Dr. Heimbach’s commitment to a career in burn care, research and education was established in 1977 when he became the Director of the University of Washington Burn Center in Seattle, Washington, USA. In the next three and one-half decades, Dr. Heimbach established his leadership in the field of burn injury as a clinician, educator and investigator.  He was one of the first proponents of early burn wound excision; a surgical advancement that revolutionized burn care during the 1980’s. His research has included laser-assisted burn wound excision, appraisal of hyperbaric oxygen in burn care.  As a mentor, Dr. Heimbach supervised the maturation of 30 research and clinical fellows, 19 of whom presently serve as director or staff members of Burn Centers in the United States and three other countries.

Throughout his career, Dr. Heimbach was been dedicated to improving the organization and delivery of burn care.  To that end, he served as a consultant to the government of Bhutan to develop a regional burn center and he played a dominant role in the Verification of Burn Centers in the United States.  His leadership in the world of burn care has been confirmed by his appointments to the Shiner’s Hospitals for Children Burns Medical Advisory Board, the National Research Council Committee to advise the American Red Cross, his presidency of the American Burn Association, and Presidency of this organization, the International Society for Burn Injuries.