The work of Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center extends beyond the walls of our hospital. We work throughout the community to enrich the lives of burn survivors and educate the public to prevent future burn injuries.

Burn Camp

Burn Center team members volunteer each August at the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety’s Camp for Burn Injured Youth. This is Wisconsin’s only burn camp for children. The camp, a cooperative effort with other organizations, provides a summer camping experience for youths ages 7 to 17 who have suffered significant burn injuries. Each year, about 100 burn-injured children make new friends, share their feelings and build their self-esteem. The kids enjoy outdoor activities, crafts and all of the fun that goes with camping. In addition to having a great time, burn camp participants receive support from their fellow campers who share the experience of a burn injury.

Community Education

Through a statewide education program, Burn Center nurses bring burn prevention and treatment programs to over 10,000 people each year. Burn prevention education is provided to schools, businesses, health fairs, senior citizen groups, emergency medical teams and emergency departments. Since their inception, the Burn Center’s education programs have reached nearly 125,000 people.

If you would like more information about burns, or are requesting education at your facility please contact Mary Janowiak, our Community Burn Education Coordinator. She can be reached at (414) 291-1680 or mjanowia@columbia-stmarys.org.

SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery)

This group consists of former burn patients who go into the community to help burn victims adjust to life after their injuries. Because burn victims must adjust to the many components of their injuries, the assistance of those who have been through this adjustment process is invaluable.

This support group is dedicated to helping burn survivors better understand and deal with their injuries. Facilitated by burn survivors and a nurse liaison from Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center, the goal of this group is to offer emotional support and share experiences to better enhance and promote physical and emotional healing throughout every stage of burn recovery.

For more information contact Mary Janowiak, our Community Burn Education Coordinator. She can be reached at (414) 291-1680 or mjanowia@columbia-stmarys.org. 

Support Group

The Burn Survivors Support Group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. Meetings take place in the Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center located on the 6th floor of Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, Milwaukee — 2323 N. Lake Dr., Room W-6554. Registration is not required.

For more information, contact Rose Koller at (414) 291-1163 or Bill Ester at (262) 767-0711.

Golf Invitational

Since 1988, the annual Burn Center Golf Invitational has raised more than $1 million for the Burn Center, the Burn Center’s Burn Prevention Program, the Camp for Burn Injured Youth and the Wisconsin Statewide Newspapers Fire Safety Program. The event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety, a fire safety and prevention resource for the State of Wisconsin.

To learn more about Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center, order a copy of our FREE DVD byclicking here. To schedule a community education talk, learn more about our support groups, or to speak to a member of our staff regarding a patient referral or other matter please call (414) 291-1680.