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Burn Care Fellow / Fellows in Training

Burn care fellows are early-career physicians who undergo advanced training in the interdisciplinary management of burn injuries, encompassing acute resuscitation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation. Fellows gain hands-on surgical experience, deepen their critical care expertise, and collaborate closely with the entire burn care team to shape patient outcomes and advance the field. 


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Explore accredited burn fellowship programs that offer specialized surgical, critical care, and interdisciplinary training. Build your expertise and leadership skills in high-volume burn centers across the country.


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What Does a Burn Care Fellow Do?

Burn fellows assess and manage complex burn injuries, participate in operative care and reconstruction, lead critical care decisions, contribute to research, and help train the next generation of burn professionals, all while collaborating with an interdisciplinary burn team.

Typical Work Environments

  • Burn centers (often ABA-verified) in academic medical centers 

  • Trauma centers with high-volume burn units 

  • Dedicated burn ICUs and step-down units 

  • Outpatient burn and scar management clinics

Key Responsibilities

  • Evaluate and manage patients with thermal, chemical, electrical, and inhalation injuries 

  • Perform excision, grafting, and reconstructive procedures 

  • Oversee ventilatory support, fluid resuscitation, and infection control 

  • Collaborate with nursing, rehabilitation, nutrition, and psychosocial teams 

  • Participate in research, quality improvement, and protocol development 

  • Teach residents, medical students, and allied health colleagues

Education and Training Path

Becoming a burn fellow involves completing extensive surgical training, followed by specialized experience in burn care. Here's a typical timeline:

Undergraduate degree

4 years

Medical degree (MD or DO)

4 years

Residency

Most commonly in general surgery (5 years) or plastic surgery (6 years)

Fellowship

1–2 years in burn surgery, burn care, or combined trauma/critical care 

Fellowships may be ACGME-accredited or non-accredited 

Ongoing professional development

Continuing medical education (CME) through the ABA and other organizations 

Participation in national certification, research, and scholarly activities 

Estimated age at completion of fellowship

Typically around 32–36, depending on the training path and whether additional research or clinical years are pursued

Note: This timeline is an estimate and may vary based on individual career paths, residency and fellowship structures, and additional training or academic pursuits. 

Why Fellowship Matters

Fellowship isn’t just advanced training; it’s the foundation for becoming a burn care leader, researcher, and educator. Fellows leave with the expertise and professional network to improve patient care and drive innovation in burn treatment.

ABA Membership Benefits for Fellows

  • Complimentary ABA membership and free Annual Meeting registration 

  • Content through the Journal of Burn Care & Research and live webinars 

  • Access to Special Interest Groups and mentoring opportunities 

  • Leadership pathways, abstract submissions, and committee participation 

  • Exclusive clinical guidelines, research tools, and funding opportunities


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The Fellows in Training Program provided me with access to a powerful network, practical learning experiences, and a deeper understanding of burn care. I left my training year better prepared and more connected than I ever imagined.

Ariel Rodgers, MD
ABA Fellow in Training Alumnus

Build Your Future in Burn Care

The ABA supports burn fellows with education, mentorship, and resources tailored for early-career physicians. Join a professional community committed to advancing burn care through excellence, research, and collaboration.


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