Several burn survivors from the last 10 years have come back to Plano to celebrate Medical City Plano’s Burn & Reconstructive Center.
Medical City Plano’s Burn & Reconstructive Center marked its 10-year anniversary this fall by bringing together burn survivors, families, first responders and care teams whose lives have intersected through the center’s work since it opened in 2015.
The milestone was recognized during the center’s annual holiday reunion, an event that highlighted patient recovery stories and honored the collaboration between emergency responders and medical professionals. Among those in attendance was burn survivor Brady Russell, whose recovery followed life-threatening injuries sustained in an oilfield explosion.
Russell, a father of two from Graham, Texas, suffered burns over 70% of his body in the August 2024 accident. He was transported to Medical City Plano by Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter crew No. 69 and received specialized emergency and long-term care at the hospital’s Burn & Reconstructive Center. After nearly six months in the center’s intensive care unit and an additional two months in inpatient rehabilitation, Russell continues his recovery through outpatient rehabilitation at the hospital’s Outpatient Burn Clinic.
Medical City Plano’s Burn & Reconstructive Center is Collin County’s only verified burn center and serves as a regional resource for advanced burn and reconstructive care. The center provides around-the-clock specialist availability, emergency and surgical services, and ongoing education and research related to burn and trauma care.
Each year, the center treats approximately 4,000 outpatients and more than 400 hospitalized patients. Its facilities include climate-controlled emergency burn rooms, operating rooms and intensive care units designed to meet the specific needs of burn patients, who often have difficulty regulating body temperature.
“As we celebrate ten years of service, we reflect on the thousands of lives touched and the incredible resilience of our patients,” said Dr. James Cross, medical director of the Burn & Reconstructive Center at Medical City Plano. “Our dedicated team, with more than 100 years of combined burn care experience, remains committed to delivering excellence and hope to every person who comes through our doors.”
During the anniversary event, several individuals and groups were recognized for their contributions to burn care and patient recovery. Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter crew No. 69 was honored for its lifesaving care and transport of Russell. Scott Denman, a former burn patient and volunteer with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors’ SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery) program, was recognized for supporting burn survivors across five regional burn centers, including Medical City Plano.
The center also honored four staff members for a decade of service: nurses Kim Caldwell and Maria Watson, Quality Coordinator Laura Garner, and ICU physical therapist MK Roberts.
“Each of these outstanding colleagues reflect the heart of our mission, carried out daily by every member of our dedicated team,” said Jennifer Rosenthal, RN, burn center director, who has specialized in burn care for more than 18 years. “Excellence always, compassion and skill have helped build a legacy of healing that we are proud to celebrate across our system of care.”