Our History

The Burn Foundation of America was founded as the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation in 1988 by Dr. Joseph M. Still. Dr. Still dedicated his life to constantly improving the treatment of burn patients. 1978 brought him to Augusta when he teamed up with Doctors Hospital to build the Joseph M. Still Burn Center, which, today, is the largest burn center in the United States. Dr. Still was driven to start the Burn Foundation after witnessing the strain that finding a place to stay and providing for themselves put on the families of burn patients. His dream was to provide a place to stay and non-medical necessities for burn patients and their families, and his dream remains the Burn Foundation’s mission in 2021.

In 2003, after practicing under Dr. Still, Dr. Robert Fred Mullins became the Medical Director of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center and subsequently worked on expanding their and the Burn Foundation’s reach. Dr. Mullins led the Center’s transformation into a national organization, the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America (BRCA), with locations across 15 states. Dr. Mullins once said, “I don’t consider this a job. I enjoy coming to work every day.” Respected and loved by his staff and patients, Dr. Mullins served as Medical Director until his death in 2020.

Dr. Mullins is succeeded by his brother, Frank Mullins, as Director of the BRCA. Frank Mullins continues to expand BRCA’s impact and foster its growth across the United States.