Rehabilitation Committee Journal Club

Rehabilitation Committee Journal Club: Advancing Pediatric Burn Rehabilitation
January 8, 2026 | 3:00–4:00 PM CT

Join the American Burn Association Rehabilitation Committee for a member-only virtual Journal Club focused on innovative, evidence-informed approaches to pediatric burn rehabilitation. This session brings together rehabilitation therapists and physicians to learn from peer scholars presenting recent research and clinical experiences published in the Journal of Burn Care & Research. Through focused discussion, presenters will highlight practical techniques for positioning, orthosis fabrication, and scar management in complex pediatric burn cases. Attendees are encouraged to engage, reflect, and apply these insights to clinical practice.

Attendees will gain insight into:
• Novel positioning strategies for pediatric acute palmar burns using soft cast and thermoplastic splints
• Innovative hand modeling techniques for pediatric burnt hand orthosis fabrication
• Balanced, multidisciplinary approaches to scar management in complex infant facial burns
• Translating current research findings into practical rehabilitation interventions

Panelists:
Hilary Smith-Chong, PT, DPT, Shriners Burn Center - Boston
Presentation: 58 Positioning Pediatric Acute Palmar Burn Patient: Experience with Soft Cast and Thermoplastic Splint 

Christopher Whitehead, PT, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Texas
Presentation: Hand Modeling: A Novel Approach to Orthosis Fabrication of the Pediatric Burnt Hand 

Debbie Minter, MSPT, Shriners Children's Northern California

Presentation: A Balanced Approach to Scar Management of the Complex Infant Facial Burn 

Moderator:
Sarah Eilerman, PT, DPT, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Stephanie Jean, MD MSc FRCPC, Hôpital de réadaptation Villa Medica

Target Audience:
Rehabilitation therapists, physicians, and burn care professionals with an interest in pediatric burn rehabilitation.