Dana Doriety, RN, BSN, MSHQS, a nurse burn educator in the UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, recently represented UAB at the 48th Annual Alabama Fire Fighters Conference in Guntersville, Alabama on June 20.
This marks the third consecutive year that the UAB Burn team has participated in the statewide event as part of the division’s broader outreach initiative, which aims to support Alabama’s fire service community through education and resources.
The annual conference, organized by the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD), brings together hundreds of first responders from across the state for education and training. Doriety’s presence at the conference helped highlight the critical connection between first responders and burn care providers. Dave and Christina Hoefflicker, founders of the UAB Burn support group, have long attended this conference, along with Casey Hinsey, a longtime volunteer firefighter whose burn injury occurred in the line of duty, and his wife, Glenda. This year, they once again joined the UAB team, sharing their personal story and helping foster deeper engagement with the fire service community.
Doriety and the team provided educational materials on fire prevention and burn safety and utilized the opportunity to strengthen relationships with local and volunteer fire departments across Alabama.
“Our continued presence at this event reflects our deep respect for the fire service community and our commitment to supporting those who are often first on the scene,” Doriety said. “Outreach like this is a vital part of what we do, ensuring firefighters and volunteers know they have access to specialized care and a support network when they need it most.”
Doriety serves as the departmental education instructor for trauma and burn staff, including the introduction of new products and care materials. She coordinates with unit nurse development practice specialists (NDPSs) to implement burn education for nursing and clinical teams, oversees quarterly burn skills days, and leads weekly in-service trainings across the trauma-burn service lines for physicians, APPs, nurses and technicians. She also leads statewide burn education outreach efforts, working with state and local fire departments, and collaborates with trauma and burn attendings to support clinical education through programs such as ASSET, BEST, ABLS and others.
As part of her educator role, Doriety has prioritized building long-term relationships with volunteer fire departments across Alabama. These connections ensure firefighters are better equipped to provide appropriate initial care at the scene of injury. Over the last three years, she has grown the outreach program substantially, with the annual conference playing a key role in this sustained expansion.
“Proper care given immediately after an injury can make a big difference in a patient’s recovery, time in the hospital and long-term outcomes,” Doriety said.
About the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Department Conference
The Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD) was established in 1977 to provide a unified platform for advancing the interests of volunteer firefighters across the state. Each year, the AAVFD hosts its annual conference to support continued learning and recognition within the fire service.