Brittany Ayers was a 2018 Cheryl Jordan Scholarship award recipient and, in this article, Brittany shares her valuable experience visiting the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Brittany Ayer’s Experience
Through the ABA Cheryl Jordan Scholarship, I had the opportunity to learn from and work with Renee Edkins, DNP, ANP-C and C. Scott Hultman, MD, of the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill Plastic and Burn Reconstruction team. Drs. Hultman and Edkins, along with other members of their team, ensured I was able to see and gain the most out of my time at UNC.
Over the course of five days, I observed 13 individual laser cases in the operating room. From these cases, I learned how to select and evaluate patients appropriate for laser therapy, obtain prior authorization, provide pre- and post-laser treatment cares, and identify possible complications and side effects. This experience afforded me the opportunity to gain insight one simply cannot learn from reading literature, but must experience in person. I was able to see firsthand how laser therapy can truly impact and change a patient’s life, improve scar pliability and provide symptom relief. I have been able to share my experience with and help educate the Regions Hospital Burn Center multidisciplinary team, which ultimately has helped start and build our laser program.
Cheryl Jordan Scholarship Award Overview
The Cheryl Jordan Scholarship is awarded to a non-physician burn team member to be able to visit and learn from an ABA verified burn center and the center’s staff. Cheryl Jordan was a well known and loved member of the ABA, an Occupational Therapist, and worked at Medstar Washington Hospital Burn Center, Washington, DC. Annually, scholarships are awarded and the award recipients are provided the opportunity to visit another burn center.
By: Brittany Ayers, MPAS, PA-C
Physician Assistant; Regions Hospital Burn Center, St. Paul, MN
