevant to burn nursing
and the profession of nursing as a whole are discussed.

Jeanie Leggett, RN, BSN, Chair 
Loyola University Medical Center
Manager Burn Center
7th Floor, 
2160 S. First Ave., 
Maywood, IL 60153
Ph: (708) 216-3529
jlegget@lumc.edu

Crystal G. New, RN, Vice Chair
Clinical Practice Manager 
Lester and Nancy Fraser Outpatient Burn Center 
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street, Bigelow 1303
Boston, MA  02114
Ph: (617) 724-5140
cgholland@partners.org

Nutrition
This SIG fosters interaction among interested professionals through the exchange of nutrition and metabolism information. Team members include clinical dietitians/nutritionist, nutrition support practitioners, dietetic technicians, researchers and others with an interest in nutrition support and metabolism.

Maggie L. Dylewski, PhD, RD, Co-Chair
Shriners Hospitals for Children
51 Blossom St.
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 371-4783
mdylewski@shrinenet.org

Pediatric Burns
As a global community, this SIG’s multidisciplinary team will try to address the devastating consequences of Pediatric Burn Injury.  Our goals are to facilitate communication and cooperation amongst individuals and centers of excellence focused on pediatric burn care; to establish sub-committees in order to review the world’s medical literature and practices of care; to meet annually and foster regular “updates”; to help publish pediatric-based guidelines and protocols with assistance from the ABA, EBA, and ISBI; to help establish philanthropic funding and support global initiatives. 

Bradley J. Phillips, MD, Chair
Swedish Medical Center
499 E. Hampden Rd.
Suite 380
Englewood, CO 80113
Office: (303) 788-5300
Fax:    (303) 788-5363
Bradley.Phillips@HealthONECares.com or bjpmd2@aol.com

Robert L. Sheridan, MD, Vice Chair
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Boston
51 Blossom Street
Boston, MA 02114
Ph: (617) 726-5633
Fx: (617) 367-8936
rsheridan@partners.org

Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy (PT/OT)
This SIG provides opportunities for professional exchange of ideas with colleagues on new treatment methods, research activity and clinical problem solving. Another focus is to encourage burn therapist involvement in the ABA.

Lisa Forbes Duchart, MSc, OTReg(MB), Chair 
Occupational Therapist, Clinical Specialist
Winnipeg Health Sciences Center
Manitoba Firefighters Burn Unit
Anne Thomas Building JK 324, 820 Sherbrook St.
Winnipeg, MB  R3A 1R9  Canada
Ph:(204) 787-7955
Fx: (204) 787-7514
lforbes-duchart@hsc.mb.ca

Sam K. Yohannan, PT, MS, Co-Chair
Senior Physical Therapy Specialist, Burn Research
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
525 East 68th Street, Box 137
New York, NY 10065-4885
Tel:  (212) 746-1538-work, (516) 509-7109 -cell
Fax: (212) 746-8991
E-mail: say9005@nyp.org, samsky726@yahoo.com

Psychosocial
This SIG provides a forum for active discussion among those individuals who work with the psychological, emotional and social aspects of burn injury, recovery and rehabilitation.

Ruth Rimmer, Chair
Research Coordinator
Arizona Burn Center at Maricopa Medical Center
2601 E. Roosevelt
Phoenix, AZ  85008
Ph: (602) 344-5390
Fx: (602) 344-5705
rbrimmer@yahoo.com

Reconstructive
A forum for those interested in surgical care for the burn survivor. The meeting consists of interesting case presentations and discussion by attendees.  All are encouraged to submit cases for PowerPoint presentation.  Advanced submission of cases for presentation is recommended to allow scheduling.  Please submit to: robert.spence@medstar.net

Robert Spence, MD, FACS, Chair
National Burn Reconstruction Center
Good Samaritan Hospital
5601 Loch Raven Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21239
Phone: (443) 444.2876
Mobile: (410) 340.6059
Fax: (443) 444.1487
robert.spence@medstar.net

Matthias Donelan, MD, Vice Chair
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Boston
51 Blossom Street
Boston, MA 02114
Ph: (617) 726-8547
Fx: (617) 523-1684
mdonelan@partners.org

Research
This SIG promotes interaction between individuals who are involved in research related to burn injuries. Current research topics important to the area of burn injury are discussed. The group also provides information concerning current funding trends and resources.

Iris Faraklas , BSN, CCRN, Chair
Research Nurse, Burn Trauma ICU
University of Utah, Dept. of Surgery
3B110 SOM
Salt Lake City, UT  84132
Office: (801) 585-2489
Page: (801) 339-1287
Fax: (801) 585-0168
Iris.faraklas@hsc.utah.edu

Tissue Banking
This SIG focuses on the area of tissue banking and its interaction with the burn community. Areas of particular interest are the regulatory standards for tissue banking, advancements in cell and tissue banking technologies, and clinical applications for tissues.

Richard Jordan, CEBT, CTBS, Chair
Associate Director
Transplant Services Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
Office: (214) 645-8386
Cell: (972) 514-2991
richard.jordan@utsouthwestern.edu

Harriet L. Schwartzman, Vice Chair
Vice President, Sales & Operations - Skin & CV
Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
Costa Mesa, CA    
Ph: (714) 384-3800
Fx: (714) 708-1331
harriet_schwartzman@mtf.org