Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center – Celebrating 50 Years

Dalmatians, games, prizes, a giant fire truck slide, firemen and a hook and ladder truck, not to mention dozens of past and present staff, former patients as well as many from the community — were all part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center.

A crowd of over 250 gathered in Water Tower Park on Saturday, October 3, 2009 to recognize the accomplishments of the Regional Burn Center. “This is a terrific day!” said Darlene Sargent, director of the Burn Center. “It’s wonderful to see so many families and staff here today. Not only is this a celebration of the Burn Center, it is a reunion for many of us who are part of the Center’s history.”

The day’s festivities began with an awards ceremony recognizing the accomplishments of the Burn Center. Emceed by Connie Bradley, Vice President of Patient Care Services, the program featured speeches by Dr. Anthony Linn, Burn Center Surgeon, Kay Luedke of the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety, and Chief Michael Romas of the Milwaukee Fire Department. Following the awards ceremony, over 100 children participated in “Milwaukee’s Biggest Stop, Drop and Roll Demonstration.”

As the staff, former patients, former staff and members of the community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Regional Burn Center, many were also looking forward to the future. In 2010, the Regional Burn Center will move into a new, state-of-the-art facility in the new Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee. In 2012, the Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center will host the Prestigious World Burn Congress, a gathering of burn survivors, physicians, nurses and others from around the globe. “We are very excited about the World Burn Congress,” said Ms. Sargent. “We’ll be able to show the world the level of superior care provided to burn patients at Columbia St. Mary’s.” Sargent added, “Our Regional Burn Center is something everyone at Columbia St. Mary’s should be very proud of.”

Click on each image to view larger.

The new Columbia
St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee was
the backdrop for the Regional Burn Center’s celebration. The hospital, opening in 2010, will be the new home for the state-of-the-art Regional Burn Center.

Ladder 5 of the Milwaukee Fire Department joined the celebration.

All of the children had fun looking inside the fire truck.

EVERYONE loved the Dalmatians!

Attendees had the chance to win a carbon monoxide detector or a fire extinguisher, provided by WE Energies and Paul Davis Restoration. Batteries Plus supplied free 9V batteries replacement batteries for attendees’ smoke detectors.

Children had the chance to spin the wheel and win a prize while learning about fire safety.

Riversedge Dals of West Bend, Wisconsin joined the festivities. How did Dalmatians become associated with fire departments? When fire trucks were still pulled by horses, Dalmatians cleared the way.

A large crowd was on hand for the awards ceremony.

Kay Luedke of the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety presents an award recognizing the accomplishments of Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center.

Chief Michael Romas of the Milwaukee Fire Department addresses the crowd during the awards ceremony.

Darlene Sargent, Director of Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center, accepts an award on behalf of the entire Burn Center Staff from Connie Bradley, Columbia St. Mary’s Vice President of Patient Care Services.

Members of Columbia St. Mary’s staff along with Walt Price of the Milwaukee Fire Department and Sparky the Fire Safety Dalmatian, lead “Milwaukee’s Biggest Stop, Drop and Roll.”

Dozens of area children participated in “Milwaukee’s Biggest Stop, Drop and Roll.”

The men of the Milwaukee Fire Department's Ladder 5 with some of the “Stop, Drop and Roll” kids.

Little AND big kids enjoyed the giant fire truck slide!

Children received fire hats, pencils and tattoos (the temporary kind!).

Staff of the Regional Burn Center and Columbia St. Mary’s with the men of the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Ladder Five.

Peg Lohr, Regional Burn Center Nurse and Mrs. George Collantine, wife of the Regional Burn Center's first medical director.

The family of Dr. John Klein, founder of Columbia St. Mary’s
Regional Burn Center.

 Everyone had a wonderful time!

To learn more about Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center, order a copy of our FREE DVD by clicking 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.