ABA Annual Meeting to Spotlight Innovation and Engagement in Burn Care

CHICAGO (March 26, 2025) — The American Burn Association (ABA) is pleased to announce its 2025 Annual Meeting, which will be held from April 8 to 11 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The event will bring together burn care professionals from around the globe to share cutting-edge research, clinical practices, and innovations in burn care. Attendees will earn continuing education credits, participate in hands-on workshops, and connect with peers across 23 professional disciplines, from firefighters to reconstructive surgeons.

“The ABA Annual Meeting is a cornerstone for burn care professionals,” said Sharmila Dissanaike, MD, president of the ABA. “It brings together the entire interdisciplinary team, fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and highlighting the resilience and dedication that drive improved patient outcomes in burn care.”

The ABA’s Annual Meeting offers accredited continuing education for various healthcare professionals. View full CE details and credit amounts. View all education sessions.

Below are highlights of select sessions to be presented at the Annual Meeting. Media representatives are invited to attend any session and visit the exhibit floor by reservation. To arrange interviews with speakers before the meeting, contact Susan Urbanczyk at urbanczyk@ameriburn.org. A press pass is required for session and exhibit access.

Overview all disciplines involved in burn care and learn about innovative contributions across the continuum of care. (1–5 p.m., Room 121 ABC)

Step into the lived experiences of burn care professionals and survivors through this immersive exhibit, created in collaboration with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and Empathy Museum. It features first-person audio narratives and a unique opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes literally. Gain new perspectives on resilience, recovery, and the human side of burn care. (Opens 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 8; closes 2 p.m. Friday, April 11, Ballroom Lobby)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 

Navigating Difficult Family/Social Dynamics in Burn Care
Receive strategies for managing complex family dynamics often heightened by burn injuries. (6:45–7:45 a.m., Room 221C)

Opening Ceremony, Awards & Presidential Address
View the color guard, national anthem, and Leadership Awards, followed by ABA President Sharmila Dissanaike’s address on change management and resiliency. (8–9:30 a.m., North Ballroom 120 B-D)

Exhibit Hall 
Explore over 300 exhibits featuring the latest in burn care products and technologies. (Opens 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 8; closes 2 p.m. Thursday, April 10, North Hall DE)

The Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Examine safety risks, injuries, and best practices related to lithium-ion battery use. (10 a.m.–noon, Room 131 ABC)

Frostbite Innovations and Research
Receive the latest research, collaborations, and care advancements in frostbite treatment. (2–4 p.m., Room 126 ABC)

Presidential Plenary: Innovate and Engage—Building Resilient, Interdisciplinary Burn Teams
Gain insights on fostering collaboration and resilience in burn teams. Keynote Speaker Julie Lancaster, a resident of Flagstaff, Ariz., will share practical strategies to bridge generational gaps and promote innovation. (8–9:30 a.m., North Ballroom 120 B-D)

Healing Beyond the Surface: Addressing Sexuality and Intimacy After Burn Injuries
Explore physical, psychological, and social aspects of sexual health after burn injury. (2–4 p.m., Room 126 ABC)

Top 5 Abstracts & Research Paper Awards
See the highest-scoring abstracts and research paper award winners in a plenary session. 1. Preliminary Analysis of Transaminitis in Oxandrolone vs. Testosterone Therapy for Major Burn Injury; 2. What You Wear Underneath Your Gear Matters; 3. Cutaneous Functional Unit (CFU) Burn Features Linked to Motion Loss at Hospital Discharge; 4. Does Adding Fresh Frozen Plasma to Burn Resuscitation Improve Outcomes in Thermal Injury?; and New Short Form of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Individuals with Burn Injury (8-9:45 a.m., Room 124AB)

Best in Category Posters
Learn about the top posters in each category, which will be presented and judged for excellence. (10 a.m.-noon, Room 124 AB)

What I Wish I Could Tell the Burn Team: Lessons from Survivors
Burn survivors and caregivers share personal experiences to inform and improve patient-centered care. (12:15-1:45 p.m., Room 127 ABC)

Burn Care in the Southwest: Partnering with Native American Health Systems Learn about and spotlight the unique healthcare challenges faced by Native American communities and explore opportunities to enhance burn care delivery through partnerships with the Indian Health System (IHS). Leaders and community partners will share insights into historical and ongoing disparities while highlighting underused resources that can support more equitable, effective care. (2-4 p.m., Room 131 ABC)

Media are invited to attend sessions, visit the exhibit floor, and tour an advanced opening of A Mile in My Shoes: Compassion for Burn Survivors and Caregivers on Tuesday, April 8, from 8–10 a.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center, Ballroom Lobby, near the event registration before the exhibit opens to attendees. Interviews and photo opportunities will be available. Also, media can meet with ABA’s new CEO, Ed Dellert. A press pass is required for access. Media must RSVP and direct interview requests to Susan Urbanczyk at urbanczyk@ameriburn.org.

The American Burn Association (ABA) is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by burn injuries through advocacy, education, research, and prevention. Founded in 1967, the ABA supports burn care professionals and organizations and works to advance the quality of burn care worldwide. For more information, visit ameriburn.org.