ABA News & Vision from the CEO’s Desk | August 2025

Dear ABA Members,

Welcome to the launch of my monthly update.  As I mark my fifth month as CEO of the ABA, I am amazed at how quickly the time has passed.  I continue to be inspired by the passion, resilience, and innovation across our burn care community. From surgeons and nurses to researchers, rehabilitation specialists, first responders, and survivors, your work motivates me every single day. I remain committed to ensuring the ABA amplifies your voice and impact.

This summer, under the leadership of ABA President Dr. Jeff Carter and the Board of Trustees, we officially launched the development of the ABA’s 2026–2028 Strategic Work Plan. Your input is shaping this collaborative process—through the updated member survey, Board liaison conversations with committee chairs, insights from ABA staff, and direct member engagement.

Framed around five core pillars—Education, Research, Quality, Prevention, and Governance & Leadership—this roadmap will position the ABA for a bold, forward-looking future, focused on strengthening education, advancing advocacy, expanding research, and deepening engagement across the entire burn care community.

Recent Milestones

• $10M Congressional Ask for Burn Research: ABA secured strong bipartisan support for its FY2026 Military Burn Research Program request—an extraordinary milestone in national advocacy, especially amidst a complex federal funding landscape.

• Record-breaking 2025 Annual Meeting: Our highest-ever attendance and strongest industry sponsorship to date reflect growing energy, value, and excitement around ABA events.

• ABA Strategic Collaborations:
  The ABA continues to strengthen its role as a convener and collaborator across the burn and broader trauma communities. Recent highlights include:

• National and active representation

  • American College of Surgeons (ACS) Trauma Quality Programs Committee

  • Plastic Surgery Board’s burn representative seat

  • Coalition for National Trauma Research (CNTR)

• Partnerships advancing care and recognition

  • Strategic conversations with the Phoenix Society to align lived experience with scientific excellence

  • Collaboration with Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) to elevate and validate the Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) credential as a recognized specialty in national nursing standards

• Pediatric and disaster readiness

  • New dialogue with the American Pediatric Surgery Association (APSA) on pediatric burn care priorities

  • Re-engagement with BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) on national burn disaster preparedness

  • Participation in the Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN) meeting, reinforcing commitment to pediatric surge readiness and integrated emergency response

• Expanding community connections

  • Attendance at the Western Regional Burn Meeting in Seattle, WA, with additional regional meetings planned this fall

These collaborations are shaping new frameworks grounded in shared leadership, integrated systems of care, and a unified national voice for burn advocacy, innovation, and impact.

• 90-Day CEO Report Released: My initial report to the Board outlined key opportunities and challenges. Priority themes include modernizing ABA’s educational programs, supporting interdisciplinary professionals (including Burn Fellows), increasing internal collaboration, and exploring a potential endowment for burn research.

• Verification Program Insights: My recent participation in an ABA verification visit highlighted the importance of cultural sensitivity, interdisciplinary teamwork, and the value of our verification standards. We’re exploring ways to better support verified centers between cycles, expand recognition, and provide more program resources.

In the News: Burn Prevention Matters

This month’s national news offered a sobering reminder of why prevention remains central to our mission. On August 1 (New York Times ), a 17-year-old visiting Yellowstone National Park suffered severe burns after stepping into a thin thermal crust near the Lone Star Geyser. The hot springs, which can exceed 185°F, pose significant risks for burn injuries and fatalities – especially for those who stray from the recommended paths.

Incidents like this underscore the vital role of ABA in prevention, education, and advocacy. As we refine our strategic priorities, raising public awareness about burn risks—whether in homes, workplaces, or natural settings—remains essential. Visit these resources to learn more.

Looking Ahead

I’m inspired by the creative energy that ABA leaders and staff bring to the table. From envisioning wellness activities for ABA 2026 to support those facing secondary traumatic stress, to finding new ways to share our story with funders and the public, we’re not just thinking ahead, we’re acting on it.

What makes the ABA special is you, the people leading care at the bedside, responding in the field, guiding research, advancing education, navigating reimbursement, and supporting survivors every step of the way. Whether in the OR, the burn unit, the lab, or the community, your dedication drives our mission forward.

I’m especially excited for the upcoming Burn Surgeon Forum this September in Chicago, which has already received overwhelmingly positive responses and strong industry partner engagement. The momentum around ABLS and its continued evolution is another example of how we are working together to meet the needs of today’s burn teams.

The call for abstracts and case studies for the 2026 ABA Annual Meeting in Orlando is now officially open.  This is your opportunity to share your work, highlight innovations, and contribute to the advancement of burn care.

As we shape the future together, your voice remains at the center. I’m honored to serve alongside you.

More to come in September.

Ed Dellert, RN, MBA, CAE, FACEHP
Chief Executive Officer
American Burn Association

Stay connected. Stay inspired. Burn care is on the rise—and so are we.