Most of us go through life hoping never to need the expertise of Winthrop Professor Fiona Wood.
If you do, chances are it’s one of the worst days of your life.
But for those who do find themselves in her care, there is no better hands to be in.
The Australian burns surgeon is not only a pioneer in her field but also the inventor of spray-on skin, a revolutionary treatment that has helped countless burn victims recover faster and with less scarring.
It was this very invention that played a critical role in treating survivors of the 2002 Bali bombings, a tragedy that left hundreds with life-threatening burns.
Her efforts earned her the Australian of the Year award in 2005.
Yet, for Wood, accolades are far from the finish line.
She is still relentlessly chasing an even bigger goal: scarless healing.
A few weeks ago, she delivered the Distinguished Lecture at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in Sydney, sharing her vision for the future of burns treatment, the challenges in medical innovation, and her ultimate dream—to create a healing process that leaves no trace behind.
Her lecture wasn’t just another medical talk.
It was a call to defy limitations, challenge norms, and refuse to settle for ‘good enough.’
From Spray-On Skin to a Future Without Scars
Fiona Wood’s story isn’t just about medical breakthroughs—it’s about the relentless pursuit of solutions in the face of seemingly impossible challenges.
Her pioneering work in burns treatment has already transformed lives.
Spray-on skin, officially known as ReCell, allows doctors to regenerate skin using a small sample of a patient’s own cells.
Instead of waiting weeks for traditional skin grafts, which often lead to severe scarring, this technique accelerates the healing process, reducing both physical and emotional trauma.
But Wood isn’t stopping there.
She wants to go further—to a world where burn victims don’t just survive but heal as if the injury never happened.
The idea may sound like science fiction, but that doesn’t bother Wood.
In fact, she embraces it.
During her ANSTO lecture, she spoke about her inspiration from Star Wars—specifically, the bacta tank, a futuristic healing chamber that rapidly repairs injuries.
“Why not?” she asks.
“Why should we accept that scarring is inevitable?”
And that’s where the next frontier lies: unlocking the body’s ability to regenerate skin without scars, just as it did when we were in the womb.
The Real Barrier to Medical Breakthroughs
Most of us assume that the biggest hurdles in medical advancements are scientific—things like understanding complex biology or developing new technology.
But Wood argues that the real challenge isn’t science.
It’s mindset.
The medical community often operates under an unspoken rule: “This is how it’s always been done.”
But for someone like Wood, that kind of thinking is unacceptable.
“If you set the bar where you can jump over it, what are you bothering with?” she says.
The truth is, scarless healing isn’t impossible—it just hasn’t been achieved yet.
But throughout history, medical breakthroughs have always started as wild, unrealistic ideas.
Antibiotics, organ transplants, vaccines—all were once deemed unattainable.
Wood is pushing to add regenerative burns treatment to that list.
She envisions a future where we reprogram the body’s healing response, activating the same cellular mechanisms that allowed us to heal without scars in the womb.
From ‘Women Can’t Be Surgeons’ to Changing the World
For someone who refuses to take “no” for an answer, it’s no surprise that Fiona Wood’s career began with defying expectations.
She entered medicine during a time when women weren’t supposed to become surgeons. Professors openly told her so.
Thankfully, she ignored them.
Wood trained as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and eventually became the head of the Royal Perth Hospital Burns Unit.
Her determination, coupled with an insatiable curiosity, led to groundbreaking research that changed the landscape of burns treatment forever.
Today, she is not only a surgeon and researcher but also a fierce advocate for challenging traditional medical thinking.
She believes the future of healthcare depends on embracing innovation, questioning outdated assumptions, and constantly pushing for something better.
Why This Matters for Everyone—Not Just Burn Victims
Fiona Wood’s work isn’t just about burns. It’s about rethinking what’s possible in medicine—and in life.
The idea that “this is the way things are” has held back progress in countless fields, from science to business to education.
Whether it’s developing new treatments, launching a startup, or even making personal changes, we’re often told that certain things are impossible.
Wood’s story proves otherwise.
Her research, her mindset, and her relentless refusal to accept limitations offer a lesson for all of us:
Dream big, question everything, and never settle for average.
Why You Should Watch Her Lecture
If you need a boost of inspiration—or simply a reminder that the world is shaped by those who refuse to accept limits—Fiona Wood’s lecture is a must-watch.
She doesn’t just talk about burns treatment; she talks about what it takes to change the world.
And in a world full of distractions, negativity, and low expectations, hearing from someone like Wood is a rare and powerful thing.
- Watch her full lecture here.
(Special thanks to ANSTO for hosting Fiona Wood’s talk. To learn more about the groundbreaking research happening at ANSTO, visit their website.)
