Meet Robert Sheridan

Burn Surgeon Named Chief of Staff at Shriners Children’s Boston

For over 30 years, Robert Sheridan, M.D., has been taking care of children with burn injuries. Highly regarded as a top burn surgeon who achieves remarkable outcomes, he has been described by his patients as “my hero,” “an angel,” and “one of the best in the world.” Unquestionably, Shriners Children’s Boston’s new chief of staff is deeply devoted to helping children heal and go on to live active, fulfilling lives.

Dr. Sheridan graduated with honors from Boston University’s six-year medical program as a military scholarship student, completed training in general surgery at Walter Reed, and served as a general surgeon in Honduras, Germany, and Colorado. He then trained in burns, trauma and critical care at the Army Institute of Surgical Research in San Antonio and subsequently joined the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) burn and trauma services and the Shriners Children’s Boston burn program, while staying involved with the Army reserve. He served in Afghanistan, Central America, Haiti, Indonesia, Germany and elsewhere on military and humanitarian missions.

Dr. Sheridan is certified in surgery and surgical critical care and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a past president of the American Burn Association, Professor of Surgery at the Harvard Medical School and a Colonel (ret) in the U.S. Army.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Sheridan has served in a number of leadership positions, including director of the MGH trauma service, co-director of the MGH adult burn center, and assistant chief of staff and burn service medical director at Shriners Children’s Boston before being appointed chief of staff in July 2022. He is a dedicated researcher, with projects focused on innovations in treatment for children with burn injury. Dr. Sheridan has published over 250 academic papers, articles and book chapters, as well as a textbook entitled Burns: A Practical Approach to Immediate Treatment and Long-Term Care. Dr. Sheridan donated all the proceeds from his book sales to Shriners Children’s Boston.

Dr Sheridan’s clinical and academic accomplishments are impressive, but his dedication to improving the lives of children with burn injuries is unparalleled. He describes his work with families and patients as deeply rewarding. “All of us Shriners (Children’s) staff share a commitment to working through difficult problems alongside our patients and their families, while keeping the best possible long-term outcomes as our objective,” he said.

Due to the nature of burn treatment, Dr. Sheridan’s patients often return for follow up care throughout their childhood. He values the long-term relationships that develop between both patients and families, helping him and other clinicians provide the most informed specialized care. “You really do get connected to the kids. And knowing you're going to be able to follow a child for years is a very special privilege,” he explained.

With a reputation as a nationally regarded burn surgeon who embodies genuine caring, humility and unwavering commitment, Dr. Sheridan has had an immense impact on hundreds of patients over the years. When a backyard fire left Ella with severe burns, Ella’s parents were not sure where to go for treatment and they reached out to their network for advice. The replies were unanimous: “Shriners Children’s Boston is the best place for Ella, and Dr. Robert Sheridan is the best of the best.”

Another grateful patient is Samantha who was a toddler when she was injured after her family built a fire to toast marshmallows. A flammable liquid that was too close to the heat exploded leaving Samantha with serious burns. Under the care of Dr. Sheridan and his team this vibrant little girl has healed significantly both physically and emotionally. “Dr. Robert Sheridan is Samantha's angel. She says he is the one to help her have pretty feet,” said her mother Katheryne.

It is that dedication that makes Rob Sheridan a highly respected and beloved physician. It is the reason why, on any given day at Shriners Children’s Boston, you might find a former patient stopping by to let him know how well they’re doing and to once again utter those two simple words, “thank you.”