Member Spotlight: Lee Moss

Welcome to the Member Spotlight, where ABA shines a light on the incredibly skilled and dedicated individuals who make up the burn care community. Whether burn care is your full-time career or a passion pursued alongside other endeavors, ABA’s members have valuable insights to share, drawn from years of experience. 

Enjoy getting to know your colleagues from across the field who share your commitment to advancing burn care! (And fill out this questionnaire   for the chance to share YOUR story and insights in Member Spotlight.) 

Lee Moss, MS, APRN, FNP–BC, ANP–C, FAANP, FAAN

Title: Outpatient Clinic Nurse Practitioner (retired)
Organization: University of Utah Burn Center 

How did you come into the burn field? How many years have you worked in burns?

When I went into nursing, my dad, a physical therapist, asked why I didn’t choose PT like he did. I told him that I watched him debride a burn patient once, and I didn’t think I could do that! (True story) Over my career, I’ve seen many, many worse injuries than he ever did! I worked in the hospital’s “float pool” as a nurse's aide and an LPN during my BSN program. When I was assigned to the Burn Unit, I was always treated very well and received adequate training and support from their staff (a contrast to my experiences in other nursing units). I also wanted to work in an ICU setting, and the Burn Unit was the only ICU at that time that would hire a new graduate RN. 

What is your favorite part of your job?

As a nurse practitioner running and staffing the Burn Outpatient Clinic, I enjoyed watching my patients go from initial crisis to healed, happy, and thriving, especially children whom I got to watch grow up, frequently over many years! 

Tell us about a time that your involvement in the burn community had a significant impact on your career or life.

Soon after my pending retirement was announced, I received a screenshot of a text thread between a patient whom I had treated for most of her life and another.  

It went like this: 

Person 1: “Wait, OMG, actually, going to cry, I don’t trust anyone else.”     

Person 2: “I know he’s the only one you trust. He is the only one who’s worked with you for 18 years.”  

Person 1: I know, F**k, I’m gonna miss him!”  

 The best evaluation I’ve ever received. If I ever question the impact I have on patients and their families, I go back and look at this. 

Tell us something about you that we wouldn’t find on your LinkedIn profile.

I’ve served on many ABA committees and currently serve on the ABA DEI committee. I’ve been active with the Utah Nurse Practitioners Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for many years, advocating for my profession and rational healthcare policy. I’ve been a ski patroller for 51 years at four different ski areas, and I’m currently serving at Brighton Resort, Utah. I’m an ultramarathon runner, and I’m registered to run my next 50-mile race this February. 

I am also deeply honored to run the Boston Marathon next April in memory of my beloved wife, mother, and nurse, Debbie, who worked in the burn center for several years, in support of the American Heart Association. Every step of my Boston Marathon journey is for Debbie - and for every family touched by heart disease. Your contribution, big or small, helps advance vital research and education to prevent tragedies like hers. Please click on the link below.

Thank you, sincerely, for your kindness and support.