Joint Base San Antonio > News

USAISR director named American Burn Association president
January 10, 2025 — The American Burn Association recently announced that Dr. Leopoldo “Lee” Cancio, director of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, has been named President-elect of the ABA for the 2026-2027 term, making him the 19th USAISR teammate to hold this prestigious position... MORE

USAISR’s Cancio Named American Burn Association President

USAISR Burn Center seeks therapy dog teams
June 24, 2021 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Brooke Army Medical Center is looking for very qualified and dynamic dog teams to aid in the burn center’s healthcare mission... MORE

Electrical burn survivor reflects on accident, warns others to be careful
February 18, 2021 — On Nov. 2, 2020, Jorge Terrazas was working on electrical equipment at the South Texas Gateway Terminal, a crude oil export terminal in Ingleside, Texas, when he felt a powerful shock go through his body... MORE

Jorge Terrazas, (second from right), is surrounded by his family (from left), daughter Lesley, sons Aaron and Jorge and wife, Tere, while he was recovering from electrical burn injuries at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

USAISR Burn Center raises awareness for National Burn Awareness Week
January 29, 2021 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is joining the American Burn Association in raising awareness and prevention of electrical burn injuries during National Burn Awareness Week Feb. 7-13... MORE

National Burn Awareness Week is observed annually the first full week of February by the American Burn Association, or ABA, providing an opportunity for organizations and burn, fire and life safety educators to share a common message of burn awareness and prevention in communities across the U.S.

New combat medics tackle burn team duty
May 20, 2020 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is the leader in burn treatment both on and off the battlefield for the Department of Defense. For the service members and civilians of this leading-edge treatment division, it means long hours, razor-thin margins of error, and life-saving decisiveness is a daily business, pandemic or not... MORE

Pvt. Sage Deemer, a combat medic specialist temporarily assigned to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center applies bandages and gauze to a burn patient.

USAISR program training local first responders on advanced burn care
November 29, 2019 — Paramedics and emergency medical technicians with the San Antonio Fire Department are being trained on the basics of advanced burn care through a new program and partnership with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

The Burn Strong program is a partnership between the San Antonio Fire Department and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center in which paramedics and EMTs learn the basics of advanced burn and trauma life support care.

Houston Astros pitchers visit U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center
January 25, 2019 — Houston Astros pitchers Dean Deetz and Rogelio Armenteros stopped by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston to visit with burn patients, sign autographs and tour the facility Jan. 24... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Peters (left) describes the mission and capabilities of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center Burn Flight Team to Houston Astros pitchers Dean Deetz, Rogelio Armenteros and Astros broadcaster Alex Trevino during their visit to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 24.

Two USAISR nurses among Top 25 of South Central Texas
December 4, 2018 — Two nurses from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston were named among the best 25 nurses of South Central Texas... MORE

U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center nurses Tanya Luckado and Michael Mueller were selected as Honorees for the Inaugural Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas sponsored by the South Central Texas Organization of Nurse Executives.

USAISR pilot program provides training on burn care to deploying servicemembers
October 18, 2018 — A pilot program at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is providing hands-on clinical training to deploying service members on the care and treatment of one of the most complex patient populations in the military – those with burn and traumatic injuries... MORE

Maj. Allison Ferro, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center chief of clinical education (left) and Patricia Colston, USAISR Burn Center nurse educator (right) prepare a patient mannequin used for training in the Clinical Pre-Deployment Training Pilot Program. The pilot program gives groups and teams of medical service members who are preparing for deployment the opportunity to train at the USAISR Burn Center, which is the sole facility within the Department of Defense that cares and treats burn patients who are active-duty and injured in combat, military dependents and non-military civilian emergencies.

U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center nurses compete in ‘Dressing Wars’
October 3, 2018 — Nurses at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have a unique mission and require specialized training. The nurses who work at the Burn Intensive Care Unit, or BICU, the Department of Defense’s sole burn center, care for patients with the highest acuity level in the DOD... MORE

The nurses at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center Intensive Care Unit were divided into teams to perform specific simulated wound care techniques on a staff member from their group during a staff development day at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Sept. 14.

U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center seeks dog therapy teams
August 22, 2018 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Brooke Army Medical Center is looking for a qualified and dynamic dog teams to aid in the department’s healthcare mission... MORE

Interested owners/teams should contact the USAISR Public Affairs office at 210-539-5470 to set up the required in-person interview.

USAISR Burn Center volunteer named United Way San Antonio Volunteer of the Year
June 21, 2018 — The United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County presented Sandra “Sandy” Montelongo with the 29th Annual Military Volunteer of the Year award June 6 for volunteering at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

(From left) Capt. Jefferson Hunter, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center Progressive Care Unit Officer-in-Charge; Michael Dulevitz, Chief, Brooke Army Medical Center Office of Volunteer Services; Sue Dodson, Executive Director, Texas Burn Survivor Society; Sandra “Sandy” Montelongo; Paula Davidson, USAISR Burn Intensive Care Unit Volunteer Coordinator, at the 29th Annual United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County Volunteer of the Year awards ceremony June 6. Montelongo was awarded the San Antonio area Volunteer of the Year in the Military category.

USAISR Burn Flight Team deploys to Guatemala
June 15, 2018 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center Burn Flight Team, or BFT, deployed to Guatemala June 6 to transport six critically injured pediatric burn patients to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Argelia Felix-Camacho, Registered Nurse, San Antonio Military Medical Center Burn Team, consoles a patient during a humanitarian mission from Guatemala to Galveston, Texas, June 6. An aeromedical evacuation crew from San Antonio Military Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, provided en route medical treatment to the six injured children during the air Mobility Commnd flight to Galveston, Texas. The children were taken to the Shriners Hospital for Children for further care.

Burn Flight Team provides care for burn patients throughout the world
May 4, 2018 — Throughout the year, a unit of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston can be activated at a moment’s notice to help care for patients with critical burn injuries around the world... MORE

Sgt. AliceAnn Meyer (left), U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Flight Team NCO in charge and respiratory therapist, and Capt. Cassandra Bullock (right), U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Flight Team chief flight nurse, inspect equipment used for the treatment and care of critical burn patients being transported on military aircraft from locations around the world en route to San Antonio, home of the USAIR Burn Center located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Project WOOF underway at USAISR Burn Center
January 23, 2018 — Kaitlin Pruskowski was told her pet Sammy, a seven-year-old Collie-mix, would be a good candidate to be a therapy dog. The doctor of pharmacy at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston didn’t give it much thought until Col. (Dr.) Jennifer Gurney, a critical care trauma surgeon, came up with the idea to establish a therapy dog program at the Burn Center. ... MORE

Dr. Kaitlin Pruskowski, Leah Trefz, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center occupational therapist, and Staff Sgt. Christopher Guerrero take Sammy for a walk throughout Brooke Army Medical Center as part of his rehab program.

Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps visits Burn Center to thank staff
December 5, 2017 — Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, visited the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 17 to thank the staff for their hard work and dedication... MORE

Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green (center) takes a group photo with staff members from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center Progressive Care Unit.

Burn Center offers new pain management approach for patients
November 3, 2017 — Doctors at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are utilizing a novel method of administering pain medication to burn patients in the burn intensive care unit in hopes to mitigate opioid addiction and other complications associated with burn care... MORE

Pain medication is managed with the placement of an intrathecal catheter exactly like an epidural catheter used for laboring women, except that the catheter resides in the intrathecal space where the cerebrospinal fluid resides instead of the epidural space.

Marine has celebrity visitor at Burn Center
October 11, 2017 — Actor Gary Sinese was at the Brooke Army Medical Center during his “Invincible Spirit Festival” with the Lt. Dan Band and celebrity chef Robert Irvine to celebrate the courage of wounded warriors, their families and caregivers... MORE

Actor Gary Sinese stopped by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston to visit Staff Sgt. Christopher Guerrero Sept. 15.

Burn Center participates in doctor exchange program with Pakistan Army
October 11, 2017 — The staff members of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston conducted a subject matter expert exchange with medical doctors from the Pakistan Army Sept. 12-13... MORE

Aldo Arredondo (left) explains burn care procedures to (from left) Maj. (Dr.) Nafees Abu Ul Ala, Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Ahmed Tahir Masood, Col. (Dr.) Ali Muhammad; Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Saadat Ali Janjua, and Col. (Dr.) Akhtar Khalid Ibrahim Sept. 13 during a two-day Subject Matter Expert Exchange, or SMEE, engagement between the Pakistani Army and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, as Maj. Elena Amspacher, SMEE program coordinator looks on.

U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Outpatient Clinic provides vital care
June 2, 2017 — The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston recently received reverification status by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons for its commitment to providing quality burn care to military and civilian patients... MORE

Col. (Dr.) Booker King places the latest American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons reverification certificate next to previous certificates at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center.