Schedule of Events

Check in at our registration tables to receive your name badge and additional conference information. Your name badge must be worn to be admitted to Phoenix WBC sessions and events.

Join together for a gathering dedicated to welcoming our new community members, connecting them with peers, and educate them on what to expect with the event. Make lifelong friends that can last long after the event ends!

Join us for a fun, casual gathering to kick-off Phoenix World Burn Congress 2023 and be apart of the larger community of burn survivors, loved ones, hospital partners, and more!

Check in at our registration tables to receive your name badge and additional conference information. Your name badge must be worn to be admitted to Phoenix WBC sessions and events.

Phoenix Society and local partners officially kick off Phoenix WBC 2023 before Aaron Volpatti shares his "HARD SH*T, FINDING GRIT, AND KICKING A$$" keynote address.

HARD SH*T, FINDING GRIT, AND KICKING A$$ 

Life is unpredictable, and hard times are inevitable. Have you ever felt defeated and helpless in these times? Has adversity robbed your ability to dream? 

In the face of adversity, the human mind has an incredible ability to adapt, overcome and emerge stronger than ever. Through real life examples, we will uncover the secrets of resilience and learn how to harness the power of the human mind through Cinematic Visualization. We will further discuss how this technique can build immense grit and belief in one's self- a prerequisite for achieving any type of goal, let alone a dream. 

Speakers

Enjoy a break from conference sessions to grab a coffee, take a walk around a block, catch up with a friend, or simply sit back and relax for a few moments!

The Wellness Center offers restoration, tools, resources, and inspiration to support you on your healing journey. Experts across many fields will help you learn new skills and experience complementary healing methods.

Start the day with vinyasa (gentle) flow yoga, or give various art therapy techniques a try in the afternoon! Unwind in our dedicated massage area, coordinated by Handle With Care Massage Therapy, with a 15-minute massage from independently licensed massage therapists, and pop in throughout the week for a quiet place to meditate, relax, and reflect.

All levels are welcome; each program can be modified to your ability and comfort level. Additional program listings will be available soon.

Structured social event with booths, demonstrations, and activities for the community to experience.

Interested in exhibiting? Explore our PWBC Partner Packet!

The tradition of Open Mic time at Phoenix WBC is meant to provide an emotionally safe and confidential forum for people to share their stories and experiences related to their burn trauma. For many individuals who share at Open Mic, this will be the first time they have told their story. This helps them to begin the journey of recovery after a burn injury. To maintain emotional safety, we will share guidelines and ground rules before the session begins.

Feelings are neither right now wrong, good, nor bad; they just are. Open mic is a safe space for our community to express their true feelings, share their truth, and find healing through others.

This overview of hypertrophic burn scar will review the basics of scar formation. In this session, a burn surgeon will discuss currently available treatment options for burn scars, with a special emphasis on lasers for treating hypertrophic scars. Burn team members as well as burn survivors with experience undergoing laser scar revision will be present. Additional time will be available for questions from the audience throughout the session.

Speaker

James January, the founder of burnsurvivor.org, was burned when he was a 21-year-old ROTC college student. James will share his phenomenal story of survival, how he battled self-doubt and depression, and, ultimately, found a new purpose. He'll offer common and unique ways you can become involved in the burn community. You'll learn actionable tips on how you can help yourself and others by paying it forward.

Speaker

Looking at “Play” Through the Lens of Contemplative Photography will be a workshop focusing on looking for hope and joy in the process of play. Our modern-day, fast-paced culture is so focused on productivity, pace, and “purpose” that we may forget or don’t know how to play.

We will be learning about the concept of contemplative photography as a practice to help understand the various facets of play and the many types of play. Through the use of poetry, music, and various examples from previous workshop participants, we will discuss the concept of slowing down and breathing into the joy and hope of play.

The workshop participants will be invited to participate in an experiential practice by utilizing their cell phones (no professional camera is needed). The workshop will include the discussion of a joy scavenger hunt through an open perspective and looking through the lens of hope.

Speaker

Scientific studies have shown a direct correlation between the use of humor and the diminishment of pain. In addition to easing tension and comforting others, comedy has been shown to help in various other medical and psychological ways, including combatting fear, reducing stress, and even boosting the immune system. Some hospitals now use “Comedy Rooms,” which encourage patients to use humor to recover from any illness/injury.

During this session, you will learn how humor has benefitted one survivor’s healing journey, hear from a healthcare provider on the power of laughter in the medical setting, and gain insight into the psychological benefits of humor in healing.

Speakers

This session is designed to inform first-line responders (firefighters, paramedics, burn/trauma healthcare providers) of how exposure to trauma affects the body, brain, and mental health. Although many reactions to traumatic events are normal responses to abnormal events, cumulative effects over time can tax our minds and bodies; and negatively impact our daily lives and relationships.

• Do you struggle with falling or staying asleep?

• Do you have a shorter fuse with others?

• Do you have difficulty relaxing or winding down?

• Are you withdrawing from those you love?

These are commonly experienced signs of how trauma impacts our health. In this session, you will learn the signs that indicate unresolved traumatic stress, why these occur, and how to mitigate and/or prevent chronic symptoms that put one at risk for relationship breakdown, medical complications, or potential disability.

Speakers

Enjoy a break from conference sessions to grab a coffee, take a walk around a block, catch up with a friend, or simply sit back and relax for a few moments!

Peer and mental health practitioner-led support groups that focus on one's lived experience/identity to provide and gain support.

Participate in casual meet-up discussions based on shared interests and lived experiences. Establish a deeper connection with others in a non-support group setting. Meet-up groups can utilize any surrounding space or outside areas to connect.

This year we have made a change to our Friends of Bill W group. We are now offering a Substance Abuse Recovery Group. The name change reflects our desire to be more transparent about medical problems that affect many of our participants from a number of sources, including drugs, alcohol, and food among other things. With the proliferation of the opioid epidemic it is essential we provide services for those in need of support.

Showcasing the talent of the burn community in a family-friendly atmosphere – PWBC’s Got Talent!

There is limited space to showcase talent and sign ups are required. Be on the lookout for a a sign up form coming soon!

Peer-led and mental health practitioner led groups that focus on ones lived experience/identity to provide and gain support.

Carey Cummins, Jennifer Bell Matthews, Harold Dennis, and Lionel and Joanna Crowther will share their personal struggles of loss following their burn injuries. You will hear of the challenges they faced and how they can move forward through the hard work of healing, forgiveness, and growth into a more meaningful, fulfilled new life.

Speakers & Moderator

Enjoy a break from conference sessions to grab a coffee, take a walk around a block, catch up with a friend, or simply sit back and relax for a few moments!

The tradition of Open Mic time at Phoenix WBC is meant to provide an emotionally safe and confidential forum for people to share their stories and experiences related to their burn trauma. For many individuals who share at Open Mic, this will be the first time they have told their story. This helps them to begin the journey of recovery after a burn injury. To maintain emotional safety, we will share guidelines and ground rules before the session begins.

Feelings are neither right now wrong, good, nor bad; they just are. Open mic is a safe space for our community to express their true feelings, share their truth, and find healing through others.

The Wellness Center offers restoration, tools, resources, and inspiration to support you on your healing journey. Experts across many fields will help you learn new skills and experience complementary healing methods.

Start the day with vinyasa (gentle) flow yoga, or give various art therapy techniques a try in the afternoon! Unwind in our dedicated massage area, coordinated by Handle With Care Massage Therapy, with a 15-minute massage from independently licensed massage therapists, and pop in throughout the week for a quiet place to meditate, relax, and reflect.

All levels are welcome; each program can be modified to your ability and comfort level. Additional program listings will be available soon.

Structured social event with booths, demonstrations, and activities for the community to experience.

Interested in exhibiting? Explore our PWBC Partner Packet!

Burn survivors and their loved ones have long recognized that some symptoms linger long after the initial burn injury. In this session, we will discuss how to manage chronic issues that are unique to burn survivors, including common concerns and options for care.

Speaker

The aftermath of a burn injury can affect many aspects of a person’s life. Several areas that often create challenges and result in frustration after a burn injury are related to intimacy and sexual function.

In this session, you will have the opportunity to hear personal stories of survivors and their journeys regarding the issues of dating, relationships, sexuality, and intimacy. You will also have the chance to join a group discussion surrounding these topics.

All survivors are different, and so too, are your burn injuries. How people respond to the changes in their bodies and emotional states can vary. Due to these differences, as a burn survivor, you will need to make your own observations and evaluate your particular circumstances to better understand the changes you may be experiencing in the area of dating, relationships, sexual and intimacy, but it can help to hear others and share your concerns.

Speaker

Athanasia was burned in a car accident when she was 23. She will share her incredible story of how art helped calm her mind and find a new direction in life. In this session, she will guide you through her simple, 4-step method for decreasing anxiety and increasing mindfulness through art. She will provide you with an image to color as you reflect on your personal journey. You will find this a soothing way to channel your emotions through color and something that you can easily do whenever it feels right. You can relax - no artistic experience is necessary!

Speakers

Burn survivors, their families/loved ones, and the professionals who care for them often experience distress after the trauma that can lead to difficulty enjoying life and functioning at work, home, and school. Fortunately, it is possible for individuals who initially experience posttraumatic stress to ultimately progress to posttraumatic growth. Understanding the signs and symptoms of posttraumatic stress as well as the options for healing, is an important part of recovery.

In this session, a burn psychologist will discuss the signs of posttraumatic distress and tools for managing these symptoms through healthy lifestyle changes and setting goals. Also, a firefighter burn survivor and his wife will talk about their personal experience.

Speaker

What could I have done differently? What if I had just done [blank] instead? Caregivers of burn survivors experience their own emotional trauma. Guilt, while one of the most common emotions, can be one of the hardest to overcome. You are not alone.

In this session, participants will learn about guilt, shame, and other self-conscious emotions and the role they play in the emotional journey of caregiving for a loved one with a burn injury. Participants will learn about these emotions, discover the path others have walked through a panel discussion, and practice effective strategies during the session.

Whether you are a caregiver or healthcare provider, this session will provide an introduction to understanding guilt, shame, and other self-conscious emotions, as well as evidence-based strategies to help reduce distress in your own life related to these feelings.

Speaker

This year we have made a change to our Friends of Bill W group. We are now offering a Substance Abuse Recovery Group. The name change reflects our desire to be more transparent about medical problems that affect many of our participants from a number of sources, including drugs, alcohol, and food among other things. With the proliferation of the opioid epidemic it is essential we provide services for those in need of support.

Participate in casual meet-up discussions based on shared interests and lived experiences. Establish a deeper connection with others in a non-support group setting. Groups may choose to connect with one another in the hotel space with casual conversation/activities, explore National Harbor, grab a bite to eat, or more!

OR

Free time to rest and recharge, connect with new and old friends, and enjoy the time to connect.

Come back to the main ballroom and boogie down to some sweet tunes by everyone's favorite DJ, Jeff Pelchat.

Check in at our registration tables to receive your name badge and additional conference information. Your name badge must be worn to be admitted to Phoenix WBC sessions and events.

Supplies were provided for attendees to make signs to use in the walk.

As a community, we will unite to walk in unity, celebrating our journey as survivors and showing the power of our community. Formally known as the walk of remembrance, this event has changed to support all those experiencing loss from a burn injury.

Join us for a fun event to close out the conference! More details to come.

We encourage you to use the rest of the day to explore the city and connect with other attendees!