FORT DETRICK, Md. – The International Society of Burn Injuries recently announced that it appointed Dr. Kaitlin Pruskowski, a clinical pharmacist at the Medical Research and Development Command’s Institute of Surgical Research, to serve as a member of the Research Committee. Dr. Pruskowski is one of three Americans on the 18-member committee and the only pharmacist.

“I am honored to be appointed to this committee,” says Pruskowski. “I am a relatively early career practitioner and I am very grateful that my esteemed colleagues around the world recognize my contributions to burns and burn care. I am very excited to serve alongside them on this committee and the opportunities this appointment will provide for me not only to work with these colleagues but also to learn from them.”

The two-year appointment will give Pruskowski the opportunity to build relationships with veteran burn care specialists from around the world, as well as learn about the latest innovations in burn prevention, treatment and rehabilitation that can inform future research at ISR.

Founded in 1960, ISBI develops and disseminates burn care guidelines and promotes burn education, advocacy, and training in an effort to improve the quality of care worldwide. The research committee’s mission is to help ISBI members disseminate research findings and ideas to stimulate international collaboration.

Pruskowski says that as a clinical pharmacist specializing in burn critical care, she brings a perspective that complements the experience of the physicians, surgeons and occupational therapists who will serve on the committee alongside her.

“A lot of the focus in burn care is on immediate treatment and surgery, but as a pharmacist, I’m mainly focused on what happens afterward,” says Pruskowski. “We don’t necessarily dose drugs in a burn patient the same way we would a non-trauma patient. For the day-to-day care of a burn patient, I focus on optimizing drug doses and methods of administration and drug interactions. We also manage pain and delirium, sedation and complications such as stress ulcers and infections. This brings a unique insight into the design of future combustion studies.”

Pruskowski earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. She has been the primary investigator or co-investigator in many clinical trials and has authored or co-authored nearly 30 academic papers. She is currently the principal investigator for a phase III multicenter randomized trial investigating the role of vitamin C in the treatment of thermal injuries, called the VICtoRY trial, which led to the establishment of the first international consortium for clinical trials in burns and led to a recent publication in New England Journal of Medicine.

Pruskowski is only the second person from ISR to participate in the research panel, after Dr. Lee Cancio, director of the center.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to develop and review research initiatives and identify ways to fill gaps in the current literature,” says Pruskowski. “As part of a military organization, I am grateful to have international partners that I can ask for help and also offer my help when needed.”