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ABA Rehabilitation Committee Launches Complimentary Abstract Peer Review Service for 2027 Annual Meeting Submissions

Thursday, August 20, 2026

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In this article, you'll learn 

  • The American Burn Association (ABA) Rehabilitation Committee is introducing a complimentary peer-review service to support rehabilitation-focused abstract submissions for the 2027 ABA Annual Meeting. 

  • Authors can receive constructive feedback to strengthen the clarity, organization, and scientific quality of their abstracts before submission. 

  • The service is open to rehabilitation professionals at all career stages, including first-time abstract authors. 

  • Draft abstracts should be submitted by September 10 to allow adequate time for peer review before the October 1 abstract submission deadline. 

Preparing a rehabilitation abstract? The ABA Rehabilitation Committee is here to help. 

Writing a conference abstract is an important step in sharing research, quality improvement initiatives, educational programs, and clinical innovations with the burn care community. Whether submitting for the first time or building on years of experience, authors often benefit from thoughtful peer feedback before final submission. 

To support rehabilitation professionals across the burn care continuum, the ABA Rehabilitation Committee is launching a complimentary Abstract Review Service for rehabilitation-focused submissions to the 2027 ABA Annual Meeting. 

The service provides voluntary peer review before the official submission deadline, giving authors an opportunity to strengthen their abstracts through constructive feedback from experienced rehabilitation professionals. This peer review is separate from the official ABA Annual Meeting abstract submission and acceptance process. Authors who participate must still submit their abstract through the official submission site, and receiving peer feedback does not mean an abstract has been accepted or will be accepted. 

What is the ABA Rehabilitation Committee Abstract Review Service? 

The Abstract Review Service is a voluntary peer-review program that provides authors with feedback before they submit their abstracts through the official ABA Annual Meeting submission process. It is not an acceptance or screening process, and participation does not replace the official abstract submission process. 

Volunteer reviewers focus on improving: 

  • Clarity and organization 

  • Scientific or educational significance 

  • Methods and results, when applicable 

  • Conclusions supported by findings 

  • Relevance to burn rehabilitation 

  • Alignment with ABA abstract submission requirements 

After receiving feedback, authors are responsible for revising their abstracts as appropriate and submitting the final version through the official ABA Annual Meeting submission site by the published deadline. The official ABA abstract review process determines which abstracts are accepted for the Annual Meeting. 

Rather than editing every sentence, reviewers provide constructive recommendations to help authors strengthen their work while maintaining the authors' voice and ownership. 

Who is eligible to participate? 

The service is available for abstracts primarily focused on burn rehabilitation, including topics such as: 

  • Occupational therapy 

  • Physical therapy 

  • Speech-language pathology 

  • Psychology 

  • Physiatry 

  • Nursing with a rehabilitation focus 

  • Multidisciplinary rehabilitation initiatives 

  • Rehabilitation-related quality improvement projects 

  • Rehabilitation education initiatives 

Authors at every stage of their careers are encouraged to participate, including clinicians, researchers, educators, trainees, and first-time abstract submitters. 

How does the review process work? 

Authors are encouraged to first review the ABA Annual Meeting Abstract Submission Guidelines  and the submission site to become familiar with formatting requirements, submission categories, and evaluation criteria. 

To request a review, authors submit: 

  • A draft abstract 

  • The proposed presentation category (if known) 

  • Any specific questions or areas where feedback is requested 

Whenever feasible, two volunteer Rehabilitation Committee members will independently review each submission. The committee consolidates feedback and returns it to the author, typically within seven calendar days. 

Authors determine whether and how to incorporate reviewer recommendations and remain responsible for completing the official ABA Annual Meeting abstract submission. Participation in this peer-review service does not constitute submission to the Annual Meeting or guarantee acceptance. 

Why submit your abstract for peer review? 

Receiving feedback before submitting an abstract can help authors strengthen both the scientific content and overall presentation of their work. 

Benefits of participating include: 

  • Identifying opportunities to improve clarity and organization 

  • Strengthening scientific or educational messaging 

  • Confirming conclusions are supported by results 

  • Ensuring alignment with ABA submission expectations 

  • Building confidence before the official submission deadline 

The service also supports peer mentorship within the burn rehabilitation community and encourages the sharing of innovative clinical practice and research. 

When should authors submit? 

To allow adequate time for review and revision, submit the draft abstract to the Rehabilitation Committee by Thursday, September 10. This provides three weeks for peer review before the ABA Annual Meeting abstract submission deadline of Thursday, October 1 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT). The September 10 date applies only to the Rehabilitation Committee's optional peer-review service. Authors must still complete the official ABA Annual Meeting abstract submission by October 1 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Because the official abstract deadline does not allow extensions, early submission is strongly encouraged. 

Key Takeaways 

  • The ABA Rehabilitation Committee is offering a complimentary peer-review service for rehabilitation-focused abstracts. 

  • The service is available to authors of all experience levels. 

  • Volunteer reviewers provide constructive feedback to strengthen abstracts before authors complete their official submission.  

  • Authors should submit draft abstracts to the Rehabilitation Committee by September 10 to allow time for peer review and revision.  

  • Participation in the peer-review service does not constitute official submission, does not guarantee acceptance, and does not replace the ABA Annual Meeting's official abstract submission process. Authors must still submit their final abstract through the official submission site by October 1. 

Expert Perspective 

"One of the strengths of the burn care community is the willingness to learn from one another. This service is intended to foster mentorship, strengthen rehabilitation scholarship, and help authors strengthen their work before submitting through the official ABA process." 

— Katie Lundquist, MOT, OTR/L, BT-C, ABA Rehabilitation Committee Chair 

Resources 

About the American Burn Association 

The American Burn Association is dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by burn injury through education, research, advocacy, collaboration, and the promotion of excellence in burn care. The Association brings together multidisciplinary professionals committed to advancing burn prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery worldwide.