Ten years ago, Dr. Marc Jeschke came to Sunnybrook's Ross Tilley Burn Centre to build a research program that would change the lives of burn patients around the world.

Today, he is celebrating his team's many achievements toward that goal including another impressive milestone — 35 years of the Ross Tilley Burn Centre and the Centre's 20th anniversary at Sunnybrook.

Sunnybrook's Ross Tilley Burn Centre is the largest, most advanced adult burn centre in Canada, offering the full spectrum of care, from acute treatment of major burn injuries to reconstructive surgery to specialized rehabilitation. More than 300 new patients are rushed to Sunnybrook by air or land ambulance each year. Another 3,000 are in ongoing care as outpatients.

Each patient benefits from personalized treatments born from innovative research led by Dr. Jeschke and his team.

"We have a vision," says Dr. Jeschke. "We say, 'No death. No pain. No scar.' And we're working every day to turn this vision into a reality for more patients."

They have launched, for example, a world-first clinical trial using stem cells from a patient's own burned skin to accelerate the healing process and prevent scarring. Another research project, in partnership with the University of Toronto, has led to the creation of a handheld 3D skin tissue printer that may improve how we treat burns.

These incredible innovations were made possible with help from generous donors, including the country's leaders in the electrical industry.

Philanthropy is also helping to build a second dedicated burn operating room at Sunnybrook, specially equipped to help as many as 200 more patients a year not just survive, but thrive after a serious burn.

The centre's first 20 years at Sunnybrook are just the beginning, says Dr. Jeschke. "We're inventing the future of burn care. And that future is closer than we think."