Education
Burn Surgeon Forum
The premier event for burn surgeon leadership, strategy, and real-world solutions. Join established and emerging burn surgeons for two days of focused discussion, peer collaboration, and practical insights that strengthen surgical practice and advance burn care.
San Antonio, TX | September 23-25, 2026
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Why Attend the Burn Surgeon Forum?
Earn Continuing Education credits that support licensure and professional growth.
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Stay current on clinical, leadership, legal, and operational challenges unique to burn surgery.
Engage in candid, peer-led discussions and practical sessions designed for burn surgeons at every career stage.
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Build meaningful connections through mentoring and networking opportunities with colleagues and leaders.
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The 2025 Burn Surgeon Forum was incredibly well organized and thoughtfully structured. Each session built on the next, creating meaningful conversations about the challenges we face in burn care. I left with practical insights, new connections, and a renewed sense of collaboration with colleagues across the field.
Arpana Jain, MD, FABA
Location and Hotel
San Antonio Marriott | Rivercenter on the Riverwalk
101 Bowie St., San Antonio, TX 78205
The American Burn Association has secured a housing block at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk Hotel.
Please reserve your room using the official booking link below:
Book Your Hotel Room
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors
Agenda
Wednesday, September 23
5:00 PM
Interactive Technology Showcase & Welcome Reception
Thursday, September 24
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast Satellite Symposium
Sponsored by Vericel
8:15 AM - 8:30 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Speakers: Leopoldo Cancio, MD, FABA; Jeffrey Carter, MD, FABA
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
Keynote – "The Next Era of Burn Surgery: Leading Through Innovation"
Speaker: Jeffrey Carter, MD, FABA
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
The Business of Burn Surgery
Speakers: Taryn Travis, MD, FABA; Arek Wiktor, MD, FABA
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Leadership and Workforce Evolution
Speakers: Kathleen Romanowski, MD, FABA; Alisa Savetamal, MD, FABA; Sebastian Vrouwe, MD, FABA
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Networking Lunch with Burn Unit Challenges & Solutions Roundtables
Moderators: Arek Wiktor, MD, FABA; Alicia Williams, MD, FABA; Duncan Nickerson, MD, FABA
Sponsored by Smith + Nephew
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Breakout Sessions –
1) "How I Do It": The Severely Burned Face
Speakers: Kathleen Romanowski, MD, FABA; Sigrid Blome-Eberwein, MD, FABA
2) "How I Do It": The Severely Burned Hand
Speakers: Alan Rogers, MBChB, MSc, FABA; Sebastian Vrouwe, MD, FABA
3) Rehabilitation in the OR: Movement as Medicine
Speakers: Scott Dewey, DPT, CHT; Erin Schnake, PT, DPT, CLT, LANA
4) Reconstruction Masterclass: Beyond the Basics
Speakers: Clifford Sheckter, MD, FABA; Mark Fisher, MD
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Pro-Con Debate: Pediatric Burn Centralization vs. Local Care
Speakers: Kathleen Romanowski, MD, FABA; Steve Kahn, MD, FABA
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Fireside Chat – "Ten Things That Excite Me Most About Burn Care"
Speakers: Taryn Travis, MD, FABA; Alisa Savetamal, MD, FABA
Sponsored by PolyNovo
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Networking Reception
Sponsored by Acera Surgical
Friday, September 25
7:15 AM - 8:15 AM
Breakfast Satellite Symposium
Sponsored by Imbed BioSciences
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Managing the Large Burn with Limited Donor Sites
Speakers: Leopoldo Cancio, MD, FABA; Alan Rogers, MBChB, MSc, FABA; Steve Kahn, MD, FABA
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Research Rigor and Collaboration
Speakers: Laura Johnson, MD; John Kubasiak, MD, FABA; Jeffrey Shupp, MD, FABA
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
Implementing Change in Your Burn Center
Speakers: Alisa Savetmal, MD, FABA; James Hwang, MD
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Lunch & Roundtable Discussions
1) Hemostasis Strategies in Extensive Excisions
Moderator: Steven Kahn, MD, FABA
2) OR Efficiency: Thermoregulation, Positioning, and Setup
Moderator: Laura Johnson, MD
3) Teaching Burn Surgery to Residents and Fellows
Moderator: TBD
4) Managing Sub-optimal Outcomes and Unexpected Occurrences
Moderator: Duncan Nickerson, MD, FABA
5) Multidisciplinary Coordination in High-Acuity Cases
Moderator: Alan Rogers, MBChB, MSc, FABA
Sponsored by Urgo Medical
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
Lessons from Leaders: Reflections Across Generations
Speakers: TBD
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Closing Reflections – "From Practice to Progress"
Speaker: Leopoldo Cancio, MD, FABA
2:00 PM
Adjourn