HISTORY
The North American Burn Society (NABS) was founded in 1983 by a group of professionals involved in the medical care of burn injuries. The charter members consisted of burn surgeons, nurses and researchers whose products were used to care for burns. Over time this group has expanded to include all members of the burn team: surgeons, nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, child life specialists, PhD researchers (both academic and corporate), sales representatives, fire fighters, first responders, and physicians from the fields of psychology, psychiatry and rehabilitation medicine. The primary purpose of NABS is to provide an educational forum once per year in a relaxed atmosphere to advance all aspects of burn care and to foster networking and camaraderie among a group of healthcare providers whose primary focus is improving burn care.
The meeting format consists of educational sessions in the early morning and late afternoon with unscheduled time during the day. All attendees are invited to submit an abstract to present on a topic relative to burn care or complex wound management. Topics have included primary research on topical agents and dermal substitutes for use on burn wounds and donor sites, varying methods to determine percentage of body surface area burned, American Burn Association admission criteria & relevance to hospital transfers, patient case studies, prevention topics and related government legislation, school and work re-entry programs, best practices in occupational and physical therapy, patient/family and community education programs and international outreach efforts.
Initially, annual meeting attendance ranged between 20 and 60 participants but and has recently grown to about 100 participants. The small size allows for in-depth discussions and the relaxed environment serves as an excellent forum for young investigators to present in a nonthreatening atmosphere. The wide range of disciplines represented at the meeting provides shared insights from a wide range of perspectives. Many of these young investigators then go on to present their work at national and / or international meetings.
MISSION
Education within the burn care community has always been the primary focus of NABS. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits are offered for healthcare professionals and several merit-based scholarships are available annually for presentation abstracts submitted by physicians-in-training and allied health professionals such as social workers, physical & occupational therapists, nurses and physician assistants. Scholarship checks and a certificate are given to each winner during their presentation at the meeting.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The North American Burn Society Scholarship ($1,000)
This scholarship is open to any physician-in-training (medical student/resident/fellow) or allied healthcare professional who works in a hospital or institution with a dedicated burn and wound center/program.
Note: Practicing MD's/DO's are not eligible for this scholarship.
The David E. Beesinger, MD Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
This scholarship is in honor of the North American Burn Society's first President and is open to any physician-in-training (medical student/resident/fellow) or allied healthcare professional who works in a hospital or institution with a dedicated burn and wound center/program.
Note: Practicing MD's/DO's are not eligible for this scholarship.
The Barbara A. Latenser, MD Traveling Scholarship ($1,000)
This scholarship is open to any physician-in-training (medical student/resident/fellow) or allied healthcare professional who submits an abstract to present on their international work in burn and wound care.
The Emmanuel F. Beauchef Memorial Burn Scholarship for PT's and OT's ($1,000)
This scholarship is reserved for any PT or OT who specifically works with burn patients in a hospital or institution with a dedicated burn center/program.
The Polynovo Educational Scholarship (x2 - $1,000 each)
Each scholarship is open to all physicians-in-training (medical student/resident/fellow) who are working to advance treatments in full-thickness injuries.
Note: Practicing MD's/DO's are not eligible for this scholarship.