If you’re subscribed to Phoenix Society’s mailing list, you’ve most likely received at least one email asking you to partake in a burn care research study. As survivors, our stories and voices are crucial in providing true lived experience on the physical, emotional, and social recovery after a burn injury. However, most studies simply ask survivors to complete a survey - and once the survey is complete, the outcomes are hard to find or even harder to understand. But Dr. Callie Thompson is on a mission to change that.

In today’s episode, Burn and Trauma Surgeon, Dr. Callie Thompson, talks about her recent burn care studies and how she involves survivors from start to finish. She also discusses why involvement throughout the entire research process is important, what factors make a “good” research project, and how other researchers can follow a similar format. Dr. Thompson also shares insight on her role as a surgeon and her passion for helping survivors thrive after a burn injury.

Looking for links? Check out our show’s description on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Dr. Callie Thompson is a burn and trauma surgeon by training. She specializes in the care of the thermally injured patient and other skin and soft tissue diseases that require surgical intervention. Her research is focused on implementing changes to care delivery that improve patient-centered outcomes for burn survivors and engaging burn patients as equitable partners in the entire research process.

• Explore current research participation opportunities
• Download the 2023 State of the Survivor Report
• Explore the Journal of Burn Care & Research

Today’s podcast is powered by the D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation. The D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation is dedicated to assisting in the recovery and rehabilitation of injured firefighters and burn survivors. Learn more by visiting www.dcffburnfoundation.org.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

A burn injury often changes how we feel about ourselves, and for survivors who lose their hair, their whole identity can feel different. The emotional impact of hair loss is significant, and it's a journey that many survivors can relate to. When a survivor does experience hair loss, they usually turn to wigs as a solution to help them feel like themselves again—however, wigs are not the only option anymore!

In today’s episode, Amber and Rachel are joined by non-surgical hair replacement specialist Emily Gutierrez. Emily, with her deep empathy and dedication, shares insights on what hair prosthetics are, the process for installing and maintaining a prosthetic, and who would benefit from them. She also recounts her touching experience working with a young burn survivor, highlighting her passion for instilling hope and restoring confidence through hair for those experiencing hair loss.

Looking for links? Check out our show’s description on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Emily Gutierrez is a licensed cosmetologist and IAT certified trichologist. She is the owner of Advanced Hair Loss & Scalp Solutions LLC, a certified hair replacement brand who caters to those who have been impacted by hair loss. Emily and her team work with men, women, and children who have been affected by genetic and traumatic types of hair loss. They utilize modern technology to help prevent hair loss, reverse scalp disorders, and restore one's appearance while building a long-lasting relationship with the clients.

• Learn more about Advanced Hair Loss & Scalp Solutions
• Follow Emily Gutierrez on Instagram
• Watch Aden’s hair transformation
• Visit the American Hair Loss Association’s website
• Learn more about CRLAB

Today’s podcast is powered by the Bert Martin Foundation! The Bert Martin Foundation was established to assist those who help others and provide financial support for nonprofit organizations. We’re honored to have the Bert Martin Foundation as a long-standing Phoenix Society Partner.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

Summer is quickly approaching, which means summer camps are in full swing! Summer camp is usually an extremely positive and beneficial experience for any child - but for burn survivor children, camp offers more than just fun. It provides a supportive community where they can share feelings and experiences with other children who have experienced similar trauma, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding.

In this episode, Rachel is joined by two esteemed guests, Daniel Chacon and Kristen Quinn. Both are renowned burn camp experts and board members of the International Association of Burn Camps (IABC). They delve into the benefits of burn camps, offer valuable tips on preparing your children (and yourself as a caregiver!), and guide you on selecting the right camp. Rachel and her guests also share cherished camp memories and ways to keep the 'camp magic' alive long after camp ends.

Looking for links? Check out our show’s description on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Kristen Quinn has been a passionate advocate for burn survivors and meaningful aftercare programs since 1993. She started her career as a burn center Child Life Specialist, earned her Masters in professional counseling in 2000 and spent the next 24 years as a mental health clinician at the burn center, with aftercare and burn camp as her focus. Kristen believes that every interaction, activity and discussion at camp has the ability to foster emotional growth and that camp provides challenges that allow campers to push beyond perceived limitations.

Kristen has two children who are now forging their own lives as young adults. She has been married to a fire fighter for the past 30 years. There is always at least one dog in the house. Joy is found on rivers, hiking trails, in a good book or over a great meal. Friendships mean the world to Kristen.

Daniel Chacon is the Executive Director of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, a California-based nonprofit organization that is committed to preventing burns and fires, and providing services to those who have been affected by burn injuries. Before joining AARBF, Daniel worked as an emergency dispatcher, firefighter, and high school teacher.

Daniel is a proud member of various organizations such as the American Burn Association, the American Camp Association, and the International Association of Burn Camps, where he served on the board of directors in 2016 and was the immediate past president. He is passionate about discovering outcome measurements and has partnered on numerous research studies for burn survivors. He has also presented dozens of conferences throughout the United States.

• Learn more about the International Association of Burn Camps (IABC)
• View the IABC Camp Directory
• Learn more about the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
• Learn more about the University of Utah Health Burn Camp Program
• Research: Impact of a pediatric residential burn camp experience on burn survivors' perceptions of self and attitudes regarding the camp community
• Read “Burn Camps Offer Unique Growth Opportunities”
• Read “Taking That “Camp Magic” Home With You”

Today’s podcast is powered by the National Fire Sprinkler Association! NFSA aims to protect lives and property through the advancement of fire sprinklers. Learn more about fire sprinklers, fire advocacy, and how to get involved by visiting nfsa.org.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

After years of hiding a prominent birthmark on her face, Paige Lauren Billiot now proudly highlights her facial difference. She was born with a port-wine stain birthmark on her face, ear, and neck, and now hopes to inspire others to embrace their imperfections.

Paige Lauren Billiot is Face Equality’s newest ambassador and in honor of Face Equality Week, we invited her on the podcast to talk about using art and creativity as a tool for social change! This year's theme is #MyFaceIsAMasterpiece, but we're taking it further and celebrating all visible and hidden differences with #MyBodyIsAMasterpiece.

Rachel and Paige talk about the challenges growing up with visible differences, how to craft a spicy response when strangers ask rude questions, and how to embrace our flaws (hey, we all have them!). Paige also shares how she started her Instagram, The Flawless Affect, her experiences working in Hollywood, and what advocacy projects she has in the works (including a doll with visible differences!).

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Paige Lauren Billiot is a birthmark advocate, model, and producer from Seattle, WA. Growing up in Las Vegas she began pursing her love for acting as a theatre major at Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts & International Studies. In 2014 she moved to Hollywood to create representation in the film and beauty industry for others who looked like her, facing industry resistance to her unique diversity. Undeterred, Paige carved her path on Instagram, using makeup, props, and VFX to celebrate her birthmark as her Superpower.

Her influence has been recognized in many magazines including Seventeen, Glamour, and Women's Health, earning her a spot on Glamour's "50 Instagrammers You Need To Follow Right Now."

When she isn’t advocating for the birthmark community, she loves taking her four cats on walks in their strollers, while expanding her chai tea latte palate and Scooby Doo collection.

• Follow Paige Lauren Billiot on Instagram (Flawless Affect)
• Learn more about Visible Difference & Disfigurement in the Arts
• Read “What is Face Equality”
• Access Our “Getting Back Out There, Tools for Social Empowerment” Course
• Follow Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors on Facebook
• Learn more about Face Equality Week
• Follow Face Equality International on Facebook

Today’s podcast is powered by one of our fire prevention partners, Telgian! Telgian is committed to providing effective and innovative fire protection, life safety and security programs. Learn more by visiting www.telgian.com.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

Most burn survivors and caregivers can remember a special burn nurse who truly impacted and changed the trajectory of their healing journey. In honor of National Nurses Day, we’re celebrating all of the wonderful burn care professionals with Emily Werthman, Ph. D. (c), BA, RN, CBRN!

After losing her mother to a house fire, Emily was drawn to burn care and began her career as a bedside nurse. Over the past 10+ years, she has advanced her career and now holds many positions within the field, including burn program coordinator at the Johns Hopkins Burn Center.

In this episode, we talk with Emily about the trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout burn care nurses face, the recently launched burn nursing specialty certification (CBRN), and research projects involving acute burn pain and childhood adversity. Tune in to hear more about the advancements in burn care nursing!

Looking for links? Check out our show’s description on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Emily Werthman is the burn program coordinator of the Johns Hopkins Burn Center, where she has been a nurse since 2012. A graduate of the Allegany College nursing program, she also holds a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a BSN and MSN from the University of Notre Dame of Maryland. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland where she studies the relationship between acute burn pain and childhood adversity. Emily is the lead nurse planner for the American Burn Association where she also holds a national committee appointment to the Nursing Committee. She is a subject matter expert, item writer, and exam content review committee member for the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing’s Certified Burn Nurse (CBRN) exam. She also serves as a member of BCEN’s board of directors. She was recently appointed a special advisor to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)’s burn and blast injury special advisory group. Additionally, she holds adjunct faculty positions in the Johns Hopkins and Stevenson University Schools of Nursing. She publishes and lectures frequently on burn resuscitation, critical care nursing, and burn pain.

• Listen to The Importance of Good Sleep with Dr. Sheera Lerman Zohar on Apple Podcasts
• Listen to Beyond Survival: A Journey of Self-Love & Resilience With Michelle Escamilla Valladares on Apple Podcasts
• Visit the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)’s website
• Learn more about the Certified Burn Nurse (CBRN) exam
• View the list of the American Burn Association’s verified burn centers

Today’s podcast is powered by Johns Hopkins Medicine! The mission of Johns Hopkins Medicine is to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. Learn more by visiting: www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

In honor of National Volunteer Week, Rachel and Amber are joined by our Volunteer of the Month, Xiomari Castro! Whether she's helping survivors and caregivers find their miracle of the day or providing hope through hugs, Xiomari's passion for helping the burn survivor community is truly inspiring. Her commitment and dedication are evident in her roles as Phoenix SOAR Coordinator and Spanish Instructor, and Patient Services Coordinator at the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America (BRCA).

During the episode, Xiomari shares how she first got involved with the burn community, her favorite part of her job, and the importance of peer support. She believes we all have a role in helping others and embodies what it means to give back with a humble heart. Thank you, Xiomari, for all that you do for our community!

Looking for links? Check out our show’s description on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Xiomari Castro is the Patient Services Coordinator at Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America (BRCA) in Augusta, GA, where she has worked since March 2015. She has been an invaluable source for patients and their families at Joseph M. Still Burn Centers at Doctors Hospital of Augusta. Xiomari works to help patients, their families, and colleagues through positivity, encouragement, and compassion. She first became a Phoenix SOAR Coordinator in 2018, and in 2023, she became an Instructor, including instructing the first Spanish Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporters class. Xiomari is a native of Puerto Rico and lives with her husband and best friend, Robinson, in Augusta, GA. They have two children and four grandchildren. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her grandkids church family, serving God, and preaching the word of God.

• Follow Phoenix Society on Facebook
• Learn more about Phoenix SOAR
• Contact Phoenix Society’s team
• Join our Facebook group for survivors and caregivers (English)
• Join our Facebook group for survivors and caregivers (Spanish)
• Learn how to watch our Youtube videos in your preferred language
• Learn more about Angel Flight

Today’s podcast is powered by the National Fire Protection Association! NFPA is a nonprofit that seeks to save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge, & passion. Learn more about fire safety and explore their educational resources by visiting www.nfpa.org.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

We've all heard of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but have you heard of post-traumatic growth? Post-traumatic growth is all about the positive transformations people can undergo after experiencing trauma. During this episode of Girls with Grafts, we hear from Christopher Gage, a burn survivor, and his caregiver and wife, Holly, on how post-traumatic growth impacted their healing journeys.

You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at Chris and Holly's Healing Phoenix Arts Program, designed to provide a post-traumatic growth experience by introducing a new perspective on healing from a traumatic event. Through the dynamic and engaging program, Chris and Holly help survivors recognize the progress they have made towards their future and healing.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Holly Gage is the creator and instructor of the Warrior Scar Jewelry workshops and co-founder of the Healing Phoenix Arts Program. Holly is a world-renowned jewelry artist and has instructed students of all ages and abilities with a soulful brend of creating during in-person workshops, interactive online classes, and retreats worldwide for almost 25 years. After her husband and son were involved in an explosion and fire in 2018, she became trained to support burn survivors and their families through the Phoenix SOAR program and certified in the Post Traumatic Growth program from the Boulder Crest Foundation. Together with her husband, Christopher Gage, they combine art with discussion as a healing modality for a Post Traumatic Growth experience.

Christopher Gage is the Group Discussion Facilitator of the Warrior Scar Jewelry Workshop and Co-Founder of the Healing Phoenix Arts Program. Christopher is a burn survivor whose recovery experience from his accident in 2018 is the number one event that has driven him to his current line of work. The explosion, fire, and destruction of his mobile restaurant has completely reshaped Christopher’s life for the better, in a positive way, resulting from working through the Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) process. Christopher learned there is a teaching component to PTG, and he has a need to give hope to those who have suffered trauma. Christopher is peer support trained and certified in Burn Survivor and PTG. Christopher speaks about PTG and is the author of a book detailing his journey to come later this year.

• Learn more about the Healing Phoenix Arts Program
• Learn more about the Warrior Scar Workshop
• Read Holly’s testimonial of Phoenix World Burn Congress 2023
• Learn more about Phoenix SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery)

Today’s podcast is powered by the Pritzker Hageman Law Firm! The Pritzker Hageman burn injury legal team helps burn survivors and their loved ones pursue compensation and justice throughout the United States. Learn more more at: LegalJourney.guide

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

Have you ever filled out our "contact us" form? If you have, then you've already met today's podcast guest: Liliana Palacios, Phoenix Society's Community Resource Coordinator! Liliana is a burn survivor who has worked with trauma survivors in various capacities throughout her career. She discovered her passion for community service after sustaining a major burn injury when she was 19.

In our conversation, Liliana provides a behind-the-scenes look at her role with Phoenix Society, reveals some of the frequently asked questions she hears from survivors and caregivers, talks about her own struggles as an amputee, and offers tips for those who are interested in giving back.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Liliana Palacios grew up in Los Angeles and is a proud mother to three grown-up kids. She studied at San Francisco State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Health Education with a minor in Holistic Health and Women's Health Issues. Over the years, Lili has mainly worked supporting trauma survivors in various capacities. She discovered her passion for community service through her own experience as a burn survivor. Forty-one years ago, at the age of 19, Lili was in a house fire (she's on OG, y’all!). She attended Phoenix World Burn Congresses throughout the years. Through a fellow burn survivor and her mentor, she learned about the different resources available to the survivor community - which inspired her to get involved in community service. Her other interests include art, photography, cooking, and gardening, among other things.

• Join our Facebook Group for Spanish-speaking survivors and caregivers
• Download Sara’s STEPS in Spanish
• Sign up for Phoenix Society’s Virtual Support Group
• Join our weekly Peer Support Chat
• Contact Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors
• Visit our Burn Community Calendar

Mölnlycke Health Care is a world-leading MedTech company that specializes in innovative solutions for wound care and surgical procedures. Mölnlycke products and solutions are used daily by hospitals, healthcare providers, and patients in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more by visiting: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/resource-marketplace/molnlycke.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.