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

Dear ABA Members,

Fall has arrived, bringing new opportunities to connect with our burn community through regional meetings. Your energy continues to inspire me as I see the remarkable progress being made in advancing science, improving outcomes, and strengthening collaboration.

That spirit was evident at the Midwestern Burn Regional Meeting in Madison, Wisconsin. Presentations spanned community partnerships with the Amish community, complex case studies on circumferential digital burns from electrothermal sources, innovative uses of biosynthetic wound matrix and human allograft, and reconstruction of deep partial-thickness burns using Ovine Forestomach Matrix. One of the most memorable moments was when a panel of burn survivors whose reflections brought our shared mission vividly to life. These are just a few examples of the dedication and ingenuity present in our community.

See yet another example in my Community Spotlight.

Guided by Our Pillars

As I’ve shared previously, ABA’s five strategic pillars — Education, Research, Quality, Prevention, and Governance & Leadership — continue to guide our work. This month, these pillars are especially visible: from expanding learning opportunities and deepening data insights to celebrating prevention storytelling and leadership in action.

ABA 2026 Abstract Submissions

A special thank you to everyone who submitted abstracts for the 2026 Annual Meeting in Orlando. Your creativity, scientific rigor, and collaboration are shaping an exciting program that reflects growing engagement across the burn care continuum.

Expanding Education & Collaboration

Education remains at the heart of ABA’s mission. Many of you have asked for more flexible learning opportunities, and we’re listening. Our team, the education committee, and field experts are actively expanding On Demand Learning Center and live webinar resources, ensuring high-quality education is available anytime, anywhere.

Recent additions include:

• Face Mask Fabrication Using 3D Modeling and Putty Techniques

• 3D Printing for Burn Rehabilitation

• Industry-supported program: Optimization of Epicel Treatment for Burn Wound Coverage (sponsored by Vericel)

These complement webinars from the Economics Committee and Burn Quality teams and reflect our commitment to interdisciplinary education that supports professional development across burn care. I am deeply grateful to our industry partners and collaborators who make these opportunities possible. Their partnership shone at the Burn Surgeon Forum in Chicago, where 94 participants explored leadership, workforce development, and surgical innovation.

To all ABA industry partners and supporters, thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and commitment to advancing burn care.

Data That Drives Insights

ABA and BData continue to work together to expand the Burn Care Quality Platform (BCQP), harnessing its power to deliver meaningful insights back to members. Over the past five years, 103 burn centers have contributed data, representing roughly 84% of U.S. inpatient burn admissions. Since 2008, more than 525,000 admissions from 125 centers have been captured, creating an invaluable foundation for research, benchmarking, and quality improvement.

I invite you to submit five questions about burn care that would help advance practice or understanding trends. Email your ideas to me  so we can prioritize analyses and share findings in upcoming communications. Our long-term vision is to evolve BCQP toward a self-service model, empowering members to explore de-identified data for research, benchmarking, and quality improvement.

Celebrating Our Community

The recent release of the movie, Soul on Fire, highlights the courage, resilience, and unity of our burn community. I encourage sharing and discussion within your institutions and teams, a moving reminder of why our work matters. You can learn more and view the official trailer here.

This month also marks Fire Prevention Week. ABA is proud to partner with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote burn prevention and lithium-ion battery safety, which are increasingly linked to severe burn injuries. By sharing ABA’s safety messages, members helped educate the public and advance prevention efforts. In a recent ABA blog post, Dr. Cliff Sheckter highlighted that these injuries are becoming more frequent and complex, with many burn centers now treating them regularly. The FAA’s recent safety alert, which ABA has supported and helped amplify, underscores the urgent need for public education and preventive action. By sharing ABA’s safety messages, members helped educate the public and advance prevention efforts. Thank you to the Burn Prevention Committee and all who contributed.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Lucy Wibbenmeyer, MD, FABA, past ABA President and a nationally respected leader in burn care. She reflects on her career, shares lessons for the next generation of burn professionals, and offers insights on how burn care continues to evolve. I invite you to watch the full conversation here.

The spirit of our burn community, defined by purpose, connection, and collaboration, continues to inspire me as I look ahead to the Canadian Burn Association Meeting in Calgary and the Southern Burn Regional Meeting in Charleston later this month. These gatherings showcase the strength of our network: sharing science, advancing best practices, and reaffirming the shared mission that unites us all.

Strengthening Our Workforce & Readiness

Across these meetings, a consistent theme is clear: the national burn care workforce faces challenges and opportunities. With about 135  burn centers across the U.S. and approximately 60% actively recruiting, many programs operate with just 2–3 surgeons on call, and while hospital budgets may tighten in 2026, demand for expert burn care continues to grow. These realities highlight why investing in the next generation of burn professionals and strengthening the systems that support them remain top ABA priorities. Through leadership in workforce development, education, advocacy, and collaborations, such as APSA, Phoenix Society, CNTR, BCEN, the ABA is committed to building a sustainable workforce and national capacity. Anchored in our pillars of Education, Leadership, and Quality, these efforts ensure every burn center, large or small, has the resilience and workforce capacity to serve patients and communities for years to come.

Looking Ahead

As the year closes, we’re preparing for the 2026 Annual Meeting and new resources to make it easier to connect, learn, and share.

Thank you for the expertise, compassion, and innovation you bring to burn care. The American Burn Association is more than an organization. It’s a movement dedicated to healing and progress. Together, we continue to ignite impact.

With deep appreciation,

Ed

Ed Dellert, RN, MBA, CAE
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
American Burn Association

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