Phoenix World Burn Congress (WBC) Reimagined is the revitalized in-person event held by national nonprofit, Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Phoenix WBC began in 1985, developed by burn survivors, for burn survivors, to identify and understand the issues that impact the daily lives of those associated with burn trauma, and is the world's largest gathering of burn survivors, their families, burn care professionals, and the fire service industry.

The in-person event was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Phoenix Society took the time to conduct extensive community research to understand the sustainability of the event further. Phoenix Society decided to bring back the event in person in a "Reimagined" format in 2023.

Visit the official event website here.

Registration

Registration for Phoenix World Burn Congress will occur in three phases:

• Early bird registration: Now through 9/1
• Regular registration: 9/1 through 9/25
• No online registrations will be accepted from 9/25 until 10/4 as the organization prepares to travel to the conference.
• On-site registration: Will occur upon your arrival at the Gaylord and will be at the Regular Registration rate.
• Each person attending Phoenix must be registered for the event.

We can offer you the following registration rates due to the generosity of our partners and sponsors:

Early Bird Registration: April 3rd - September 1st

• Survivors $415/per person
• Loved Ones: $415/per person
• Supporters: $590/per person

Regular Registration: September 2nd - October 7th

• Survivors: $500/per person
• Loved Ones: $500/per person
• Supporters: $700/per person

We are hoping to be able to have several food offerings included with your registration this year, however the exact meals to be offered are still being determined.

Meet Our Keynote Speaker: Aaron Volpatti

Aaron Volpatti is an Author, Cognitive Performance and Injury Coach, Speaker, retired NHL player, burn survivor, and a Brown University- B.Sc Human Biology graduate.

Setting a goal and visualizing his future kept Aaron Volpatti going when he burned 40% of his body when he was 19. Aaron's passion and love of hockey came to what he thought would be an abrupt halt in 2005, but his determination continued, ultimately leading him to a 5-year career playing professional hockey. His journeys and successes wouldn't have been possible without the extremely powerful visualization practice he developed.

Aaron has a truly inspiring story of overcoming a tremendous amount of adversity. His hockey career, post-secondary studies, and personal experiences led Aaron to develop his unique practice. Today, he is dedicated to teaching others how to find their true grit through visualization.

Special thanks to our PWBC Phoenix Diamond Partners

Medstar Health & D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation

Interested in supporting Phoenix WBC? Learn more about Sponsorship and Exhibitor opportunities with Phoenix Society.

Special Events

(All information is listed in Eastern Timezone)

Kick-Off Reception

Wednesday, October 4 | 6:30 –9:00 pm

Reunite with old friends and make some new ones at this casual light-fare opening reception. The fun will be held at the Gaylord National in the Lower Atrium.

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Talent Show

Thursday, October 5th | 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Showcase your talent in this fun-filled, family-friendly event. There are no prizes or awards – just good clean fun! There are only 20 performance slots, so sign up early online or during registration. Please note that performance times are limited to a maximum of 3 minutes to allow time for all performances.

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Walk of Solidarity (Previously Walk of Remembrance)

Saturday October 7th | 8:30 - 10:00 am; 10:00 – 11:00 am

As a community, we will unite to walk in unity, celebrating our journey as survivors and showing the power of our community. This event was previously known as the walk of remembrance but has been changed to allow everyone to remember the losses they've experienced due to their injuries.

Join us from 8:30 – 10:00 AM for coffee, community, and rally sign-making. We’ll leave the hotel staging area at 10:00 am, then walk together from the Gaylord National, through the Marina Promenade, to the Gaylord Pier. The Walk of Solidarity will be capped off with a community celebration, closing out the event.

2023 Phoenix World Burn Congress

Schedule of Events

More information on each learning session will be shared soon!

Wednesday, October 4th

12:00 - 6:00 PM Registration

4:00 - 6:00 PM First-Time Attendee Gathering

Join together for a gathering dedicated to welcoming our new community members, connecting them with peers, and educate them on what to expect with the event. Make lifelong friends that can last long after the event ends!

6:30 - 9:00 PM Kick-Off Event

Join us for a fun, casual gathering to connect and be apart of the larger community of burn survivors, loved ones, hospital partners, and more!

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Thursday, October 5th

7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Registration

9:00 - 9:20 AM Opening Ceremonies

Phoenix Society and Local Partners officially kick off Phoenix WBC 2023

9:20 - 10:30 AM Keynote Address

10:30 - 11:00 AM Break

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wellness Center Programming

The Wellness Center offers restoration, tools, resources, and inspiration to support your healing journey. Experts across many fields will help you learn new skills and experience complementary healing methods.

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Vendor Fair

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Healing Through Our Stories - Open Mic

Sharing individual stories from members of the burn community.

2:00 - 3:30 PM Learning Sessions

Topic based conversations/education to inform the community which will support their journey.

3:30 - 4:00 PM Break

4:00 - 5:30 PM Support Groups & Meet-Up Groups

Peer and mental health practitioner-led support groups that focus on one's lived experience/identity to provide and gain support.

Participate in casual meet-up discussions based on shared interests and lived experiences. Establish a deeper connection with others in a non-support group setting. Meet-up groups can utilize any surrounding space or outside areas to connect.

5:45 - 6:30 PM Substance Abuse Recovery Meeting

This year we have made a change to our Friends of Bill W group. We are now offering a Substance Abuse Recovery Group. The name change reflects our desire to be more transparent about medical problems that affect many of our participants from a number of sources, including drugs, alcohol, and food among other things. With the proliferation of the opioid epidemic it is essential we provide services for those in need of support.

7:30 - 9:30 PM Talent Show

Showcasing the talent of the burn community in a family-friendly atmosphere – PWBC’s Got Talent!

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Friday, October 6th

8:30 - 10:00 AM Support Groups

Peer-led and mental health practitioner led groups that focus on ones lived experience/identity to provide and gain support.

10:30 - 11:30 AM Mainstage Presentation

11:30 - 11:45 AM Break

11:45 AM - 1:15 PM Healing Through Our Stories - Open Mic

11:45 AM - 5:00 PM Wellness Center Programming

The Wellness Center offers restoration, tools, resources, and inspiration to support you on your healing journey. Experts across many fields will help you learn new skills and experience complementary healing methods.

1:30 - 3:30 PM Vendor Fair

Structured social event with booths, demonstrations, and activities for the community to experience.

3:45 - 5:00 PM Learning Sessions

Topic based conversations/education to inform the community which will support their journey.

5:15 - 6:00 PM Substance Abuse Recovery Meeting

This year we have changed our Friends of Bill W group. We are now offering a Substance Abuse Recovery Group. The name change reflects our desire to be more transparent about medical problems that affect many of our participants from a number of sources, including drugs, alcohol, and food among other things. With the proliferation of the opioid epidemic it is essential we provide services for those in need of support.

5:15 PM Meet Up Groups, Free Time, Dinner On Your Own

Participate in casual meet-up discussions based on shared interests and lived experiences. Establish a deeper connection with others in a non-support group setting. Groups may choose to connect with one another in the hotel space with casual conversation/activities, explore National Harbor, grab a bite to eat, or more!

OR

Free time to rest and recharge, connect with new and old friends, and enjoy the time to connect.

8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Dance Party

Come back to the main ballroom and boogie down to some sweet tunes by everyone's favorite DJ, Jeff Pelchat.

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Saturday, October 7th

8:00 - 10:00 AM Registration

8:30 - 10:00 AM Sign-Making & Coffee Break for Walk of Solidarity

Supplies were provided for attendees to make signs to use in the walk.

10:00 -11:00 AM Walk of Solidarity (WOS)

As a community, we will unite to walk in unity, celebrating our journey as survivors and showing the power of our community. Formally known as the walk of remembrance, this event has changed to support all those experiencing loss from a burn injury.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Community Celebration

Fun event to close out the conference. Details to come.

12:00 PM Free Time

WELLNESS CENTER

Daily Programming Thursday – Friday

The Wellness Center offers restoration, tools, resources, and inspiration to support you on your healing journey. Experts across many fields will help you learn new skills and experience complementary healing methods.

Start the day with vinyasa (gentle) flow yoga, or give various art therapy techniques a try in the afternoon! Unwind in our dedicated massage area, coordinated by Handle With Care Massage Therapy, with a 15-minute massage from independently licensed massage therapists, and pop in throughout the week for a quiet place to meditate, relax, and reflect.

All levels are welcome; each program can be modified to your ability and comfort level. Additional program listings will be available soon.

GENERAL INFORMATION

PAYMENT

**Full payment must be received in order to receive name badge at registration for Phoenix WBC.

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS/SPECIAL REQUESTS

Pursuant to the Americans with Disability Act, if you require specific aids or services and special room requirements (mothers' room, prayer room, etc.), please contact the organization via: info@phoenix-society.org. You must notify the organization of your needs by September 1, 2023. If you do not notify us of your needs by this time, we cannot guarantee ADA accommodation.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

To help attendees plan and prepare for their trip to National Harbor, MD, we have put together an Anticipated Expense and Planning Sheet. The sheet includes information on registration fees, travel tips, nearby food options, and fundraising ideas for those seeking assistance with Phoenix WBC expenses.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

We have a room block available at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. The room rate including the daily resort fee is $261/night + tax, for an anticipated total of $308/night. Three nights at the convention center, including tax, is approximately $924/room.

Visit our online portal to book your reservation. You’ll need to enter your check-in date, check-out date, number of rooms, and number of guests before selecting your room. Once your room is selected, you will need to enter your contact information and payment method.

Important Hotel Notes

Through the online portal linked above, you can book, modify, or cancel your hotel reservations.

We have a very limited number of ADA accessible rooms available for Phoenix WBC. While these are available on a first-come, first-served basis, please be considerate of your fellow attendees and only book an ADA room if you or someone in your party has a legitimate medical need.

If you have concerns about your individual situation and would like more information on room dimensions or need other accommodations (such as close proximity to an elevator), please contact us and we will do our best to help. We want a positive experience for all of our attendees

Reservations must be made on or before September 4, 2023, at 11:59 EST to be eligible for the group rate.

For those booking group reservations: There is a limit on the number of rooms you can book at one time. Please consider how many rooms your group will truly need before booking your reservations. If you overbook and do not have attendees to fill your reservation, please contact Phoenix Society directly at info@phoenix-society.org. We typically have a waitlist for room cancelations and can connect you with someone to fill your block.

If you are having any difficulty with booking a room, please contact info@phoenix-society.org.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

If you are flying to the conference, there are three nearby airports.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the closest and is approximately 15 minutes away ($30-45 Rideshare or Taxi Ride) from the convention center. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) are two other nearby airports at approximately 40 and 50 minutes away, respectively.

Flight prices vary based on location, time of flight, and airline, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $150-$600 for a roundtrip fare. For example, a roundtrip flight from Dallas, TX, to DCA is currently $320.

If you are driving to the conference, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center offers on-site parking for $16+tax/hr or $33+tax/day.

Additionally, the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (METRO), and Amtrak Train are local public transportation options available for traveling to, from, and during the conference. Union Station is a central bus terminal with several bus companies transporting to/from this station.

Please note: Phoenix Society is unable to provide complimentary transportation to/from travel centers and the hotel this year.

CONTACT HOURS

We are unable to offer contact hours this year but are able to offer certificates of attendance. Please contact info@phoenix-society.org if you are in need of a certificate of attendance.

EQUIPMENT NEEDS

If you are in need of equipment (including motorized scooters or wheelchairs) when in town, please contact =info@phoenix-society.org.

REGISTRATION REFUNDS

If you are in need of a refund for your registration, you must send an email to request the refund to info@phoenix-society.org. The registration fee includes a nonrefundable processing charge of $50; an invoice will be sent to your attention for this amount. No refunds for cancellations after September 13, 2019, at 11:59 EST.

EVENT CANCELLATIONS

If your event is canceled, The Phoenix Society, Inc. will fully refund your registration fee with no penalties or other reductions. Any fees incurred by cancellations of related commitments, including but not limited to travel and hotel reservations, cannot be paid by Phoenix Society, Inc. and are your responsibility.

SPEAKERS & SCHEDULE

Although we make every effort to honor our speaker list and the event schedule, circumstances are sometimes beyond our control and, therefore, the event speakers and schedules are subject to change without notice.

PRIVACY POLICY

Except as required by law, the contact and personal information we collect about you will not be shared outside of The Phoenix Society, Inc.

We may photograph or videotape speakers and attendees or request written testimonials for use in online or printed promotions. By virtue of your attendance, you grant us the right to take such photos or videos and to use your likeness and share testimonials in such materials.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Please contact Phoenix Society at (800) 888-2876 or info@phoenix-society.org if you have questions or concerns regarding your Phoenix World Burn Congress Registration.