Mission: To encourage and unite burn survivors and their families to advance burn prevention awareness and burn support.
Our support group relies on participation from burn survivors and those close to them. When we all work together, we thrive, offering one another support and friendship as well as raising burn prevention awareness.
We have Zoom meetings every third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. We share stories, provide support, and increase understanding of burn recovery. We’re casual and comfortable. You can participate as much as you want or just listen. Contact one of the advisory board members to get the link for our meetings.
In-person events are held across western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and western Maryland. These include outings (like families at the zoo), holiday celebrations (Thanksgiving potluck), dinners, festivals, and motivational speakers.
This is the most reliable source of up-to-date information about the group. Send an email to burnconcern@gmail.com to join our private group.
Find information, personal contacts for support, meeting and event information, and helpful links for burn support and various skin diseases. Visit ahn.org/services/burn-center/support-groups.
The Phoenix Society hosts a weekly chat for burn survivors and their family to provide support, empathy, and friendship. Sign up to join the chat room at phoenix-society.org/what-we-do/peer-support-chat.
Burn Concern teamed up with the Phoenix Society to bring their Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery (SOAR) program to the West Penn Hospital Burn Center. The program helps patients and their families talk one-on-one with a peer supporter who’s survived burns and worked toward recovery. If you want to work with a peer supporter, contact a Phoenix SOAR coordinator, and they’ll arrange a visit.
Matthew Iwaniec SOAR Coordinator Phone | Matthew.Iwaniec@ahn.org.
Mariah Sturges Burn Center Outreach Coordinator (412) 578-5295 | mariah.sturges@ahn.org.
Kristen George Clinical Access Coordinator, Outpatient Burn Clinic (412) 578-5120 | Kristen.George@ahn.org.
In addition to SOAR, the Phoenix Society has additional resources to support you through recovery at phoenix-society.org/resources.
If you would like to donate to those whose lives have been touched by a burn injury, contact the West Penn Hospital Foundation at (412) 578-4427.
Checks with “Burn Concern” on the memo line can be sent to:
The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Foundation 4818 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
You can donate online at supportahn.org. After choosing your gift amount, select West Penn Hospital, and then type Burn Concern in the box below Other Designation.
West Penn Hospital
North Tower, Second Floor
4800 Friendship Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
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