With start up help from the Thompson Family Foundation this dream is now reality.

May 2025

The Varanasi Burn Institute will be the largest burn center in India. (Largest number of ICU and non ICU beds, largest  building structure and largest site area.) It will be a comprehensive burn care center- from Acute burn care to rehabilitation. From intensive care to psychological support. From despair to hope. VBI will have the first skin bank of the region in addition to its own blood bank. The treatment facility is state-of-the-art, very scientifically planned. Every ICU will have separate air handling systems, to prevent cross infection. VBI will provide 24/7 support for burn patients and hospitals in the region. It will have its own ICU ambulances and a 24/7 emergency department. A robust telemedicine program will provide patient care, follow-up and training. The Varanasi Burn Institute will be a center for training education and research in modern burn care - for doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff.

Bill and Nancy Thompson, founders of the Thompson Family Foundation (established in 2013), have guided its growth from local school and community support to transformative, multi-year commitments in education, healthcare, and humanitarian causes, including the Thompson Center for Autism in Missouri. Their philosophy of “engaged philanthropy” led them to India, where, during a visit, they met renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Subodh Singh. Moved by his dedication to equitable burn care access, the Thompsons committed to supporting his long-term vision. With start-up funding from the Foundation, a new state-of-the-art burn care center is now under construction in Varanasi. The facility will more than triple the number of surgeries performed by G.S. Memorial—from about 4,000 a year to over 15,000—and will serve as a training hub for doctors across India, expanding access to life-changing treatment for burn survivors.