The University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) has named Philip E. Fidler, M.D., F.A.C.S. as the new Director of the El Paso Burn Center, a facility designed to bring advanced burn care to Far West Texas and Southern New Mexico.
Dr. Fidler, a board-certified surgeon with extensive expertise in burn surgery, trauma, and surgical critical care, joins UMC with more than two decades of leadership in burn centers across the United States. He has completed fellowships in Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at Yale School of Medicine and Burn Surgery at Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts General Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children.
Throughout his career, Dr. Fidler has served as Medical Director at multiple burn centers, including the Andrew J. Panettieri Burn Center in Connecticut and the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of Colorado. He has also held academic appointments at institutions such as Georgetown School of Medicine and Yale School of Medicine, where he trained future surgeons in burn and trauma care.
In addition to his clinical expertise, Dr. Fidler has contributed significantly to burn-related research, prevention initiatives, and medical education. His work includes numerous invited lectures worldwide and leadership roles with the American Burn Association and the North American Burn Society. He is also President of the REACH Burn Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to adaptive sports and recovery programs for burn survivors.
About the El Paso Burn Center
UMC’s Burn Center, developed in partnership with El Paso Children’s Hospital and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, was created to provide specialized, local care for serious burn injuries.
The center’s vision is to be the premier burn center in Far West Texas and Southern New Mexico, offering exceptional patient care while leading nationally and internationally in:
- Burn-related research
- Burn prevention efforts
- Public and professional education on burn injury science
Currently, patients in El Paso must travel long distances, up to 345 miles to Lubbock, for ABA-verified burn care. With the new facility, UMC will reduce the need for patient transfers while strengthening the region’s Level I trauma care capabilities.
Meeting a Regional Need
El Paso, the 22nd largest city in the U.S., has seen growing demand for advanced medical services. Once operational, the Burn Center will provide a dedicated facility with specialized units, critical care beds, and operating rooms to treat burn patients close to home.
With Dr. Fidler’s leadership, UMC El Paso is positioned to become a regional and national leader in burn treatment, prevention, and education, ensuring patients and families across the Borderplex region receive the highest standard of care.
