From Ukraine to West Africa: Burn Care Experts Share Frontline Lessons at ABA Meeting in Orlando

The American Burn Association (ABA) will host its 2026 Annual Meeting from April 14-17 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Clinicians, researchers, and burn care leaders from around the world will gather to explore strategies to advance burn care while strengthening disaster-preparedness systems.   

Burn injuries remain a significant public health challenge in the United States. In Florida and across the Southeast, this challenge is further shaped by a combination of residential fire incidents, hurricane-related risks, and an increasingly active wildfire environment. Storm-related power outages, debris, and recovery efforts can increase the risk of burn injuries, while seasonal wildfire activity underscores the importance of coordinated preparedness, surge capacity, and strong integration between first responders and specialized burn centers.

In 2024, nearly 33,000 patients required inpatient care at U.S. burn centers, with 61% of injuries occurring in private residences, and pediatric burns most often resulting from scalds. Severe burns often require prolonged, resource-intensive care, including intensive care unit (ICU) support, contributing to significant healthcare utilization and cost. See ABA’s 2025 Annual Burn Injury Summary Report.

With a focused number of specialized burn centers nationwide, coordinated planning and system readiness are critical to ensuring an effective response during both everyday incidents and large-scale disasters.

Preparedness Built on Real-World Experience

Burn disasters test every component of the healthcare system, from first responders to specialized burn centers. Recent global events, including large-scale fire incidents and conflict-related injuries, have reinforced the importance of coordinated triage, surge capacity, and system-wide communication.

Lessons from international mass casualty events, including fire-related disasters in Europe and conflict zones such as Ukraine, highlight the challenges of rapidly mobilizing burn care resources, managing limited ICU capacity, and ensuring continuity of care across systems. These experiences are shaping how burn teams prepare for high-impact, low-frequency events.

Building on the ABA’s national Burn Disaster Summit held in February 2026, the ABA’s Annual Meeting will feature keynotes and sessions focused on strengthening infrastructure, enhancing interdisciplinary coordination, and improving readiness across civilian and military systems.

Wednesday, April 15 – Legacy in Action: Story, Stewardship, and the Power of Collaboration 

Opening Wednesday’s Annual Meeting, Professor Odhran P. Shelley, MB BCh BAO FRCSI (Plast) FEBOPRAS PhD, brings global burn care expertise from Dublin to Orlando. He has trained surgeons, nurses, and allied health teams across West Africa and India through Resurge Africa, helping build local capacity for complex burn and reconstructive care. His work blends hands-on patient care, international collaboration, and system-level leadership to improve outcomes for burn patients worldwide.

Additional Wednesday Sessions:

10 a.m. – Firefighter I – The Increasing Threat of Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fires (Room: Gatlin A1): This session will examine the growing threat of WUI fires, referencing the 2023 Maui fire and recent fires in the Palisades and Eaton areas of Los Angeles. 
2 p.m. – Expanding Capacity & Capability for Burn Disasters (Room: Gatlin A4): Simulation of a real-world disaster using ABA resources, followed by a panel with disaster leadership, firefighters, military representatives, and pediatric surgery experts.

Thursday, April 16 - Internal Readiness and Alignment: Structurally Preparing the Burn Community for National Impact

Keynote speaker John B. Holcomb, MD, FACS, has made multiple trips to Ukraine, bringing battlefield trauma expertise to civilian hospitals and burn centers amid ongoing conflict. He provides hands-on care, trains local teams, and implements lessons learned from decades of military and disaster medicine to improve outcomes for war-injured civilians. Holcomb’s work highlights how combat-tested strategies are shaping modern burn care and disaster preparedness on the frontlines and at home.

Additional Thursday Sessions:

2 p.m. – Strengthening Civilian Burn Center Readiness for Large-Scale Combat Operations (Room: Panzacola F4): This session will examine current readiness gaps and define ABA professionals’ critical role in operationalizing coordinated civilian-military surge responses.

Friday, April 17 - Advancing Research and Operational Excellence

12:15 p.m. – High Stakes in the Sky: Evaluating the Risks and Responsibilities of Helicopter Transport in Burn Care (Room: Panzacola F1): This session critically examines the utilization of helicopter transport for burn patients, balancing its life-saving potential against inherent risks and costs. 

2 p.m. – Integrating Burn Disaster Training with AHA Algorithms to Improve Communication, Education, and Team Dynamics (Room: Panzacola F4): This session will include an integrated simulation program combining AHA resuscitation algorithms with burn-specific training to improve team confidence, communication, and role clarity. This approach enhances readiness to deliver consistent, high-quality care during burn disasters.

 “Burn disasters test every part of the healthcare system and demand interdisciplinary coordination,” said ABA President Jeffrey Carter, MD, FABA. “With nearly 30,000 hospital admissions annually and thousands of patients facing life-threatening burns each year, collaboration and preparedness are essential to saving lives.” 

“Preparedness is not a moment, it’s a system,” said ABA CEO Ed Dellert, RN, MBA, CAE, FACEHP. “From first responders to specialized burn centers, the ABA is committed to strengthening partnerships and equipping teams so that when disaster strikes, the burn care community is ready.” 

Media representatives are welcome to attend any session and visit the exhibit floor by reservation. Please contact Susan Urbanczyk at urbanczyk@ameriburn.org or Mallory LaPlante at laplante@ameriburn.org to arrange interviews with speakers before the meeting. A press pass is required for access to the session and the exhibit hall.