Message from the CEO: ABA Member Updates | November 2026

As we approach the start of the end-of-year holiday season, I wanted to share a few reflections on the progress we are making as an association and, more importantly, recognize the many individuals and organizations helping move our burn community forward. 

This has been an important year for the American Burn Association (ABA) as we continue to move forward on the strategic plan implementation. Our focus is not simply on doing more, but on making meaningful progress in education, research, quality, prevention, advocacy, disaster readiness, and leadership that ultimately benefits our members, burn centers, and everyone affected by burn injury.  I know I reference this often in my monthly messages but would encourage you to review the November 2026 Strategic Priorities Report  for additional detail on our progress and what it means for you and the burn community at large.

I often refer to  the commitment of our members, but it bears repeating: I remain encouraged by what we can accomplish when individuals and organizations come together around  shared priorities. That commitment is remarkable! 

Recognizing Our Burn Community 

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Midwestern Regional Burn Conference in Columbus, Ohio. My congratulations and thanks to the organizers, presenters, volunteers, and everyone who contributed to a successful meeting. The quality of the presentations, exchange of ideas, and engagement among colleagues reinforced the importance of our regional meetings in advancing burn care and strengthening relationships across our community. 

I also want to recognize our Canadian colleagues following the tragic fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright last month, which claimed four lives and injured many others. For additional perspective, see the November 2026 article in The Globe and Mail.  

Our heartfelt condolences remain with the families of those who lost their lives and with those continuing their recovery. A special thank you to the first responders, emergency personnel, and interprofessional burn care teams who responded and continue to provide care and support. Their dedication reminds us why our work in disaster readiness, education, and coordination of specialized burn care is so important. We stand with our Canadian colleagues during this difficult time. 

Strengthening Relationships and Our National Voice 

Earlier this month, our Board of Trustees met in Chicago, where we engaged with leaders from Loyola University Medical Center, Cook County Health, and the University of Chicago Medicine at the Chicago Fire Academy. I especially want to thank Jason Woods, DC Firefighters Burn Foundation and Phil Tammaro from the International Association of FireFighters (IAFF), along with our Chicago Robert J. Quinn  Fire Academy hosts, for helping bring everyone together to tour the official training facility for Chicago firefighters, with additional support from one of ABA’s industry partners, Vericel. 

These conversations offered an opportunity to explore how we can work better together across burn centers, firefighters, first responders, and other organizations to strengthen prevention, preparedness, education, and burn care. I believe this type of engagement is important as ABA continues to build relationships within the communities hosting our Annual Meetings and beyond. 

Our goal is to look beyond traditional partnerships and better understand how our collective expertise, experience, and resources can support ABA’s mission while maintaining our organization’s independence and integrity. 

Another important step forward is our work with The Conafay Group, our Washington, D.C.-based advocacy partner. Together, we are developing a more intentional approach to strengthening ABA’s voice nationally, particularly around burn research funding, disaster readiness, workforce needs, and federal support for burn care. 

Our goal is not simply to have a greater presence in Washington, but to help ensure that the needs and expertise of our burn community are better understood by those making decisions that affect our patients and profession. We look forward to creating opportunities for members to become more engaged in these efforts during 2027. 

Advancing Research and Education 

I also want to recognize Dr. Angela Gibson and our ABA Program Committee for the tremendous work involved in reviewing abstracts and case reports submitted for ABA’s 2027 Annual Meeting. The volume of submissions, and the time and expertise required to evaluate them thoughtfully, represent a significant commitment by our volunteers. This month, the Committee made important progress in identifying and shaping the scientific programming that will bring some of the very best research, innovation, and clinical experiences from across our burn community to Chicago next April. Thank you to everyone involved! 

Speaking of research, I encourage you to look at the November–December issue of our  Journal of Burn Care & Research . One article that caught my attention, Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Wound Healing and Clinical Outcomes After Burn Injury , examines outcomes using data from ABA’s Burn Care Quality Platform (BCQP).  

This article caught my attention for a couple of reasons. On a personal level, having a daughter who lives with diabetes, I appreciate the importance of research that helps us better understand how underlying health conditions can affect patient care and outcomes. 

From an ABA perspective, it also reinforces the value of BCQP and what we can accomplish when burn centers contribute to a shared resource that supports meaningful research and improvements in care. 

For me, it is another reminder that behind every data point is a person, a family, and an opportunity to make a difference. That is ultimately why this work matters. 

Your Voice, Your Involvement, Our Future 

This month, we are also moving forward with our call for committee service and membership renewal campaign, both important parts of our Governance and Leadership strategic priority. 

I encourage each of you to consider how you might become more involved in ABA, whether through committee service, mentoring colleagues, sharing your expertise, or encouraging someone new to join our organization.  

Our committees are an important part of how ABA moves its work forward, and they provide opportunities for members across the interprofessional burn team to contribute their perspectives and develop leadership experience. 

Membership is more than simply belonging to an organization. It is about being part of a community that supports one another, advances our profession, and works collectively toward a shared purpose. 

As we look toward 2027, I hope you will renew your commitment to ABA, encourage a colleague to join, and consider where your experience and interests might help shape our future. 

A Personal Reflection 

On a more personal note, since joining ABA in March 2025, I have been incredibly appreciative of how warmly this community has welcomed me. The relationships I have developed with so many of you in such a short time have meant a great deal to me, both personally and professionally. 

Having spent much of my career in healthcare and association leadership, I appreciate even more what makes this community so special. The expertise, compassion, collaboration, and commitment you bring to caring for patients and families every day are truly remarkable. 

One thing I have also come to recognize is that ABA’s influence extends well beyond burn care. We are an association with significant impact, and I believe the broader healthcare community has much to learn from how our interprofessional burn teams work together, advance research, improve quality, respond to disasters, and support patients and families throughout their recovery. 

We should never underestimate the influence of the burn community, not only on the patients and families we serve, but across the broader healthcare system and in the lessons we can share with others. 

We also need to do a better job helping hospital and health-system leaders understand the value of burn care as a critical community asset. That value is not limited to the moment a burn emergency occurs. Burn centers bring specialized expertise, readiness, coordination, education, and resources that strengthen the entire system and the communities they serve. 

Our responsibility is to make that value more visible, so hospital leaders recognize burn care not simply as a service they support when needed, but as an essential capability worth sustaining and investing in. 

Clearly, I love having the opportunity to support and work alongside this community. I am proud of what ABA represents, grateful for the relationships we continue to build, and excited about the opportunities ahead. 

ABA 2027 Annual Meeting — Celebrating 60 Years Together in Chicago! 

All of this brings us to what I believe will be a very special ABA Annual Meeting next April in Chicago as we celebrate our association’s 60th anniversary. 

Sixty years represent an extraordinary history of leadership, scientific discovery, education, collaboration, and dedication to improving burn care. It gives us an opportunity to recognize those who helped build ABA while looking ahead to the next generation of professionals and leaders who will carry our mission forward. 

Our Annual Meeting has always been about more than scientific presentations and educational sessions. It is where relationships are built, ideas are shared, new collaborations begin, and friendships across our burn community continue to grow. 

I hope you are already making plans to join us in Chicago in April 2027! Registration is open, and I encourage you to plan early, invite colleagues from your burn team, and especially consider bringing someone who has not previously attended to experience what makes this community so special. 

Our 60th anniversary is not simply about celebrating where we have been. It is about coming together to help determine where we go next. 

As we approach Thanksgiving and the end of another busy year, I want to thank each of you for your continued commitment to ABA and, more importantly, for the work you do every day to improve the lives of everyone affected by burn injury. 

I remain encouraged by where we are headed and excited about what we can accomplish together in 2027 and beyond. 

I look forward to seeing many of you in Chicago! 

Respectfully, 

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