It is great honor for me to have been chosen to lead the International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI) for the next 2 years. I accept the challenge of moving the organization forward to achieve its goals of disseminating knowledge and stimulating prevention in the field of burns. My vision is to develop and maintain the role of the International Society for Burn Injuries as the world federation for those interested in burns to include any and all national and regional societies. In keeping with this vision the Society’s mission shall be to promote core areas that are central to the treatment of patients with burn injuries globally. Our focus should be in four major areas:

1) Education, Research, and Training
2) Public Policy and Advocacy
3) Quality of Care
4) Society Operations

The Executive Committee is fully committed to these objectives. However, in order to truly succeed in accomplishing our mission, it is imperative that we have an active and participatory membership as well, particularly our committees and National representatives. 

The society will continue to endorse and sponsor regional and national meetings; award grants to professors participating in congresses in other countries and members who want to visit other burn centers; organize and support educational courses in different countries, and collaborate with the WHO as a nongovernmental organization. 

The recent Congress in Montreal, Canada in September 2008 was an exciting and informative meeting that covered a range of topics on burn injuries and wound care and included invited speakers of worldwide renown and other leading scientists who brought participants up to date on the latest advances in burn and fire related injuries. 

Tackling the Global Burden of Burn Injury, the 15th Congress of the ISBI, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey from June 21-25, 2010, is sure to be another exceptional ISBI meeting. We have assembled a motivated and highly committed local organizing committee as well as an international Program Committee to insure that this meeting is memorable in every way possible. I urge all of you to attend this meeting and start preparing now as we move forward in facing our challenges.

I look forward to working with you over the next 2 years to make our Society the unquestionable international leader in providing education for the advancement of care of the burn injured patient.

Ronald G. Tompkins
President, ISBI