CHICAGO (August 4, 2026) - The American Burn Association (ABA), in partnership with the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®), is proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the ABA–BCEN Nursing Advancement Scholarship.
Launched in May 2026 during National Nurses Week, the scholarship program was established to support ABA members pursuing higher education in nursing and healthcare-related fields. Funded through a $35,000 contribution from BCEN, the program provides seven $5,000 scholarships to help reduce financial barriers to education while strengthening the future of burn and emergency care.
The inaugural scholarship recipients are:
Caden Bizer, BSN, RN, CBRN Burn ICU Registered Nurse, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA
Caden Bizer is a Burn ICU nurse with a passion for burn critical care, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice. He is committed to advancing burn care through clinical excellence, research, and lifelong learning.
Mark Davis, BSN, RN, CBRN Nurse Educator, St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ
Mark Davis is a nurse educator passionate about advancing nursing education, mentorship, and evidence-based practice. After more than a decade caring for patients in the burn ICU, he transitioned into nursing education, where he supports the professional growth of nurses across a variety of specialties. Mark serves as an Advanced Burn Life Support instructor, contributes to the American Burn Association’s Education Committee, and volunteers as an item writer for BCEN’s Certified Burn Registered Nurse exam. He is currently pursuing his MSN in Nursing Education, plans to continue toward a DNP, and is honored to receive the ABA-BCEN Nursing Advancement Scholarship in recognition of his ongoing commitment to advancing burn care through education, leadership, and service.
Karolina Howell, BSN, CCRN, CBRN Burn Trauma ICU RN, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
Karolina Howell is a critical care nurse specializing in burn care at a Level I Trauma Center. She is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and is passionate about advancing patient care through clinical leadership, education, and evidence-based practice.
Rachel Kidd, BLS, BN, RN, CBRN Registered Nurse, University of Calgary & Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Rachel Kidd is a Master of Nursing (Thesis-Based) student at the University of Calgary. She is also a Certified Burn Registered Nurse and has worked at the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Centre for approximately eight years. Her research interests focus on the intersection of burn injury and substance use disorder. Specifically, her work examines burn nursing practice and its application to the management of patients with substance use disorder.
Benjamin Kimelman, BSN, RN, CBRN, PHN Clinical Nurse 3, UCSF Hyde Bothin Burn Center, San Francisco, CA
Benjamin Kimelman is a burn nurse specializing in the care of adult and pediatric patients in San Francisco's burn intensive care unit. Since entering burn care in 2021, he has been dedicated to advancing clinical excellence, patient advocacy, and equitable access to specialized burn care. His work has included humanitarian surgical missions to India and Egypt, where he supported patients undergoing burn reconstruction and other life-changing procedures. Benjamin is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on the Acute-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty. He is committed to advancing as a clinician, educator, and leader while improving outcomes for burn survivors and their families.
Grace Oehlertz, BSN, RN, CBRN, WCC Clinic Charge Nurse, Memorial Hermann Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center, Houston, TX
Grace Oehlertz is a certified burn and wound nurse who is passionate about the nurse’s role in wound healing. She is pursuing a PhD in Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her research focus is nursing interventions for wound biofilm management.
Sarah Scoins, MSN, APRN, ACNPC-AG, CCRN, CBRN Outreach and Injury Prevention Educator, Parkland Health, Dallas, TX
Sarah Scoins, is an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Parkland Health in Dallas, Texas. With more than 15 years of experience in critical care and burn nursing, she has dedicated her career to burn care, injury prevention, patient education, and professional development. Sarah serves on the American Burn Association's Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) Advisory Committee and contributes as a content expert for the Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) examination. She is passionate about advancing burn care through education, outreach, and evidence-based practice. To further expand her ability to care for burn patients across the lifespan, Sarah is currently pursuing a Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification, allowing her to provide comprehensive acute care to both adult and pediatric patient populations.
Selected through a competitive review process led by the ABA Nursing Committee, each recipient demonstrated a commitment to professional growth and advancing the care of patients with burn injuries and other critical conditions.
"Congratulations to this inaugural class of ABA–BCEN Nursing Advancement Scholarship recipients," said Ed Dellert, RN, MBA, CAE, FACEHP, chief executive officer of the American Burn Association. "Education opens doors, not only for individual career growth, but for stronger teams, better patient outcomes, and a more resilient burn care workforce. We are grateful to BCEN for partnering with us to invest in these future leaders and help ensure the burn community continues to thrive for years to come."
The scholarship was open to BCEN-certified nurses pursuing higher education, as well as firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics pursuing a nursing degree. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, required fees, and course materials.
The ABA–BCEN Nursing Advancement Scholarship supports BCEN-certified nurses pursuing higher education, as well as firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics working toward a nursing degree. Beyond financial assistance, the program is designed to strengthen the burn and emergency care workforce by supporting degree completion, career advancement, and the transition into nursing practice.
"At BCEN, we believe investing in education is one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen the future of nursing," said Janie Schumaker, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, ICE-CCP, CENP, CPHQ, FABC, chief executive officer of the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. "These scholarship recipients have demonstrated a commitment to advancing their knowledge and their profession, and we are proud to partner with the American Burn Association to help remove financial barriers as they pursue their educational goals. Congratulations to each recipient on this well-deserved achievement."
The ABA congratulates this inaugural class of scholarship recipients and looks forward to the meaningful contributions they will make to patients, families, and the burn care community throughout their careers.
About the American Burn Association
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, ABA supports burn care professionals and organizations and works to advance the quality of burn care worldwide. For more information, visit 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, ABA supports burn care professionals and organizations and works to advance the quality of burn care worldwide. For more information, visit ameriburn.org.
About the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) is the independent, not-for-profit organization that develops and administers nationally accredited certification programs for nurses across the emergency spectrum. BCEN certification validates specialized knowledge and promotes excellence in patient care through lifelong learning and professional development.
The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) is the independent, not-for-profit organization that develops and administers nationally accredited certification programs for nurses across the emergency spectrum. BCEN certification validates specialized knowledge and promotes excellence in patient care through lifelong learning and professional development.
