For over 30 Years, the UCSD Regional Burn Center has developed advanced systems for evaluating and treating the patients who arrive at the Center with major burn injury. We have developed a unique team approach to make sure there are no details overlooked. A dedicated team of medical professionals meet the patients and begin evaluating. Surgeons, anestheologists and highly trained nurses gather together upon the arrival of a patient. After the patient has been carefully transferred to the examination room (burn resus), the process of evaluation begins. The most important thing is the patient’s ability to breathe.

The UCSD Regional Burn Center has been a leader in making notable advances in burn therapy. The professional care of patients is internationally recognized for our skill and knowledge.

The state-of-the-art facility has an intensive care unit, a special burn care unit and an outpatient clinic for minor burn assessments and treatment. Over 400 patients are admitted to the Center each year with various levels of injury and hundreds more are treated on an out patients basis.

Under the leadership of Director of Burn Surgery, Bruce Potenza, MD, FACS, the multidisciplinary team is always ready to respond to the complex medical problems experienced by burn victims.

Since 1973, the UCSD Burn Center has served the San Diego and Imperial Counties with:

• State-of-the-art care to victims of burn injury
• Support to families and friends
• Community education
• Emergency medical personnel training
• Research and the advancement of burn care

The presence of the UCSD Burn Center in our region means that residents of San Diego and Imperial Counties can receive excellent treatment regardless of whether they have suffered minor or major burn injuries. The UCSD Burn Center includes eight physically separate enclosures to treat the most seriously burned patients as well as a full time burn outpatient clinic staffed by nurse practitioner, physician assistant and nurses was also established.

Each year we admit approximately 450 burn victims and hundreds more are treated as outpatients. Burn victims span all ages, and consultants from all fields of medical specialties are available. The nurses, physicians, physician assistants, and other staff at the UCSD Burn Center are the finest in the field and are dedicated to providing the best possible care for our patients.

The Burn Center staff is involved in numerous research projects that are improving our ability to care for burn patients. Some of these projects will be discussed in the near future on this web site. Burn education is also an important mission of the community outreach.