USA hosts 12th Annual Gulf Coast Trauma Symposium

David Efron, M.D., professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, presents the William A. L. Mitchell Endowed Lectureship.

USA Health’s division of trauma, acute care surgery and burn, in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Public Health and Alabama Gulf Emergency Medical Services, recently hosted the Gulf Coast Trauma Symposium at the Battle House Renaissance Hotel & Spa in downtown Mobile. 

Jon Simmons, M.D., trauma medical director and chief of trauma and acute care surgery at USA Health University Hospital, said he was very pleased with the participation and outcome of the symposium this year. 

About 165 people attended this year’s symposium from various states, including California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Attendees included nurses, emergency medical service providers, advanced practice practitioners, physicians, students and community leaders. 

“Our ultimate goal is to use this symposium as a forum to integrate all aspects of preventing and treating injured patients. The focus on mass casualty preparation and trauma system integration will certainly improve trauma care in our region, and the specific EMS tracks are vital for optimal care in rural environments,” said Simmons, professor of surgery and pharmacology at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “We are excited to build on the learned concepts and newly developed relationships to provide the best possible care for our patients.”

The symposium was a three-day event aiming to encourage collaboration and educate healthcare providers, community leaders and others regarding the treatment of critically injured patients. 

This year’s guest speaker for the William A. L. Mitchell Endowed Lectureship was David Efron, M.D. Efron is a professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and serves as the medical director and chief of trauma at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. His presentation, titled “An Arresting Story: John Hopkins, Baltimore & the Management of Sudden Cardiac Arrest,” told the story of his wife’s cardiac arrest 10 years ago and how the event was handled outside and inside of the hospital. 

The John Campbell Tribute Lecture was given by Stephen Barnes, M.D., professor and chair of surgery at the University of Missouri. His lecture, titled “Transformational Leadership in Trauma,” addressed the steady flow of changes in not only the medical environment but also in the life of a medical professional, and the importance of transformational leaders in healthcare.   

Multiple others gave lectures, including members of the FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard. There were also outreach lectures for various projects in the Mobile community that focus on violence prevention and assistance for those affected by violent crimes:

• Operation Echo Stop: Kevin Levy, Mobile Police Department
• Project Inspire: Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., USA Health University Hospital
• Project Thrive: Joshua Jones, Mobile Police Department
• Light of the Village: John Eads, M.B.A., Light of the Village Ministries

View more photos from the symposium.