I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Mikayla Hamilton in 2018 when she was a medical student at Des Moines University (DMU). Our Level I trauma program provided the opportunity for medical students to spend the year doing research with me and the trauma team. Mikayla was one of my students, and she brought with her a passion for emergency medicine and a willingness to jump into data collection! For as long as I've known her, I've been impressed by her positive attitude, tremendous work ethic,...

If you were asked to create a list of all the departments involved in trauma care at a Level I or Level II trauma center, it might actually be easier to make a list of the departments not involved. Trauma care is multidisciplinary, and while some departments (like oncology or OB/GYN) are not involved frequently, it takes a comprehensive commitment across the hospital to deliver trauma care. Let's start with the surgeons. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) requires 11 surgical specialties...

Most people have not thought much about trauma care until they (or their loved one) are involved in a serious car crash, a fall at home, or a life-threatening injury on the job site. Patients don't take time to research trauma centers before they decide where to get their care. Trauma care exists and is ready for patients before they even know they need it. What Is Trauma Care? Trauma care refers to the specialized medical treatment provided to patients who suffer severe or life-threatening...