Nationally Acclaimed Burn Surgeon To Lead Specialized Regional Burn Center

Newswise — EL PASO, Texas — University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) and Texas Tech Health El Paso are opening the region’s first dedicated burn center under the leadership of nationally recognized trauma and burn surgeon, Philip E. Fidler, M.D., FACS. This partnership transforms El Paso into a regional hub for specialized burn care and eliminates treatment delays that can mean the difference between recovery and permanent disability.

When a child suffers scalding burns or an industrial worker faces severe chemical injuries, El Paso families have two options: to accompany their loved one on a 300-mile ambulance journey to a burn center in Albuquerque or Lubbock, or face separation during the medical crisis. That dilemma ends now.

“Every minute matters when treating severe burns,” said Dr. Fidler, UMC’s newly appointed medical director and professor at Foster School of Medicine. “Families in our region shouldn’t have to choose between staying close to home and accessing the best possible care for their loved ones.”

Dr. Fidler brings decades of clinical experience to his new role, having previously served as medical director at several leading burn centers, including the Andrew J. Panettieri Burn Center in Connecticut. He has held academic appointments at prestigious institutions, including Georgetown University School of Medicine and Yale School of Medicine, training the next generation of trauma and burn surgeons. Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Fidler founded the REACH Burn Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting burn survivors through adaptive sports, recovery resources and international medical missions.

Addressing a Critical Regional Gap

The center meets a long-standing need in the nation’s 22nd largest metropolis. El Paso’s 680,000 residents, along with families across the far West Texas region, previously relied on facilities 300 miles away for specialized burn care. UMC treats over 100 burn patients annually, many of whom cannot be transferred due to capacity limits at distant hospitals.

“This is a milestone that exemplifies UMC’s unwavering dedication to raising health care standards for the region,” said Jacob Cintron, President and CEO of the El Paso County Hospital District. “By delivering world-class burn care with compassion and expertise, we can keep our community closer to home and with their support systems when they need it most.”

Community Investment and Advanced Capabilities

The burn center is funded by UMC’s $396.6 million bond initiative, approved by El Paso voters in November 2024 with 65% support. Of this total, $24.4 million is allocated for designing, building and equipping the burn center. There will be two dedicated burn operating rooms and specially designed inpatient rooms with advanced temperature and infection control systems.

Located alongside the region’s only Level I trauma center, UMC’s burn center integrates seamlessly with existing emergency systems. When accidents involve multiple injuries, patients can receive coordinated care under one roof instead of being treated at separate facilities.

“Throughout my decade leading this institution, I’ve watched our community grow,” said Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., president of Texas Tech Health El Paso. “We don’t accept that specialized care should remain out of reach of our Borderplex families. Together, we’re creating a model that serves not just El Paso, but the entire Southwest.”

Beyond Treatment: Prevention, Research, and Education

Beyond immediate treatment, the center establishes El Paso as a regional leader in burn prevention and research. Community education programs will target the industrial accidents and household injuries that are most common in our Borderplex, while research initiatives explore healing treatments specific to the region’s diverse, multilingual population.

Alan H. Tyroch, M.D., FACS., FCCM, professor and founding chair of surgery at the Foster School of Medicine and UMC’s Chief of Surgery and Trauma Medical Director, has championed this vision since 2017. “The nearest American Burn Association (ABA)-verified burn center to El Paso is in Lubbock 345 miles away.” He said. “When you look at the top 30 cities in the U.S., only two do not have a burn center. That would be Charlotte and El Paso, but there are two burn centers 80 miles & 139 miles from Charlotte. El Paso is truly an island to itself when it comes to a burn center. El Pasoans deserve a burn center.”

Texas Tech Health El Paso medical students, nursing students and residents will train alongside burn specialists. Together they’ll create a pipeline of providers who understand both the medical complexity of burn treatment and the cultural needs of our Borderplex.