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Any program designed to work beyond the hospital doors…anything dealing with the prevention and education of burn injury, life beyond a burn injury, or getting the patient from living to thriving in spite of a burn injury…functions best with a burn survivor as part of the team.
Not just any burn survivor will do. The individual must be educated, well trained, highly motivated, and fearless. Whether it is expanding on the subject matter of burns for medical students, encouraging classmates to be supportive during a school re-entry, or one on one counseling, you must know what needs to be said and done and the best way to say and do it.
There are motivated and fearless individuals in the burn populace. The education and training, and institutional support take a little time.
Contact us if you feel we can be of service in any way.
What they’re saying…
Believe it or not, it’s time once again for me to plan for speakers to my psychosocial course at Elon… …I do hope you can come. Your talk is one of the highlights, not just of the course, but of the year.
Thanks.
Charity
Charity Johansson, PT, PhD, GCS
Professor
Dept of Physical Therapy Education
Elon University
We really appreciate you sharing with us… …about your personal experience as a burn survivor. Our students learned a whole new perspective from you.
Sincerely,
Tara G. Gunter, RN, MSN
Randolph Community College
Associate Degree Nursing Program
Associate Degree Nursing Instructor
Asheboro, NC
2005
I just wanted to say a huge thanks!!!!!! You are a wonderful speaker, I believe you gave many people a new perspective.
Thanks again!
Colleen
Duquesne University
April 2005
January did a great job speaking to the level of the student. He presented the patient perspective in a far more detailed and effective manner than any professional could do. I feel his presentation was inspirational, frank, humorous and moving. He is an amazing individual and I applaud his efforts in sharing his story and putting himself out there for students who are going to be in the allied health professions. I think he helped to fill in gaps in understanding the burn recovery.
Ingrid Provident Ed.D, OTR/L
Assistant Professor / Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Rangos Health Science School
Duquesne University
April 2005
Very realistic. He makes the healthcare provider realize that we are not treating a problem, we are treating a person. We need to be aware of their concerns and feelings. Furthermore, we must put our own emotions aside...sometimes patients will rage at us, we need to understand that we are used as a release. (Not forgetting that sometimes we are the issue.)
Wonderful!
Thanks so much!
Carrie
Duquesne University
April 2005
He is very polished in telling his story He is very authentic and considerate of a wide range of responses to the story he tells, I wish him great success as his mission is clear and good…
Pat
Duquesne University
April 2005
My name is Kristin… …and I am the current co-president, along with Dawn… …of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) at Duquesne University. Last year we had James January come as a guest speaker and we would love to have him come again to speak this spring…
2006 request, spoke February 2006
I just wanted to thank you for all you did here at Duquesne University this past week! Being a freshman this whole experience is all new, but after a visit to the near by hospital burn unit, (Mercy Hospital), and hearing about you and your project I am now seeing how important OT really is! I had only been exposed to a small portion of OT before school and now I'm see how wide the field is…
Krysten
2006
I recently attended a speech given by James January at Duquesne University. In all honesty, I attended in order to fulfill a requirement I had, but the experience turned into more than I had anticipated. Mr. January educated a room full of college students who were otherwise ignorant of a situation like his… …can't speak for everyone in the room but I know that Mr. January made a lasting impression on myself and many of the students in that room during his one hour speech. Instead of being there to fulfill a requirement, I was there to learn and appreciate one man's incredible life story… …left the room with more respect and admiration than I think I've ever had for one person. Mr. January is a remarkable man with one of the greatest appreciations for life I've ever seen. He won me and many others over with his speech and his amazing resilience after such a situation. The January Foundation is among the most important organizations I've come across and I really appreciate Mr. January sharing his story with the students of Duquesne. Thank you.
Samantha
2006
I was one of the nursing students who was in the GTCC group that you spoke to… …I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to articulate the 'patient side' of healthcare. I think it is very important for healthcare professionals to be aware of the psycho-social aspect of patient care. And you did a great job presenting it.
I also think it is great that you are involved with the Burn Camps, and serve as a mentor to the kids. My youngest son goes to Victory junction camp due to a kidney transplant. I know how much he loves to go to camp and be around kids just like him, and not feel like the 'different kid'. What an inspiration you must be to the burn kids. Keep up the good work!
Just wanted to say thanks,
best regards,
dona
(future nurse)
2006
Thank you for your wonderful presentation today at the hospital. These are the moments in nursing school that you cannot get from a textbook. I wish you continued success in all your endeavors and new challenges with flight training, skydiving and life.
Zen thoughts,
Karla
GTCC student nurse
2005
I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for speaking to my nursing class today. You exhibit many things that I would like to find in my self one day. You are a remarkable person… …I enjoyed listening to your story, if more people would speak up in favor or support of causes like burns the donations and money would be more free flowing I am sure.
Brandy
Gaston College Nursing Student
2005
…from Sampson Community College in Clinton… …You spoke to our students yesterday when we were in Chapel Hill at the Burn Center.
First, I would like to thank you for all that you do. I have been with the students on these trips for the past three years and have enjoyed your participation… …look forward to our trip each year.
I would like to be able to do more… …not sure what would be available to me in my area to volunteer to help out. I am not a burn survivor myself, but my sister is and this is something that means a lot to me. If you can think of anything that I might be able to do to help with the foundation or… …in anyway at all, please feel free to contact me…
Lynn Cavenaugh
Sampson CC
2005
Courtney here… …I just wanted to take the time to personally thank you for comming out and speaking to us last monday. It really gave us a different perspective from the normal lectures hearing it from a patient's point of view. Hearing about your determination and perserverance through all the struggles really inspired me. Thanks for reminding me again why I chose the nursing profession. You are a truly great person with a great personality and GREAT sense of humor!...
Thanks again for being such an awesome speaker,
Courtney
SPCC
2005
…Lynda Elko. We met in my class on Monday… …Just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed meeting you. You opened my eyes to the other side and for that I am greatful and my future patients will benefit from you and who you are. I believe that you are a very special person with a heart of "gold"… …It amazes me that you turned your life into what it is… …Do you realize what a positive impact you make on people? Sure you do, that is why you are involved like you are. Forgive the terrible, overused taboo but I am going to use it anyway, here goes, all things happen for a reason… …Anyway, I just wanted to say it was a pleasure to meet you and thank you for your time…
Lynda
SPCC
2005
… I just wanted to tell you, James, thank you so much for being a part of so many lives. I was at the Burn Center last week… …a nursing student from Johnston Community College. I have to admit..when I first was notified that I had to attend this clinical session, I really was reluctant to attend. I figured it was "just another way for the instructors to suck some more time out of us". Little did I know that when I left out of there my life would forever be changed.
I didn't get to observe "up close and personal" many of the burn victims, but I did see most of them from standing at their doors. So many reasons, so many ways these lives have been changed. I can't even imagine what it would be like to receive burns..esp like yours...80 plus percent of your body.
Listening..and I do mean "listening" to you have made an impact on my life. When I returned home that night, I bet I checked the stove 100 times. I drove so carefully just praying my car wouldn't lose its breaks or flip over. I accessed your site and read it out loud to my son. I am a single mom of an 18 year old son … and I worry a lot about him when he goes out and now even more… …(yes, Friday the 13th my son's care hydroplaned in the terrible rains and flipped 9 times. Car was a disaster, pieces here and there, but my son and his friend just walked away with glass in their hair and mouths...but now I look at what might have been. It's so frightening, but I have to keep in mind that God knows out fate already, right?)
Long story short. Thanks so much for touching my life and so many others. You have given me so much courage to face so many things. You have shown me that something magical can happen out of something so frightening...and by magical...you survived...you laugh and cry like I do...you are funny....cute...full of spirit. I will always keep you in mind. Who knows...I graduate in May and maybe with a year's experience in med-surg I can then work in the Burn Center. That would be so nice.
Take care, James.
Sincerely,
Tammy
P.S. I know you speak with a lot of people...I was the one so interested in your dreams and the interpretations...I think dreams are so awesome...esp trying to figure them out.
2004
I am one of the "newbie" nurses whom you spoke to… …at the NC Jaycee Burn center when you performed your dramatic first reading. I was touched and inspired by your story and felt that writing you to thank you was something that I had to do the very first time that I had a chance to sit down at work...nearly a week later… …I am the hispanic looking chic who cried like a baby at the end of your reading… …I would love to learn more about you and what you are all about…
Sincerely,
Jaelynn
2004
2005
Great meeting you at the ABA. In 14 years working in the field, ER and now a burn center I have never met someone as unaffected… …about their previous injuries. I applaud you, your tenacity and your work with survivors…
www.azburncenter.com
www.azburn.org
My best to you and your staff...
Bryan Hildebrand
Research Coordinator / Data Analyst
The Arizona Burn Center
at Maricopa Medical Center |
