VCU news

The VCU Medical Center’s Evans–Haynes Burn Center received nearly $6,000 from the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at VCU after the members spent the spring semester holding a series of fundraisers that included partnering with Richmond firefighters for the Fireman’s Challenge relay event. 

Fraternity members agreed on the focus of the fundraisers after a fire in which two friends of the organization’s members suffered burns. Hampden Sydney student Kirk Rohle received second-degree and third-degree burns after rescuing his childhood friend Benjamin Rogers from a residence. Rohle spent months recovering in the Evans-Haynes Burn Center. 

The VCU Evans-Haynes Burn Center treats 250 to 300 patients a year, including pediatric and adult burn patients. The burn center serves as the regional resource for the care of acute burns and reconstructive needs of burn survivors and provides care for people injured from fire, chemical, scalds, electrical burns and skin loss injuries and diseases.

“This money is invaluable in directly helping improve patient care,” said Michael Feldman, M.D., associate director of the Evans-Haynes Burn Center and assistant professor in the Department of Surgery.

The Evans-Haynes Burn Center is the oldest civilian burn facility in the United States. It opened in 1947 and has grown since then to a 16-bed unit that provides care for 10 to 12 patients a day.  The unit has been redesigned to allow family members of patients to stay with their loved ones and to participate in patient care. 

“It's important to offer the people of Virginia comprehensive burn care and that we be prepared for potentially unforeseen catastrophes,” said Andrea Pozez, M.D., medical director of the Evans-Haynes Burn Center and professor and chair of the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 

Pi Kappa Phi wants to make the campaign an annual event. Members have already begun to collect donations again in hopes of doubling their donation for the 2013 campaign.

“We plan to streamline our fundraising efforts by incorporating a more inclusive, easy-to-use donation website where members of the community can join fundraising teams, set goals and keep track of their progress,” said Grant Day, philanthropy director for Pi Kappa Alpha. “With a more community-based approach, we hope to gain more support for our event and continue its expansion for years to come.”