About Us

ABA's History

Since 1967, ABA has brought together experts across professions to improve the lives of those affected by burn injury. What started as a collaboration among pioneering surgeons has become a global community advancing education, research, advocacy, and prevention in burn care.

How It Began

In the years following World War II, interest in burn care grew rapidly, driven by wartime injuries and increasing awareness of the devastating effects of burns. In 1959, 13 surgeons gathered at Brooke Army Medical Center for the first National Burn Seminar—their goal: to share insights and strengthen care for burn patients.

Over the next several years, these seminars expanded to include many clinicians and institutions. At the seventh seminar in 1966, the vision for a national, interdisciplinary organization began to take shape. Just one year later, in 1967, the American Burn Association (ABA) was officially formed. Trauma surgeon Dr. Curtis P. Artz was named the ABA’s first president.

Founders and Early Vision

The founding leaders—Bruce G. MacMillan, Curtis P. Artz, B. W. Hayes, Irving Feller, and John A. Boswick Jr., envisioned a new model for burn care. One where professionals from across the care team, including nurses, physicians, therapists, researchers, and more, could work together to improve outcomes.

Their focus was clear:

✔ Provide education and training for burn care providers

✔ Improve care standards and outcomes for patients

✔ Support research to drive advances in treatment

✔ Prevent burn injuries through public awareness

From Vision to Impact

Since its founding, the ABA has grown into a global leader with over 3,000 members representing various disciplines.

Key milestones include:

✔ Launching the Journal of Burn Care & Research in 1980, the only U.S. journal dedicated solely to burn care

✔ Establishing National Burn Awareness Week in February to promote prevention and safety

✔ Partnering with the American College of Surgeons to develop the Burn Center Verification Program

✔ Supporting data-driven care through the Burn Care Quality Platform

✔ Collaborating with the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing to launch the Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) credential in 2023

Advancing the Mission Today

Today, the ABA continues to lead in burn care by:

Offering specialized education and certification programs
Hosting an Annual Meeting that brings together the field’s top professionals
Publishing practice guidelines to standardize care
Advocating for burn prevention and patient-centered policies
Supporting collaborative research through the American Burn Research Network (ABuRN)

Looking Ahead

As ABA looks to the future, the ABA remains committed to:

Empowering burn care teams
Elevating quality standards
Reducing preventable burn injuries
Supporting survivors on their lifelong journey of healing

With roots grounded in collaboration and a mission that unites diverse professionals, the ABA continues to shape the future of burn care, just as its founders envisioned over 50 years ago.

Timeline: Key Moments in ABA History

1959 – First National Burn Seminar held at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, bringing together 13 surgeons from 9 institutions to share knowledge and improve burn treatment.

1966 – At the Seventh National Burn Seminar, a committee forms to develop a national, interdisciplinary organization dedicated to burn care.

1967 – The American Burn Association is officially established following the Eighth National Burn Seminar. Curtis P. Artz becomes the ABA's first president.

1980 – ABA launched the Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation, now known as the Journal of Burn Care & Research (JBCR), the first U.S. medical journal focused exclusively on burn care.

2000 – ABA publishes its first practice guidelines to support standardization and quality improvement in burn treatment.

2006 – ABA’s Burn Center Verification Program, developed in partnership with the American College of Surgeons, establishes benchmarks for quality and safety.

2023 – In partnership with the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, ABA launches the Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) certification, the first specialty certification in burn nursing.

Today – ABA remains the trusted leader in burn care education, research, quality improvement, and advocacy, with members in more than 30 countries.

ABA Founders

The ABA was founded by a group of visionary leaders in burn care:

Their commitment to collaboration and advancing care laid the groundwork for a lasting community focused on healing, knowledge-sharing, and innovation.

Past Presidents

1969 – Curtis P. Artz, MD*
1970 – Boyd W. Haynes Jr., MD*
1971 – John A. Moncrief, MD*
1972 – Robert M. McCormack, MD*
1973 – Charles R. Baxter, MD*
1974 – Bruce G. Macmillan, MD*
1975 – John A. Boswick Jr., MD*
1976 – Basil A. Pruitt Jr., MD*
1977 – William W. Monafo Jr., MD*
1978 – Alan R. Dimick, MD*
1979 – Duane L. Larson, MD*
1980 – Arthur D. Mason Jr., MD*
1981 – Charles E. Hartford, MD*
1982 – John F. Burke, MD*
1983 – Francis C. Nance, MD
1984 – P. William Curreri, MD
1985 – J. Wesley Alexander, MD, ScD*
1986 – Martin C. Robson, MD*
1987 – Joseph A. Moylan, MD*

1988 – David M. Heimbach, MD*
1989 – C. Gillon Ward, MD
1990 – Thomas L. Wachtel, MD*
1991 – Fred T. Caldwell Jr., MD*
1992 – Roger E. Salisbury, MD
1993 – Glenn D. Warden, MD*
1994 – David N. Herndon, MD
1995 – Robert H. Demling, MD*
1996 – Andrew M. Munster, MD*
1997 – William F. McManus, MD*
1998 – Edwin A. Deitch, MD
1999 – Cleon W. Goodwin, MD*
2000 – John L. Hunt, MD
2001 – Ronald G. Tompkins, MD, ScD*
2002 – Jeffrey R. Saffle, MD
2003 – Marion H. Jordan, MD*
2004 – Lynn D. Solem, MD*
2005 – Richard L. Gamelli, MD*
2006 – Gary F. Purdue, MD*

2007 – David G. Greenhalgh, MD, FABA
2008 – Richard J. Kagan, MD, FABA
2009 – G. Patrick Kealey, MD
2010 – Robert L. Sheridan, MD, FABA
2011 – Sidney F. Miller, MD*
2012 – Nicole S. Gibran, MD, FABA
2013 – Tina L. Palmieri, MD, FABA
2014 – Palmer Q. Bessey, MD, MS, FABA*
2015 – David H. Ahrenholz, MD
2016 – Edward E. Tredget, MD, MSc
2017 – Michael D. Peck, MD, ScD, FABA
2018 – Linwood R. Haith, MD, FABA
2019 – Steven E. Wolf, MD, FABA
2020 – William G. Cioffi, Jr., MD, FABA
2021 – William L. Hickerson, MD, FABA
2022 – Lucy Wibbenmeyer, MD, FABA
2023 – Ingrid Parry, MS, PT, BT-C
2024 – Robert Cartotto, MD
2025 – Sharmila Dissanaike, MD

*Deceased