On December 7, 2021, the Joseph M. Still (JMS) Burn Center’s annual Shop with a Doc event saw over 70 children and their families shopping for toys at Walmart. Hosted by Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America (BRCA) and sponsored by the Burn Foundation of America, Shop with a Doc allows pediatric burn patients to shop for Christmas presents with their care providers, all at no cost to them or their families.
“This is our chance to see all the kids that we’ve taken care of over the course of the past year and see them in their environment,” said JMS Burn Center Director of Pediatric Critical Care Dr. Rich Cartie during last year’s event.
Shop with a Doc was started by BRCA’s founder Dr. Fred Mullins in 2004 and has grown exponentially over the years to involve more patients and more fun, including appearances by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, Tinkerbell and the local JROTC. While in the past, many of the providers have been BRCA burn surgeons, this year saw providers from every level of care, from both BRCA and Doctors Hospital, showing up to support their patients.
“Most of the children here are like my family. Most of the children with little bit bigger burns, they are like a family member,” said President of Joseph M Still. Burn Centers Inc. Dr. Zaheed Hassan.
WFXG, Fox54: “Shop with a Doc” for pediatric burn patients
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) – The Burn Foundation of America held “Shop with a Doc” at the Walmart in Evans Tuesday night. Through a partnership with Joseph M. Still Burn Center and Doctors Hospital, they gave pediatric burn patients the chance to do a little shopping, and there were smiles on everyone’s faces.
Read Eliza Kruczynski’s full story and watch the video here.
WJBF: Shop with a doc brings smiles to local children
EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – Lots of smiling faces at the Shop with a Doc festivities Tuesday night in Evans. The kind folks at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center host the event each year. They take burn patients out and let them have a big shopping spree. It’s a chance for a fun night after a trying road to recovery for these youngsters.
Read the full story by Dawn Wise and Chris Shipman, and watch the video here.
WRDW: Shopping spree helps brighten young burn patients’ holidays
EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A holiday shopping spree helped brighten the holiday season for pediatric burn patients. They got to share the experience with the doctors who treated them. It’s called Shop With a Doc, and through many sponsors and donations, each child shops with their doctor and favorite hospital staff for the toys on their holiday wish list.
Read the full story and watch the video here.
The Augusta Chronicle: Young patients served by Joseph M. Still Burn Center get to Shop With A Doc for Christmas
Kids get ready for the annual Shop with a Doc holiday celebration at Walmart in Evans, Ga., on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. Children and their families filled their carts with toys and had a chance to meet Santa. The event is hosted by the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital of Augusta and sponsored by the Burn Foundation of America. The event enables staff members to see the children outside a clinical setting.
Read the full story by Katie Goodale and see the photo gallery here.