SOUTH AFRICAN BURN SOCIETY
A Historical Perspective
PM. De Wet
Dept. of Paediatric Surgery,
Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Cape Town
The South African Burn Society was founded with Dr. Marthinus de Kock occupying the position of first President. SA Burns Society is one of the oldest national burn societies. The Society is affiliated to the International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI). The President of the SA Burn Society is designated as the official representative of the society at ISBI meetings. According to the Constitution, the President and Secretary/Treasurer serve in these positions for a period of 4 years. Initially Biennial Conferences were held in conjunction with those of the Association of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons of SA. The Society was able to attract internationally renowned speakers to contribute to the proceedings of these conferences. These distinguished visitors have been made honorary members of the Society.
Dr. Basil Pruitt
Dr Pruitt was a physician and a researcher whose team made breakthroughs that dramatically reduced mortality from Burn injuries, Trauma and Critical care. Under his direction there were forged discoveries in resuscitation from shock, treatment of inhalation injury, control of burn related infections, prevention of iatrogenic complications and better understanding of the sympathetic, endocrine and immune responses to burn injury. His team were among the first to recognize and define alterations in the Basal Metabolic Rate and Thermoregulation consequent to Burn Injury.
Prof. David Herndon
Dr Herndon began his career in burn research in 1977 whilst in the U.S. Army. He made numerous contributions as a world leading scientist-surgeon who improved our understanding of the metabolic effects of burn injuries and as such changed how burn injuries were treated. His particular research focus was in wound healing, rehabilitation, burn treatment and inhalation injury. He also served as the President of the American Burn Association. Dr Herndon is the author of the comprehensive book particular to the management and treatment of burn injuries called “Total Burn Care”.
Prof. David Heimbach
Dr Heimbach was a gifted teacher and mentor during his 37 years as Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington. He was a past President of the American Burn Society and a past President of ISBI. He led teams of doctors to Third World countries teaching Burn Care to the less fortunate. Dr Heimbach was an adopter of early burn wound excision and would cover with a mantra of “Do it right the first time”.
Prof. John Hansbrough
Dr Hansborough was widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities in Burn Care and Research and was best known for his work in developing synthetic and cultured skin for burn patients.
Dr. Fiona Wood
Fiona was born in the U.K. and commenced her medical career at St. Thomas’s Hospital London. She moved to Australia in 1987. Her dedication to improving outcomes for burn patients and expanding the knowledge of wound healing began in 1991 when she became trained as Western Australia’s first female plastic surgeon and is now recognized internationally as a leader in Burn Care.
James Partridge OBE
James was a Co-Founder of the U.K. Charity Changing Faces. He sustained very severe facial burns as an 18 year old University student and underwent reconstruction using tube pedicles. His autobiography is titled “Changing Faces: the challenge of Facial Disfigurement”.
Nichola Rumsey
Following the completion of her PhD “Psychological Problems Associated with Facial Disfigurement” in 1983, Nichola has built up an international reputation for research in this field and has published widely. She was a Co-Founder of the UK Charity Changing Faces. Nichola was awarded the OBE in 2016 for services to people with disfigurement.
Emeritus Professor Heinz Rode
A Past President of the Society 1992 – 1996. Considerable contribution to the management of thermal injuries in paediatric patients. At the forefront of Burn Research in S.A. for a few decades including the management and rehabilitation of burn patients.
Dr. AE (Elbie) van der Merwe
Dr Elbie van der Merwe is directly involved with the management of adult burns, first under the leadership of Dr. Marthinus de Kock and now, for more than two decades as head of the Burns Unit at Tygerberg Hospital. She has also made significant contributions in both the fields of scientific and clinical burn research. Active in education in the form of an outreach programme into the prevention of burns
Basil Pruitt David Heimbach Dr Benaim
- These prominent and renowned persons in the field of burn management have, to name but a few, made significant contributions to the proceedings of the society’s conferences over the years.
- We have also seen a change in emphasis in congress proceedings from the acute management to the rehabilitation of burn victims
- Over the ensuing years, we saw dwindling support from the Plastic Surgeons attending the Burn Society conference.
- Many felt that they could not be away from their practices for an additional 3 days.
- In 1996 at the Annual General Meeting of the Society a decision was taken to hold independent conferences in the future.
- Since the formation of the Burn Society the total medical care of burn patients has improved considerably.
- The advent of the team approach of different specialties such as surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, etc.
- Each and everyone playing an important role in the management of the burn patient.
- A significant change in the composition of the society’s membership
- Equal numbers of clinicians, nursing and para-medical staff contributing to the success of conferences
- One-day workshops held in Kimberley – 1997 and Nelspruit – 1977, and a conference in East London in 2001
- Members have represented the society, presenting papers at International Burn Conferences over the years
- Well and varied representation at the 10th ISBI Conference held in Jerusalem in 1998 and at the 2nd Pan African Burn Society conference held in Assiut, Egypt in 2004.
Official Opening 2nd Pan African Burn Society Conference
- Education an operational cornerstone of the Society.
- The introduction of a course on the Emergency Management of Burns.
- The ABLS course – USA and the EMSB course – Australia.
- AGM – 2001, EMSB course chosen, offered under the auspices of the SA Burn Society
- Many members and non-members of the society have availed themselves of the opportunity to complete the two-day theoretical and practical course
- For more than a decade, a two-day course for nurses from day hospitals, small regional hospitals and community clinics, has been offered at Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
- Many members have made contributions to the past success of the society.
- Two members should be singled out for their highly significant contribution not only to the society, but to the advancement of the management of thermal injury in South Africa and the African continent.
- Co-Founder of the Pan African Burn Society in 2004, and hosted the first Pan African Burn Society Conference in Cape Town.
- She has since 1998, and is still, the Africa Representative on the Executive of the ISBI.
- In April 2011 Dr van der Merwe was announced as the winner of the prestigious biennial G Whitaker International Burns Prize.
