Hundreds of burn survivors and families enjoy annual UCI Health holiday party

Event provides important support for patients 

Survivors and burn unit staff at annual holiday party for the UCI Health Regional Burn Center. 

More than 330 current and former burn patients and their families attended the annual UCI Health Regional Burn Center holiday party for burn survivors in Anaheim. The Dec. 15 event featured music, dinner, arts and crafts for children and a visit from Santa Claus.

“Events like this are important for the families and are therapeutic for survivors,” says burn center director Dr. Victor Joe. It's also good for the burn unit staff to see so many survivors return for the party, he said.

The healing process continues after a patient leaves the intensive care unit, as burn injuries often leave long-lasting emotional and physical scars. UC Irvine’s burn survivor programs are designed to heal the spirit and create a sense of community that allows the survivor to reintegrate into society knowing they are not alone. 

Pediatric burn camps, scholarships, summer picnics, holiday parties and monthly support group meetings are just a few of the programs designed to help this special group of children and adults thrive after their physical wounds are healed.

UCI Health Regional Burn Center was among the nation’s first comprehensive burn centers when it opened more than 40 years ago. Verified by the American College of Surgeons, UC Irvine’s burn program is among the leaders in burn care with advanced surgical techniques, innovations in synthetic skin treatments and expert patient care. The center annually treats hundreds of patients for burns of all kinds. One-third of these patients are children.