The nomination process for the incoming Board is now closed.

The ABA Nominating Committee invites all members to submit nominations for the open positions for 2024-2025. Nominations were accepted through September 6. Self-nominations are accepted and a member can submit nominations for multiple other members. Nominees are screened on the qualifications listed below, such as membership in good standing, before being invited to submit additional documentation for committee review.

Open Positions

The President-elect ensures the orderly transition of Board leadership. The President-elect must be familiar with the Board’s various projects and the work of its committees in the event that he or she must take over the duties of the President unexpectedly. He or she becomes President in the event that the President resigns or the position of President otherwise becomes vacant. He or she then serves the former President’s unexpired term, as well as the full term he or she was elected to. The President-elect acts in the absence of the President as chairperson of the Board of Trustees, works closely with the President to ensure continuity of leadership, supports the efforts of the President and learns the duties of the President’s office.

The Program Chair-Elect position is a one-year, non-voting role that prepares the incoming Program Chair for the position detailed below. Ascend from Program Chair-Elect to Program Chair is automatic.

The Program Chair is expected to attend the in-person Program Committee meeting and the abstract slotting meeting. He/she will need to dedicate the time to accomplish the duties outlined in this document. This typically includes monthly or bi-weekly calls with ABA staff and review of documents as well as reaching out to course directors and moderators who may need additional support.  This can range from one to four hours per week depending on the time of year.  

The Board of Trustees includes six At-Large Board members. The Association’s governing body is the Board of Trustees, which shall have supervision, control and direction of the Association’s affairs, its committees and publications, shall determine its policies or changes therein, and shall adopt its annual fiscal program and budget. The Board shall actively prosecute the Association’s objectives and supervise the disbursement of its funds.

Qualifications

All Officers shall:

(a) be a professional in a burn-related field for no less than ten years; and

(b) have demonstrated leadership abilities; and

(c) have been and are currently active members of the Association for no less than ten years prior to their term of office.

(d) President-Elect must have served at least a two-year term on the Board of Trustees prior to assuming the role of President-Elect.

Full Position Description (President-Elect)

Full Position Description (President)

All Officers shall:

(a) be a professional in a burn-related field for no less than five years; and  

(b) have demonstrated leadership abilities; and  

(c) have been and are currently active members of the Association for no less than five years prior to their term of office. 

(d) At least two At Large Board members must be physicians and at least two must be non-physicians.  

Full Position Description

All Board Members shall:

(a) be a professional in a burn-related field for no less than five years; and

(b) have demonstrated leadership abilities; and

(c) have been and are currently active members of the Association for no less than five years prior to their term of office.

(d) At least two At Large Board members must be physicians and at least two must be non-physicians.

Full Position Description

2024-2025 ABA Board of Trustees—to be elected

President-Elect

To be elected to a one-year term (serves until 2025; automatically ascends to President)

Program Chair-Elect

Will serve one year in training as a non-voting guest of the board and assumes the role of Program Chair beginning in 2025, serving a three-year term until 2028

Members-at-Large (2)

To be elected to a three-year term, serving until 2027

2023-2024 ABA Board of Trustees—current composition

President

Robert Cartotto, MD (2024, automatically ascends to Past President)
Toronto, ON

President-Elect

Sharmila Dissanaike, MD (2024, automatically ascends to President)
Lubbock, TX

Treasurer

Jeffrey E. Carter, MD (2024)
New Orleans, LA

Secretary

James Hill Holmes, IV, MD (2026)
Wake Forest, NC

Program Chair

Steven A. Kahn, MD (2025)
Charleston, SC

Board Members

Gretchen Carrougher, MN, RN (2026)
Seattle, WA

Bernadette Nedelec, BSc OT(C), PhD, Erg., BT-C (2025)
Montreal, QC, Canada

Colleen M. Ryan, MD, FACS (2024)
Boston, MA

Alisa Savetamal, MD, FACS (2025)
Bridgeport, CT

Jeffrey Shupp, MD (2026)
Washington, DC

J. Bradley Wiggins, RN, BSN (2024)
Salt Lake City, UT

Past Presidents

Lucy Wibbenmeyer, MD, FABA (2024)
Iowa City, IA

Ingrid Parry, MS, PT, BT-C (2025)
Sacramento, CA

Treasurer-Elect

David Harrington, MD (Non-Voting 2024, automatically ascends to Treasurer for a 3-year term)
Providence, RI

Candidates are evaluated on the following:

  • Quality of service work for ABA
  • Leadership in other professional organizations
  • Publication and grant history
  • Advocacy efforts
  • Community work, including education, prevention, and disaster planning
  • Involvement in peer support efforts
  • Qualifications based on position descriptions
  • Ability to work well with others

Timeline

August 23, 2023Call for Nominations opens
September 6, 2023Call for Nominations closes
Nominating Committee meets and prepares slate
Board approves slate of candidates
December 5, 2023Slate of candidates announced for electronic voting
December 19, 2023Voting closes
December 21, 2023New Board announced
April 12, 2024New Board takes office

The timeline is subject to change based on slate and vote approval.