Burns can be complex, and so can the care needed for recovery.
Every year, the American Burn Association holds a conference to present the latest findings, technologies and techniques in burn care. The 2025 conference brought together 2,200 burn care providers in Phoenix. Among them were more than a dozen members from Straub Benioff Medical Center’s Burn Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit, pharmacy, occupational and physical therapy, and more — teams that all collaborate to provide the most comprehensive burn care in Hawai‘i.
“It was a great opportunity to meet experts and specialists from across the nation,” said Shanele Odan, Straub Benioff inpatient pharmacist. “The burn community is a very specialized group, so it was nice to share ideas and discuss ways to continue improving the care we provide our patients.”
Dr. Emilio Ganitano and Dean DuPont, RN, from Straub Benioff’s Intensive Care Unit at the conference.
One of the latest advancements presented at the conference involved artificial intelligence and how burn teams can use the technology to streamline care. For instance, AI could help determine the best course of treatment for a serious burn patient, whether that would be skin grafting or using a specialized ointment to remove dead tissue.
“I learned a lot of new information about burns and burn management,” said Dr. Emilio Ganitano, Straub Benioff intensive care physician. “In many ways, the trip also reinforced what we’re already doing at Straub Benioff.”
During the conference, Dr. Ganitano took a course to become an instructor in Advanced Burn Life Support, a program of the American Burn Association. Once certified, he will join Straub Benioff’s growing team of instructors providing lifesaving burn training to the community.
The conference was not only a learning experience but a teaching opportunity. Dr. Robert Schulz, Straub Benioff Burn Care Unit co-founder and medical director, and Amy Chong, the unit’s supervisor, gave a presentation on what their team learned in the aftermath of two events that forever changed Hawai‘i’s history: the Maui wildfires and New Year’s fireworks explosion in Āliamanu.
Dr. Robert Schulz and Amy Chong, RN, presenting at the 2025 American Burn Association’s annual meeting.
The trip, made possible in part by a donation from First Hawaiian Bank, had another special moment. The Straub Benioff team got to visit the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center, which provided support to O‘ahu hospitals following the Āliamanu explosion.
“We got to personally thank the burn surgeons, hospitalists, nursing staff and more,” said Dr. Jorge Samaniego, Straub Benioff hospitalist who works closely with the Burn Care Unit. “It was great to have that human aspect in addition to all the academic experience we had during this conference.”
Support Straub Benioff’s Burn Care Unit
A burn injury can happen to anyone at any moment. In emergencies where expert burn care is required, the Burn Care Unit at Straub Benioff Medical Center provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art services. Established in 1983, the Burn Care Unit is the first and only one of its kind in the state and the Pacific region.
The Burn Care Unit relies on donations for its program to support specialized equipment and advanced education opportunities. With the community’s support, the unit has been the lifesaving resource for patients from the Maui wildfires, the New Year’s fireworks explosion in Āliamanu, and more. To date, the Burn Care Unit has treated thousands of patients, whether it be a burn from hot saimin to significant bodily injuries from a house fire. To donate, go to Giving.HawaiiPacificHealth.org/Make-a-Gift/Straub-Benioff-Foundation.
