West Penn Burn Center at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital will mark 40 years of excellence in burn care during an anniversary celebration Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Fox Chapel Golf Club.

This special occasion will honor John Gaisford, MD; I. William Goldfarb, MD, and Harvey Slater, MD, all former Medical Directors of the West Penn Burn Center, who dedicated their careers to establishing West Penn as one of the most respected burn centers in the country.

Established in 1969, West Penn Burn Center is the first and only burn program in the region to receive verification honors by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association – and is the only burn center in Pennsylvania to have earned verification four times.

The guest list includes former patients and present and former Burn Center colleagues, as well as current Burn Center Medical Director Larry Jones, MD; Associate Medical Director Roger Barrette, MD, and Surgeon Ariel Aballay, MD. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with dinner and a celebratory program following at 7 p.m.

The evening will feature a special 40th anniversary video presentation and remarks from Dawn Gideon, Executive Vice President and Chief of Hospital Operations, West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS); David Burstin, Board Member, WPAHS, and Sherry Zisk, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, West Penn Hospital.

Since its founding by Dr. Gaisford in 1969 as the West Penn Hospital Burn Trauma Center, the West Penn Burn Center has been known for innovation and leadership in burn care.

In 1972, Dr. Slater founded the Great Lakes Burn Study Group, now in its 37th year of operation, offering burn healthcare providers the chance to exchange ideas through high level educational presentations on burn care, with an emphasis on complex clinical and organizational issues.

The Aluminum Cans for Burned Children recycling program was established in 1985, as well as the outreach “Back to School” program, both of which are still in operation, working to benefit burned children. The first Summer Camp for Burned Children was established in 1987 and celebrated its 23rd session in 2009.

West Penn Burn Center opened an Outpatient Services Center in 2009, and also welcomed Dr. Jones as its fourth medical director and Dr. Barrette as Associate Director.