09/26/2026
The annual Richard B. Fratianne, MD, Endowed Lectureship in Trauma is one of the most anticipated educational events for our caregivers. Each year, leading experts share insights that help shape the care, operations and innovation behind Northeast Ohio’s premier Level I Trauma Center.
This year, we had the privilege of welcoming the lecture’s namesake, Richard B. Fratianne, MD, the retired surgeon whose vision and leadership helped establish MetroHealth’s Comprehensive Burn Center.
Now 94 years old, Dr. Fratianne was at the helm when City Hospital – now MetroHealth – opened the burn center in the summer of 1970. With fewer than 10 such centers in the United States and limited staff available, Dr. Fratianne is credited with revolutionizing healthcare by creating multi-disciplinary teams who met regularly to discuss patient care. During those meetings, everyone’s opinions were encouraged and valued, a foundational practice now used by healthcare systems around the world.
Today, the Burn Care Center team includes doctors, nurses, therapists, a nutritionist, a medical ethicist and a dietitian who meet weekly to talk through each patient’s individual treatment plan.
In addition to launching the Burn Care Center, Dr. Fratianne also served as the first medical director of Metro Life Flight.
Joining Dr. Fratianne was Tammy Coffee, RN, MSN, ACNP, who worked closely with Dr. Fratianne and played a critical role in refining and advancing the way caregivers treat burn patients during her time working in the Burn Care Center from 1986 to 2019.
Our thanks to Dr. Fratianne and Tammy for taking time to share their experiences with the caregivers who proudly follow in their footsteps.
Interested in joining our Level I Trauma Center and Comprehensive Burn Center? Click the link in the comments to learn more about the many full- and part-time positions available.
