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TraumaCon 2017: Speaker Biographies

Mary Kay Bader, RN, MSN, CCNS, CNRN, CCRN, SCRN, FAHA, FNCS

Mary Kay Bader has 38 years of experience with a focus in neuro/ICU. She holds CCRN, CNRN, SCRN & CCNS certifications. She has functioned as ICU nurse, educator, faculty, & CNS. She has held clinical and joint faculty positions at two universities. She is employed as a Neuro/ICU CNS working with the team to develop protocols for Neuro/ICU patient populations. She has lectured nationally and internationally on many neuro and critical care topics and has published 37 articles and four books.

Stephen Barnes, MD

Stephen Barnes, MD, is a professor and chief of the division of acute care surgery at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Before joining the faculty in MU's Hugh E. Stephenson Jr., MD, Department of Surgery in 2008, Dr. Barnes served as a major in the United States Air Force Medical Corps, where he directed the Critical Air Transport Advanced Training Program at the U.S. Air Force Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills at the University Hospital in Cincinnati. In 2006, he served in Iraq as Chief of Critical Care and Medical Director of the Intensive Care Unit at the 332nd Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base. Dr. Barnes received his medical degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 1997. He completed residency training followed by fellowships in both trauma surgery and critical care at the University of Kentucky. He also received advanced laparoscopic and gastrointestinal surgery training at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Barnes attained board certification from the American Board of Surgery for general surgery in 2003 and for critical care in 2004.

Dwana Bass, MSN, RN

Dwana Bass graduated as a Registered nurse in 2005 and begin her career with Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Her experience includes medical intensive care staff nurse, leadership, and nurse education. Recently, she received her Masters of Science in Nursing specializing in Public Health from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Her current role with Henry Ford Hospital’s Trauma Department as an Injury Prevention Coordinator has allowed her the opportunity to continue educating nurses as well as community members. She also serves as part-time nurse faculty for both Wayne State University and Oakland University in Michigan. Dwana has been an STN member for approximately 3 years and currently serve as the Chairperson for the Geriatric SIG Subcommittee – Developing a Geriatric Trauma Program.

Cynthia Blank-Reid, RN, MSN, CEN

Cindy has been the Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA for the past 13 years. It is an accredited Level I Trauma Center by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation and an accredited American Burn Association Burn Center. She belongs to various trauma and nursing organizations including the Society of Trauma Nurses where she has served as the education committee chair, a director at large, treasurer and is the current president-elect.

Joseph Blansfield, MS, NP, TCRN

Joseph Blansfield has a BS from the Univ of Conn and a MS from Boston Univ. He is an Adult Nurse Practitioner. He has 40 years experience at Boston Medical Center. Since 1992 he's been Trauma Program Manager for the Dept of Surgery. He's a retired Colonel, U.S.Army Reserve with 26 years of service. He was Chief Nurse of the 399th CSH in Iraq in 2006-07. He earned the Bronze Star Medal and was inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit. He was on the ENA, 7th ed.TNCC revision team the inaugural Exam Construction and Review Committee for the TCRN (Trauma Certified Registered Nurse) credential.

Kai Bortz, MSN, RN-BC, CMSRN, CNL

Kai Bortz has spent the past 13 years in various roles within the trauma continuum, including bedside nursing, quality specialist, patient care coordinator, and director of patient care services. She served as an instructor for the Trauma Nurse Course on Geriatric Trauma and facilitator for the monthly Geriatric Trauma Conference. She is certified in Gerontology Nursing. Her presentations on the topic of geriatric trauma include: the Trauma Care Continuum in 2014, the Temple Trauma Symposium in 2014, Society of Trauma Nurses Oral Abstract 2015, Society of Trauma Nurses 2016, NICHE Conference 2016, and the Michigan Trauma Coalition 2016. She was a poster presenter on "Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Geriatric Trauma Patients" at STN 2015. She served as facilitator for the development and implementation of the NICHE rollout to trauma nurses, geriatric trauma education and process improvement initiatives, geriatric rounding, geriatric trauma protocol development, geriatric trauma research, and geriatric trauma program development. Her Master’s capstone project was "Improvement in Geriatric Trauma Outcomes". As of 2015, she was appointed Chair of the Geriatric Special Interest Group for the national organization, Society of Trauma Nurses. She was the oral abstract winner for the Society of Trauma Nurses in 2015, 2015 Literary Excellence Award winner, and has served as a reviewer for the Journal of Trauma Nursing. She was the LVHN Quality and Research Award winner, 2016, and her article “Creating a Geriatric-Focused Model of Care in Trauma with Geriatric Education” was published in The Journal of Trauma Nursing.

Diana Clapp, BSN, RN, CCRN

Diana began her career in the Medical field as an EMS provider then attended the University of Maryland, obtaining her BSN in 2003. She followed her dream to work at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in 2006 as a nurse in the Trauma Resuscitation Unit; in 2014, she transitioned to the Quality Improvement Coordinator and EMS liaison. She remains active in Disaster management and education in her new role. She is excited to back at the podium at STN. Diana spends her free time working on her DNP, throwing balls for her lab, and raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association in Honor of mom.

Bruce Crookes, MD FACS, EAST President

Dr. Crookes was raised in northern New Jersey, and received his undergraduate degree in Biophysics from the University of Michigan. He underwent his medical education at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He subsequently completed his residency in General Surgery at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pennsylvania. He then completed a Trauma and Surgical Care Fellowship at the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Crookes practiced at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, where he served as the Trauma Medical Director and the Division Chief of the Division of Trauma, Burns, and Critical Care.

Dr. Crookes is board certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, and is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and the American Association of the Surgery of Trauma. His research interests include endpoints of resuscitation, traumatic brain injury, and trauma outcomes. His special surgical interests include surgical approaches to traumatic injury, critical care of the traumatically injured, complex abdominal wall reconstruction, and hernia repairs.

Stephanie Devore, BSN, RN

Stephanie Devore, RN, BSN began her nursing career in northern Michigan in 1986. After travel nursing for many years working in a variety of specialties (neuro, ortho, oncology, oral surgery, general med/surg), Stephanie settled in central Kentucky. After working in the ICU and ED, Stephanie became a coordinator for the local organ donor program. She also has experience in flight nursing, infection control and hospital safety. Four years ago, she transitioned back into trauma field as the adult trauma coordinator at University of Kentucky Healthcare. In her role, she is responsible for PI initiatives, protocols, and general oversite of their Level 1 Adult Trauma program. In March of this year, Stephanie presented her work on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment at the Society of Trauma Nurses Annual Meeting and had a poster on this as well at the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) Annual Meeting. She is currently the chair of the Geriatric SIG subcommittee on Developing Guidelines.

Maria Durand, MSN, RN, FNP-C, PNP

Maria Durand is the Trauma Nurse Practitioner at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She attended Azusa Pacific University and received her Post Master Certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 2016. She received her MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner, School Nurse Services Credential in 2011. She received her BSN/BA Psychology in 1995. She has served as Adjunct Faculty at Azusa Pacific University for graduate nursing students from 2011-present, and Nurse Practitioner: Orthopedic Institute for Children from 2011-2015; Orthopedic Clinic RN: Cedars Sinai Medical Center 2002-2007; School RN: 2007-2011; PACU Nurse: CHLA 1998-2011; and Floor RN: CHLA 1995-1998.

Oscar Guillamondegui, MD, MPH

Oscar Guillamondegui is Professor of Surgery at Vanderbilt University, Vice Chair of Quality for the Section of Surgical Sciences and serves as the Surgeon champion for Vanderbilt NSQIP, and Trauma Medical Director. His focus is on health services research and outcomes in trauma and emergency surgery with special interest in TBI.

Debbie Harrell, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Debbie Harrell, MSN, RN, NE-BC, has worked at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Cincinnati for more than 30 years; three years as a staff nurse in acute care, eight years as clinical coordinator in acute care, and 16 as director of acute care. Debbie is currently Director of Professional Relations at the Cincinnati Shriners Hospital. She has participated in burn care research and developed teaching tools and lectures about lighter safety, burn prevention and burn care.

Michele Herndon, BSN

Michele Herndon is a certified pediatric emergency nurse and has worked at St. Louis Children’s Hospital since 2005. She has worked in the Emergency Department, Ambulatory Procedure Center, and has been with Trauma Services as a Nurse Coordinator since 2012. Michele provides trauma education to St. Louis Children’s Hospital staff and also provides outreach and education to transferring hospitals and EMS. After experiencing a lengthy illness and many hospitalizations with her teenage son, she became passionate about the care of the teen patient.

Maranda Jackson-Parkin, PhD, RN, CRNP-BC, CCNS, CCRN

Maranda Jackson-Parkin is an RN, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist. Her nursing background is in trauma, neurotrauma and she has practiced in the ED and ICU. She has over 20 years of nursing experience. Currently, she holds an academic position at the University of Maryland and maintains a clinical practice at a Medstar hospital.

Amy Koestner, MSN, RN

Amy Koestner is the Trauma Program Manager at Spectrum Health, a level 1 Trauma Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amy has 20 years in the role of trauma program manager. Her involvement in STN includes participation as a faculty member for the Optimal Trauma Center Organization & Management Course, STN chair liaison to the Committee on Trauma, and nurse leader for the ACS-COT PIPS collaboration initiative. She is a nurse reviewer for state designation organizations and the American College of Surgeons VRC.

Tiffany LeCroy, MSN, RN, FNP-C, ACNS-BC, CRRN

Tiffany LeCroy is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse employed by Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia; and she currently serves as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Brain Injury Program. She has over 22 years’ experience specializing in rehabilitation. In her current role, she oversees the orientation and education of clinical nursing staff, as well as develops and presents educational materials for patients and caregivers at Shepherd Center. She frequently provides brain injury presentations to acute care hospital staff, local university nursing students, and at national nursing conferences. She is a co-author for The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses “The Specialty Practice of Rehabilitation Nursing: A Core Curriculum” (7th Ed.); Traumatic Injuries Chapter 23. She has also been appointed by the Association of Rehabilitation Nursing to serve as the Senior Reviewer for the Elsevier Rehabilitation Nursing Skills collection. Tiffany is board certified as Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist and Family Nurse Practitioner.

R. Todd Maxson, MD, FACS

Dr. Robert Maxson is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Trauma Medical Director for Arkansas Children's Hospital. Dr. Maxson received his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and completed a surgical residency at UAMS in 1996. Dr. Maxson went on to complete fellowships in Pediatric Surgery at Arkansas Children's Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital. Dr. Maxson was instrumental in building the Level I pediatric trauma systems at both Dell Children's Hospital in Austin and Children's Medical Center of Dallas. Dr. Maxson joined the faculty at Arkansas Children's Hospital in 2009.

Dr. Maxson has co-authored over 30 articles and 2 book chapters and has received multiple awards for research and teaching. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Pediatric Surgical Association, The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Trauma Society, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American Public Health Association, The Southwestern Surgical Congress, American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Travis County Medical Society, and the American College of Physician Executives.

Jonathan Messing, MSN, ACNP-BC, TCRN, CCRN

Jonathan Messing is a nurse practitioner with trauma services at the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. He is an active member of the STN-EAST Task Force for Advanced Practitioners and a proponent of strong PA-NP-MD collaborative efforts. His priority remains clinical care, but also oversees GW’s first AP residency program for new to practice PAs and NPs. He received his BSN from Villanova University and his MSN from The University of Pennsylvania.

Kathryn Moore, PhD, DNP, APRN-BC, FCCM

Kate Moore is an Associate Professor at Emory University where she is involved with simulation and teaching. Dr. Moore earned both a PhD and DNP in nursing. A retired Colonel, serving in the Army Nurse Corps, her primary research interest is volume resuscitation in trauma, hypothermia in trauma and improving access to trauma care. Her educational research includes measuring clinical competency, integration simulation in the nursing curriculum and the impact of simulation for disaster planning.

Todd Nickoles, RN, BSN, MBA

Todd Nickoles is the Trauma Program Manager at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, a Level 1 pediatric trauma center. He was previously the Nurse Manager of Pediatric Trauma and Injury Prevention at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a level 1 pediatric trauma center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Grand Valley State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Ferris State University. He has twelve years of clinical experience with trauma, including six years in pediatric trauma programs. His interests within pediatric trauma include trauma team improvement and reliability, measurement-driven performance improvement, and research.

Joan Pirrung, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC

Trauma Program Manager, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE
Joan has worked with the trauma population for the last 20 years at the bedside in the ICU followed by her current role as trauma program manager. She has been in the role for 11 years and has worked in an ACS verified Level 1 trauma center for 13 years. A major part of her role is to manage and actively participate in PI. This includes case review, co-chairing PI committee meetings and assisting in loop closure.

Kristen Ray, RN, MSN

Kristen Ray received her BSN from Florida State University, she started her career working in an adult ED, at cardiac and stroke hospital in Jacksonville FL. Then continued on to UF & Shand’s Jacksonville working in the Trauma/ surgical ICU. Moving to Baltimore, MD she worked for R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center & worked to receive her MSN from Walden University. Moving on to the NJ Trauma Center at University Hospital, in Newark, Kristen was the Assistant Trauma Register Coordinator. Currently she is the Clinical Nurse Educator for Trauma at INOVA Trauma Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

Amanda Rist, BSN, RN

Amanda Rist is the Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator at the Trauma Program Office at the University of Kentucky A. B. Chandler Medical Center. She obtained her Associates Degree in Nursing at the Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky and her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. She has clinical experience in medical and post-op surgical nursing and trauma critical care nursing. She is the 2016 recipient of the Lexington, KY area STAR Award for her work with the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky. She is certified in TNCC and currently serves as the Kentucky State Chapter Director for ThinkFirst Kentucky. She is also serves as Board Chair representing state chapter directors nationwide for the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation. She serves on the committee that developed the ThinkFirst for Falls Program and curriculum. She is a member of the Society of Trauma Nursing and serves as co-chair for the Geriatric Special Interest Group: Injury Prevention/Falls.

Bryce Robinson, MD, MS, FACS, FCCM

Dr. Bryce Robinson is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington and the Associate Medical Director for Critical Care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle Washington. Dr. Robinson is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Critical Care Medicine. He serves as the Chair of the Practice Management Guidelines Section for the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and is the author of multiple guidelines using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) methodology.

Elizabeth Seislove, MSN RN

Elizabeth Seislove is currently the Assistant Vice President for Trauma Services with the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in Nashville, TN. Her responsibilities include assisting HCA verified, upgrading or inaugural trauma programs with accreditation processes, standards of optimal care along with research and evidenced practice throughout the network. Prior to this position, she was the Director of the Trauma Program at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA, a Regional Level I Adult Trauma Center, a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center and an ABA accredited Burn Center. Preceding the Director position she was an ICU staff nurse in the Shock Trauma Unit, ICU Educator/Advanced practice clinician, followed by the Pediatric Trauma Coordinator, Program Manager then Director.

She has served on several local and national boards of directors including the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, past president of the Society of Trauma Nurses and member of the EAST Foundation BOD. She has presented locally, regionally, nationally and internationally on various trauma topics.

BSN: Widener University, Chester, PA 1980 – 1984
MSN: Villanova University, Villanova, PA 1995 – 1999

Richard Sidwell, MD, FACS

Dr. Richard Sidwell is a board certified surgeon who provides comprehensive evaluation and care of the injured patient. He is currently the Chief of Region 7 for the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the Chair of the Rural Trauma subcommittee. Dr. Sidwell led the effort for the most recent revision of the Rural Trauma Team Development Course.

Lynn Gerber Smith, RN, MS

Lynn worked at the University Of Maryland Medical Center for 39 years. For 37 of those years Lynn worked at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in the Trauma Resuscitation Unit, as Senior Clinical Nurse II, focusing on education. Lynn has her Masters Degree in Nursing Education and enjoys traveling across the US and the UK to speak on Trauma and Pregnancy, trauma resuscitation topics, and interactive trauma games. She has presented in 40 states and 4 countries. Lynn has more than 15 publications, the most recent in a British pre-hospital text.

Lynn continues to actively lecture on trauma nursing topics around the country.

Lisa Tofil

Lisa Tofil, Partner, Holland & Knight LLPMs represents a number of health care organizations, with significant expertise in hospital and health system financing, trauma centers and systems, air medical transport, emergency medical services and the 340B Drug Discount Program. She is an experienced advocate on numerous other healthcare issues and programs, including graduate medical education, biomedical research, transplantation, health resources issues, as well as public records and open meetings laws. Ms. Tofil works with clients on policy development, devising legislative and regulatory strategies, and intervening as necessary to draft and secure legislative or regulatory changes that advance client interests. In previous roles, she served as in‐house counsel to two large health systems, building their government relations functions and executing strategic government relations plans.

Jill Volgraf, BA, RN

Jill Volgraf has been working at a Temple University Hospital since 2003. After years in the Emergency Department, she transitioned her role to first a Trauma Clinical Coordinator and then to the Trauma Program Manager position. Jill is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at LaSalle University. She is married with three daughters.

TraumaCon 2016: Speaker Biographies

Kai Bortz, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CNL

Since 2003, Bortz has worked with the trauma population in many different roles at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA. Bortz is currently the Patient Care Specialist for quality of the Trauma, Neuro, and Burn Division. Member of the Society of Trauma Nurses since 2005, recently named Chair of the Geriatric SIG. Bortz was present at the onset of the Geriatric Trauma initiative and served an active role in the development and implementation of NICHE rollout to trauma nurses, geriatric trauma process improvement initiatives, and geriatric-focused multidisciplinary trauma rounds.


A. Britton Christmas, MD, FACS

A. Britton Christmas received his B.A. degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1996 and his M.D. degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2000. He completed his internship, residency, and surgical critical care fellowship in the Department of Surgery at the University of Louisville from 2000-2006 where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical society. He joined the faculty of The F. H. “Sammy” Ross, Jr. Trauma Center at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2006 where he currently serves as an attending surgeon for trauma, critical care, and acute care surgery and as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His society memberships include the American College of Surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST). He is a former recipient of the EAST 2008 Leadership Development Workshop Scholarship and the 2010 recipient of the EAST Foundation Brandeis Scholarship.


Mark D. Cipolle, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, FCCM

Mark Cipolle, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, FCCM, earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. He earned a master's and doctorate degree in physiology and biophysics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His medical degree was also obtained from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He completed a residency in general surgery at the University of Illinois Chicago, Cook County and West Side VA Hospitals. Dr. Cipolle also completed fellowships in trauma/surgical critical care surgery and critical care research at the University of Minnesota.

He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Cipolle's special interests are in management of complex abdominal hernia, venous thromboembolism, and the development of practice management guidelines in trauma and critical care.


Diana Clapp, BSN, RN, CCRN NR-Paramedic

Diana attended the University of Maryland, obtaining her BSN in 2003. In 2006, she joined the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center as a nurse in the Trauma Resuscitation Unit; in 2014, she transitioned to the Quality Improvement Coordinator. She remains active in Disaster management and education in her new role and is excited to be an author for Cittoine’s Disaster Medicine revised edition as continuing to travel to provide education. Diana spends her free time working on DNP, throwing tennis balls for her black lab, and raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association in Honor of her mother!


Raul Coimbra, MD, PhD, FACS

Dr. Raul Coimbra is the Surgeon-in-Chief of the UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, as well as the Director of the Level-1 Trauma Center at UC San Diego Health System.

Dr. Coimbra has played a significant role in building our region's first Level-1 Trauma Center into one of the top programs in the nation, as well as a model for trauma centers around the world.

He is President of the Board of Directors for the World Coalition for Trauma Care, as well as a member of the Global Alliance for the Care of the Injured with the Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention of the World Health Organization. He is the Chairman of the Trauma Registry and Data Committee for the World Health Organization.

In addition, Dr. Coimbra is an active member of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, as well as Chair of the Regional Committees of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. He has been appointed to a three-year term as Recorder and Scientific Chairman of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. He is also the Chairman of the San Diego County Trauma Medical Audit Committee, providing leadership to the Trauma System in research, education, clinical practice and quality improvement.

His vision and dedication have resulted in the opening of a new, state-of-the art trauma resuscitation unit at UC San Diego's Medical Center in Hillcrest, which has improved the efficiency for surgeons and addresses the continued growth of the trauma program and commitment of the community it serves in southwest San Diego.


H. Gill Cryer, MD, FACS

Dr. Cryer is Professor of Surgery and Chief of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center. He is a past president of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma and a past member of the Executive Committee of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma where he was Chair of the Performance Improvement and Patient Safety Committee and the Trauma Quality Improvement Project (TQIP). His research interests include shock and resuscitation, multiple organ failure, management of the unstable trauma patient, trauma systems and quality improvement.


Daniel Doherty, RN, MSN, CEN

Daniel Doherty RN, MSN, CEN has been the Staff Development Specialist In the Emergency Department at Christiana Health Care System in Newark Delaware for the last 14 years. He has presented this topic at numerous inservices, confernces for healthcare providers, police and court interpreters.




Amanda Elikofer, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Trauma Program Manager, Deaconess Regional Trauma Center
Amanda Elikofer is the Trauma Program Manager at Deaconess Regional Trauma Center (ACS Level 2 and State of Illinois Level 2) in Evansville, IN. Prior to coming to Trauma Services, Amanda was a trauma ICU nurse and the assistant manager of the pediatric trauma unit. She received her BSN and MSN from the University of Southern Indiana and is a certified nurse executive. She was the STN/EAST Foundation Nurse Fellow in 2013 and currently serves on the STN Leadership Committee. Amanda will join the STN Board of Directors in 2015. Outside of work she enjoys spending time boating and being outdoors with her husband and two young boys.


Kelly Gettig

Kelly Gettig is the Lead Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with Trauma Services at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, TX. Dell Children's is a Level 1 Trauma Center and Kelly has been with the program since its inception in 2007. Ms. Gettig has over 20 years of pediatric nursing experience and a passion for education and research in child abuse and traumatic brain injury. She was lead faculty for the PNP program at the University of Texas at Austin from 2008-2012. Kelly is a published author and well-known educator offering talks at medical and nursing conferences across Texas and the U.S.


Annemarie Glazer, RN, BSN, MBA

Annemarie Glazer is the coordinator for performance improvement at the first downstate New York Level 1 ACS verified trauma center. Her professional career includes a variety of roles including trauma outreach and prevention coordinator, specialist in poison information, college health, pre-hospital emergency care and education. She is currently a member of STN, ATS, ENA,and NAEMT. She is an active participant in the Nassau County, New York REMSCO and RTAC.


Michelle Goreth, MSN, RN-BC, CPNP-AC, CCRN-P, CTRN, CPEN, TCRN

Michelle Goreth is a Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with over 16 years of experience in pediatric emergency, surgical, trauma, critical care, and performance improvement. Currently, she is the Lead Nurse Practitioner for Pediatric Surgery at the University of MS Medial Center- Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children where she is developing a Pediatric Surgery/Trauma Advanced Practice Service Line for the state’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (1999) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2009). She is currently working towards completion of a Doctor of Nursing Practice with research interests including role transition of the pediatric acute care advanced practice nurse in academic trauma centers, pediatric mild traumatic brain injury, and trauma quality improvement. Michelle is a local, regional, and national lecturer with special emphasis in Pediatrics, Surgery & Trauma, and Quality Improvement. Throughout her career, she has been a member of multiple organizations and committees related to advanced practice, pediatrics, and emergency/trauma care. Currently, she serves as a member of the Pediatric Trauma Society Research and Membership Committees. In addition, Michelle is an active educator and has been designated with Outstanding Reviewer status by the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.


Daniel L. Gross, DNSc, RN

Daniel L. Gross, DNSc, RN, is the Executive Vice President for Sharp HealthCare. He oversees four acute-care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, government relations and clinical effectiveness at Sharp HealthCare. Dr. Gross began his career at Sharp in 1979 as a clinical nurse at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Over the years, he served as Clinical Nurse IV, Director of Patient Care Services, Regional Director of Critical Care, Regional Director of Patient Care Services and System Vice President of Clinical Services. Prior to his role as Executive Vice President, Gross was Chief Executive Officer of the Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus for 11 years, where he had oversight of three hospitals, an outpatient surgery center, home care services and two senior centers.

Gross is a member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Directors, chair of the AHA Operations Committee and chair of the AHA Regional Policy Board 9. He is a member and former chair of the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties (HASDIC) Board of Directors, and past chair of the California Hospital Association (CHA) Board of Directors. In addition, he is a member of the California HealthCare Foundation Board, past chair of the Trauma Center Association of America Board of Directors and a member of the San Diego State University (SDSU) Campanile Foundation Board. Gross is also a member of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association San Diego Chapter Board, a member of the West Health Institute Medical Advisory Board, a member of the Orbis Education Advisory Board and he serves as adjunct faculty for SDSU, University of San Diego (USD) and University of California at San Diego.

His awards and honors are numerous and include the SDSU Alumnus of Distinction Award from the College of Health and Human Services (1999) and the USD Author E. Hughes Career Achievement Award (1999). In 2002 he was named the American Heart Association Volunteer of the Year, and in 2003 he was named the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by Independence Community College, KS. In 1998 and 2007, Gross received the leadership award from HASDIC. He is also the recipient of the California Health Foundation and Trust 2010 Walker-Sullivan Health Care Fellowship. In 2012, Gross received the CHA Award of Merit.

Gross received his BSN from Wichita State University, his MS in nursing administration from SDSU and his DNSc from USD.


Marialice Gulledge, DNP, ANP-BC

Marialice is the Chief, Nurse Practitioner for the Department of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC. Her background includes prior emergency department nursing experience, trauma nurse clinician, flight nursing, and active duty service with the US Army. Marialice has worked as an advanced care practitioner with the department since 2007. She is a member of EAST (associate), ANA, NCNA and AANP.


Teresa Hobt-Bingham, MSN, RN

Teresa Hobt-Bingham is currently the manager of the Vanderbilt Trauma Unit. She has 15 years of trauma critical care experience with the last 5 years in a leadership position. Teresa is a board member of the Vanderbilt Trauma Survivors' Network, she is the current Chair of the Organ Donation Advisory Committee as well as the Chair-elect for the Vanderbilt Nurse Wellness committee.


Melissa Hockaday, NP

Melissa Hockaday is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Service Line Leader, Executive for Trauma & Acute Care Surgery for an American College of Surgeon Verified Level I Trauma Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. She obtained her master’s degree in nursing from Indiana University as well as her BSN. Melissa is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner who currently practices on trauma and surgi-cal critical care service. Melissa has over 15 years of experience in emergency medicine, trauma and surgical critical care. Her professional career includes several leadership roles for nursing and advanced practice providers. She has been Trauma Program Manager at ACS verified Level 1 Trauma center for past 4 years and was active in the development of three Level III Trauma Centers within hospital sys-tem. Melissa has also been past president for Indiana Trauma Network and actively participates on the Society of Trauma Nurses Leadership committee.


Donald Jenkins, MD, FACS

Dr. Jenkins is Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of Trauma in the Division of Trauma, Critical Care and General Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is also Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD. He retired in 2008 from the U.S. Air Force, having served as the Trauma Medical Director at Lackland AFB, TX. He was responsible for all trauma medical care and administration of the USAF's only American College of Surgeons Verified Level 1 Trauma Center at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, TX in the decade prior to his retirement. He was also the Flight Commander and Chairman of General Surgery for 59MDW.

Dr. Jenkins received his BS in biochemistry in 1984 from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania; earned his MD in 1988 from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland; and performed his General Surgery Residency at Wilford Hall and Lackland AFB in 1988 and again from 1991 to 1996. He was a trauma/critical care fellow at the University of Pennsylvania from 1996 to 1998, and in 1999 received the Diploma Medical Care of Catastrophes from the Society of Apothecaries of London. Dr. Jenkins is Past President of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST). Dr. Jenkins is the current Chairman of the National Trauma Institute.


Diana Kraus, RN, BSN, TNS

Dr. Jenkins is Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of Trauma in the Division of Trauma, Critical Care and General Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is also Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD. He retired in 2008 from the U.S. Air Force, having served as the Trauma Medical Director at Lackland AFB, TX. He was responsible for all trauma medical care and administration of the USAF's only American College of Surgeons Verified Level 1 Trauma Center at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, TX in the decade prior to his retirement. He was also the Flight Commander and Chairman of General Surgery for 59MDW.

Diana is currently the Director of the Trauma, Orthopedic, and Child Abuse Service Lines at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Diana has a 30 year nursing career, with experience spanning the bedside in adult and pediatric emergency nursing, pediatric/neonatal critical care transport, regional pediatric education and the past 10 years in trauma program leadership.

Diana has worked for the Dell Children’s Medical Center since April of 2013. Prior to Diana coming to Dell, she was at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, in St. Louis Missouri as the Trauma Program Manager. Diana was heavily involved with the State of Missouri and Illinois in improving pediatric care across the state and has recently become involved in the State of Texas. She is a member of the Emergency Services for Children (EMS for Children) Advisory Board for the State of Texas, as well as a member of the Pediatric Committee for the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council. She currently is a board member for the Society of Trauma Nurses and has been involved in trauma system development, emergency preparedness and disaster management as it pertains to children. She is a nationally recognized speaker in the area of pediatric trauma and has presented at numerous regional, state and national conferences.


Amy Kritchen, BSN, RN, CEN

Director of Accreditation, Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation
Amy Krichten RN, BSN, CEN is the Director of Accreditation for the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. Prior to this, Amy served as the Trauma Program Manager for WellSpan Health ~ York Hospital, a Level-1 Trauma Center. She has been a consultant and site surveyor for state trauma systems and has spent her twenty-plus years of nursing in the trauma spectrum. She graduated from Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing, and received her BSN from Regis University in Denver Colorado. She currently is the co-chair of the STN-Leadership Institute Committee and is faculty for the STN-TOPIC course. In addition, Amy is an ATCN Instructor and a Certified Emergency Room Nurse.


Julie Nash, MSN, RN

Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Manager, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
With 23 years of nursing experience, Julie has served in a variety of areas including emergency medicine, occupational health, case management and trauma management. She currently serves as the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Manager at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a Verified Level I American College of Surgeons Trauma Center and a designated Level I Trauma Center for the States of Missouri and Illinois. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Julie serves on multiple regional, state and national trauma and EMS committees.


Joan Pirrung, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC

Trauma Program Manager, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE
Joan has worked with the trauma population for the last 20 years at the bedside in the ICU followed by her current role as trauma program manager. She has been in the role for 11 years and has worked in an ACS verified Level 1 trauma center for 13 years. A major part of her role is to manage and actively participate in PI. This includes case review, co-chairing PI committee meetings and assisting in loop closure.


Kathryn Schroeter, PhD, RN, CNE, CNOR

Kathryn Schroeter is a nurse scientist and clinical ethicist at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. Dr. Schroeter is an associate professor at Marquette University College of Nursing and also an adjunct assistant professor at the Center for Bioethics & Medical Humanities at the Medical College of Wisconsin. As a member of the ANA Steering Committee for the revision of the Code of Ethics for Nurses she is a contributing author of the new ANA Code. She is the editor of the Journal of Trauma Nursing and authored the book "Practical Ethics for Nurses and Nursing Students."


Christine Schulman, MS, RN, CNS, CCRN

Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Legacy Health
Chris Schulman is a trauma and critical care clinical nurse specialist who has worked at all 3 Level 1 Trauma Centers in the Pacific Northwest. She has presented at numberous regional and national conferences, including AACN's National Teaching Institute, the ENA National Education Symposium, and the Society of Criticial Care Medicine Annual Education Conference. She has published several articles in critical care journals on a variety of clinical topics and professional development. She currently serves a 3 year term on the AACN Board of Directors.


Elizabeth Seislove, MSN RN

Elizabeth Seislove has been in trauma for the past 24 years. She started out at as a trauma ICU nurse, followed by the APN for the Trauma ICU. Elizabeth transitioned into the Pediatric Trauma Coordinator position, followed by the Program Manager and now the Director of the program. She is an active member of the Society of Trauma Nurses and has held several position within the society: Chair of Neuro Sig, ATCN Chair, and currently national faculty for the ATCN program, president of the society and planning committee member for the EAST/STN collaborative efforts. Elizabeth has spoken locally, regionally, nationally and internationally on various trauma topics.


Lynn Gerber Smith, RN, MS

Lynn Gerber Smith is a master’s prepared nurse educator with 39 years of trauma and critical care experience and at Level I trauma center. Lynn is known both nationally and internationally for her publications and presentation on Trauma During Pregnacy. Lynn has presented on this topic in 40 states and 4 countries. Her presentations have been at the AACN NTI as well as the ENA national conference and the Society of Trauma Nurses Annual meeting.In addition to her presentations ha authored the chapter on Trauma and Pregnancy in all four editions of the trauma nursing textbook.


Nicole Stassen, MD

Nicole A. Stassen, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She also serves as the Director of the third year medical student clerkship at the University of Rochester Medical School and as the Director of the Kessler Family Burn Trauma Intensive Care Unit.

Dr. Stassen earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and earned her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, in Piscataway New Jersey.

Dr. Stassen then completed a residency in general surgery at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she was awarded the Golden Apple Teaching award her chief year. She subsequently completed a fellowship in trauma and critical care at the University of Louisville. While in Louisville she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Hiram C. Polk, Jr. on the genetic characterization of gamma interferon and its role in sepsis and the examination of altered immune function in the elderly trauma victim.

Dr. Stassen is certified by the American Board of Surgery in general surgery and surgical critical care. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the Association for Academic Surgery, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Association for Surgical Education and the Surgical Infection Society. Her areas of special interest include acute care surgery, general surgery, trauma and critical care and surgical education.


TraumaCon 2015: Speaker Biographies

John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS

Surgeon General, State of Florida
John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS, was appointed by Governor Scott as Surgeon General and Secretary of Health for the State of Florida on April 27, 2012. Previously, he was Chief Medical Officer of the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation; Surgical Director of the USF Health American College of Surgeons Accredited Education Institute; and Associate Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine, in Tampa, FL. Before this, he was Trauma Medical Director at Shands at the University of Florida Medical Center in Gainesville, FL, and a 2011 Exemplary Teacher at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Dr. Armstrong is a graduate of Princeton University, the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and the US Army Command and General Staff College. He performed his surgical residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI, his trauma/surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, and his Master Educators in Medical Education fellowship at the University of Florida. He is a member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Residency Review Committee for Surgery; co-Editor of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness course; and Editor-in-Chief of the American Medical Association (AMA) Advanced Disaster Life Support,v.3.0, course.

Dr. Armstrong has been a national leader in health policy and advocacy for over 20 years. He is Chair of the ACS delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates; ACS Governor for Florida; and member of the ACS Health Policy and Advocacy Group. He is the 2011 ACS/American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Health Policy Scholar, and a former trustee and executive committee member of the AMA.

Jennifer Aycock, RN, CCRN

I'm Here Movement, Co-Founder and President
Jennifer Aycock is the clinical nurse manager of the SICU at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In 1993, Marcus Engel and Jenny spent a harrowing night together; the worst night of Marcus’ life. Twenty years later, a story unfolded that created The I’m Here Movement; a world wide effort to change the culture of care with two simple words.



C. Todd Borchers, MS, APRN, ACNP-BC

Assistant Director, Trauma Services, Chippenham Hospital
Todd Borchers began his nursing career in 2000 and became an NP in 2003. He joined the division of Trauma Surgery and became Lead Trauma Nurse Practitioner in 2006. He has managed and supervised NP clinical operations of the Acute Care Surgery Service to develop and maintain strong clinical performance that support the practice of high quality, evidenced-based trauma medicine and advanced nursing care. He serves as Adjunct Faculty at VCU School of Nursing, teaching and precepting advanced practice nursing students. He currently works at Chippenham Hospital as Assistant Director Trauma Services.

C. J. Bracken Burns, DO, MS

Associate Program Director, Surgery Residency; Flight Director, Trauma Service
J. Bracken Burns Jr., DO, FACOS is an Associate Professor of Surgery, in the Division of Acute Care Surgery, at the University Of Florida College Of Medicine – Jacksonville. Dr. Burns serves at the Medical Director for TraumaOne Flight Services at UF Health Jacksonville. He also serves as the Associate Program Director of the Surgery Residency. His interest in Disaster Management comes from his pre-hopital background and mentoring he received as a faculty member from the late Dr. Eric R. Frykberg.

Diane Bräxmeyer Downey, RN, BSN, CNRN

Supervisor / Educator, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Diane is the Nurse Educator and Supervisor for the Neuro/Trauma ICU at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, a level one trauma center. A critical care nurse for over 16 years, additional current roles include staff and charge nurse, ECMO specialist and Critical Care Transport Team nurse leader. She has been published in Critical Care Nurse and AACN’s Advanced Critical Care. She recently presented at NTI 2014 in Denver and will be speaking at the 2014 Fall Trauma Symposium in Portland.

Cynthia Blank-Reid, RN, MSN, CEN

Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Temple University Hospital
Cindy has been a registered nurse for 30 years. She has an extensive surgical critical care and trauma background with a focus on the neurosciences. She is currently the Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA which is a large inner city Level I Trauma Center and Burn Center . Cindy lectures nationally and internationally and published extensively on a wide variety of topics including trauma. Cindy has been involved with STN for many years had has lectured frequently at their annual meetings. She is currently serving as the Treasurer of STN.

Keith Clancy, MD, MBA, FACS

System Chief of Trauma, University Hospitals of Cleveland Health System
Dr. Keith Clancy earned his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine. After completing his residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, he completed a surgical critical care fellowship at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. He subsequently completed an MBA in Healthcare Management at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Keith is the System Chief of Trauma for the University Hospitals of Cleveland Health System. In addition, he is the Chief of the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery at UH Case Medical Center.

Keith is a member of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and serves on the PIPS committee and Rural Trauma Committee. He is a TOPIC instructor.

Becky Cook, DNP, RN, CPNP

Cincinnati Children's Hosptial Medical Center, Pediatric Trauma Nurse Practitioner
Becky has fulfilled the role of pediatric Trauma Nurse Practitioner for more than 15 years caring for traumatically injured infants and children. She has spoken on multiple topics nationwide including cervical spine clearance, solid organ injury, and mild traumatic brain injury in children. She collaborates with the Child Abuse Team at Cincinnati Children’s and has particular interest in the evaluation of children who may have been physically abused.


Amy Eberle, RN, BSN

Trauma Program Manager, Sanford Health – Bismarck
Amy Eberle is currently the Trauma Program Manager at Sanford Health – Bismarck, an ACS Level II verified Trauma Center. Prior to her current position she was the North Dakota State Trauma Coordinator with the Division of Emergency Medical Services, North Dakota Department of Health for seven years.

Amy is a member of the ND COT, Society of Trauma Nurses, and the ND ENA. She is also a part of the planning committee for the annual ND State Trauma Conferences.

Amy has been a strong advocate for an all-inclusive trauma system within ND. She has been involved in many legislative activities in regards to enhancing the ND trauma system and as a result has been very successful in getting legislature to provide appropriations for the trauma system. Amy has also been very active in regional and state system performance improvement.

Amy is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor in Science degree. She graduated from the University of Mary, Bismarck ND. She also obtained certification as a TNCC instructor and has attended numerous conferences, courses, and workshops on EMS, Trauma and disaster planning and response.

Amanda Elikofer, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Trauma Program Manager, Deaconess Regional Trauma Center
Amanda Elikofer is the Trauma Program Manager at Deaconess Regional Trauma Center (ACS Level 2 and State of Illinois Level 2) in Evansville, IN. Prior to coming to Trauma Services, Amanda was a trauma ICU nurse and the assistant manager of the pediatric trauma unit. She received her BSN and MSN from the University of Southern Indiana and is a certified nurse executive. She was the STN/EAST Foundation Nurse Fellow in 2013 and currently serves on the STN Leadership Committee. Amanda will join the STN Board of Directors in 2015. Outside of work she enjoys spending time boating and being outdoors with her husband and two young boys.

Terri Elsbernd, MS, RN, CEN, CPEN

Pediatric Trauma Coordinator, Mayo Clinic Hospital
Terri Elsbernd MS, RN, CEN, CPEN is currently the Pediatric Trauma Coordinator at the Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester, an ACS verified Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. She joined Mayo in 1990 and has an academic rank of Assistant Professor of Nursing.

Terri received her BSN from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MSN with a clinical nurse specialist focus from Winona State University.

Terri’s other professional activities including serving as a member the executive board of the Pediatric Trauma Society, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Advisory Board, the Society of Trauma Nurses, and as the pediatric representative to the executive board of the Southern Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee. She also is an instructor for TNCC, ATCN, and TOPIC. In addition Terri is a site reviewer for the state of MN Trauma System.

Sean Elwell, MSN, RN, EMT

Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children
Sean Elwell, MSN, RN, EMT, is employed at the Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children. Sean graduated Summa Cum Laude from Drexel University, with a MSN in leadership and health systems management. Sean is a member of the trauma program where he was the injury prevention coordinator and then promoted to trauma program manager. As part of the trauma program he led the charge to become a level 1 pediatric trauma center. Sean is actively involved in several professional organizations, including the Society of Trauma Nurses, where Sean is Director at Large in charge of leadership development and played a key role in the development of the Trauma Certification for Registered Nurses. Sean also remains active in his community. He is currently serving as Mayor of his township and Deputy Chief of his volunteer fire company and ambulance squad.

Marcus Engel

M.S. in Narrative Medicine, Columbia University, NYC
Marcus Engel, M.S. is an author and expert in issues surrounding the patient and family experience. Jennifer Aycock is the clinical nurse manager of the SICU at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In 1993, Marcus and Jenny spent a harrowing night together; the worst night of Marcus’ life. Twenty years later, a story unfolded that created The I’m Here Movement; a world wide effort to change the culture of care with two simple words.

Diana Fendya MSN (R), RN

Trauma/Acute Care Specialist, Childrens National Medical Center, Emergency Medical Services for Children National Resource Center
Diana has been the Trauma/Acute Care Specialist for the EMS for Children National Resource Center (NRC) for 15 years. Previously she was the Director and Pediatric Trauma Nurse Specialist at a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. As part of the NRC, she works closely with the Federal EMSC Program. She serves as a resource for hospital pediatric emergency and trauma initiatives and provides emergency/trauma consultative services to states and territories. Additionally, she has published in numerous peer review medical and nursing publications including STN's Journal of Trauma Nursing.

Paula Ferrada, MD

Medical Director, Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU); Assistant Professor of Surgery, VCU School of Medicine; Associate Director of Surgical Critical Care Fellowship and Associate Director of Surgery Residency
Paula Ferrada, MD graduated from the Universidad Del Valle Medicine, (Magna Cum Laude), in Cali, Columbia. She is currently the VA Chapter President of the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS). Dr. Ferrada specializes in trauma, critical care, and acute care surgery and is interested in Global Surgery, Surgical Education, Surgeon Performed Ultrasound, and Trauma Resuscitation.

Raquel Forsythe, MD

Assistant Medical Director, Trauma Surgery, and Director of Education, Trauma Surgery for the University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Forsythe obtained her medical degree at SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine, completed her residency at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School and her fellowship is Surgical Critical Care at University of Tennessee – Memphis. She is the Assistant Professor of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, Medical Director, eRecord Presbyterian Hospital, Associate Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program

William Hampton, DO, MM, BA, AS

Board Certified Emergency Physician and Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois
Dr. Hampton is a board certified emergency physician and Clinical Assistant Professor in EmergencyMedicine for Midwestern University. He lectures internationally to medical students, paramedics, physicianassistants, nurses, and physicians. He has presented at the Emergency Nurses Association AnnualConference annually since 2010. He also lectures for various ENA state conferences, EMS conferences, atSEMPA's national meeting, and at ACEP's Scientific Assembly as well. His lectures have also been featuredonline for the Emergency Nurses Association as well as QuantiaMD.

Deb Harkins, MBA, BSN, RN, CCRN

Senior Clinical Consultant, Blue Cottage Consulting
Ms. Harkins combines effective leadership skills in healthcare administration and consulting with more than 26 years of nursing experience. She brings an in-depth understanding of complex clinical operations and is adept at seeing the flow of processes from the senior management level to the bedside. Debbie is a Senior Clinical Consultant at Blue Cottage Consulting and previously was a founding member of MDContent, LLC, a healthcare management education consulting firm. She managed trauma systems at the University Of Michigan Health System, where she directed the performance improvement program, led strategic redesign for trauma, burn and emergency surgery, and implemented an in-hospital executive education program. Debbie has been involved in STN since 1997 is a past president. She continues her clinical practice in the Trauma Burn Center at the University of Michigan and earned her Master of Business Administration degree and Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of Michigan.

Missy Hockaday, MSN, ACNP-BC

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Director of Trauma Services
Melissa Hockaday is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Director of Trauma Services for an American College of Surgeon Verified Level I Trauma Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. She obtained her master’s degree in nursing from Indiana University as well as her BSN. Melissa is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner who currently practices on trauma and surgical critical care service. Melissa has over 15 years of experience in emergency medicine, trauma and surgical critical care. Her professional career includes several leadership roles for nursing and advanced practice providers. She is the immediate past present for the Indiana Trauma Network for the State of Indiana.

Her future goals are to continue to be active in leadership roles within Society of Trauma Nurse and mentor and support new trauma leaders within the organization.

Tom Hornyak, BSN, RN, CEN, PHRN

Tom Hornyak is a ER/ICU nurse at a level 1 trauma center in Pittsburgh,PA. He received his BSN from the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently working towards his MSN in the Clinical Nurse Leader program at the University of Pittsburgh. Tom joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 with a forward surgical team.

Carol Immermann, BSN

Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota, Trauma Program Manager
Carol Immermann currently is the Trauma Program Manager at Mayo Clinic Rochester, a Level I trauma program in rural Minnesota. In her role, Carol works with a number of Level IV trauma centers supporting the trauma coordinators and medical directors in regional development and performance improvement. Carol is a member of the Minnesota State Trauma Advisory Council, the Minnesota State Applicant Review Committee, and Minnesota State Trauma Performance Improvement Committee. She is a site surveyor for Level III and Level IV hospitals in the state and the STAC liaison to the Southern Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee (SMRTAC). Carol currently co-chairs the STN Rural Special Interest Group (SIG) and vice-chair to the TOPIC committee.

Casey R. Kandilakis, PT, DPT

Shepherd Center
Casey R. Kandilakis, PT, DPT received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Tennessee, and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at East Tennessee State University. She earned her Neurologic Clinical Specialist Certification in March 2014. She has been a physical therapist working in the field of spinal cord injury research and rehabilitation for the past 4 years. Her emphasis has been on locomotor training with and without the use of advanced technologies with individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neurological injuries / disease. She is currently a clinical research scientist at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA, focusing on the use of exoskeleton technology with individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Jorie Klein, RN

Director, Trauma Program & Disaster Management, Parkland Health & Hospital System Parkland, Dallas, Texas
Jorie Klein is the Director of the Trauma Program, Disaster Management, and North Texas Poison Center for Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, Texas. She has a long history of exemplary trauma leadership at the state, regional, and national level, including: President of the Texas EMS, Trauma, and Acute Care Foundation; Vice-Chair of the Governor’s Emergency/Trauma Advisory Council’s Trauma System (Texas); Chair of the Texas Hospital Association’s Policy Committee on Trauma and Emergency Services, and Chair of the Texas Hospital Association’s Trauma Technical Advisory Group. Jorie Klein is a past president of STN, and has also served on numerous STN committees, from the Annual STN Conference Committee (which she chaired from 1998 – 2004), to ATCN Regional Chair, and State Chair for Texas. She has received many awards for her service to the trauma community, most recently Governor’s EMS / Trauma Council’s Journey of Excellence Award (2009).

Jorie Klein has authored papers, book chapters, and courses on emergency preparedness, disaster management, mechanism of injury, decision-making in trauma care, and preparing for a trauma site visit, among others. She has been frequent invited speaker on a vast array of trauma topics for both national and international audiences.

Amy Koestner, MS, RN

Trauma Program Manager, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI
Amy Koestner is the Trauma Program Manager at Spectrum Health, a level 1 Trauma Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amy has a nursing career of over 30 years, with experience spanning the bedside in pediatric ICU, regional pediatric education, flight nursing, adult ICU bedside care, and the past 15 years in the role of trauma program manager. She has led multiple trauma centers through five ACS verification visits. Amy earned her BSN from Nazareth College, and her masters from Wayne State University.

Amy has been active in the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) for over 10 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles, including past president in 2008. Her involvement in STN has included participation as an original author/ faculty member for the Optimal Trauma Center Organization & Management Course, as one of the key authors of the Senior Lifestyle & Injury Prevention (SLIP) course, as national & international faculty for the Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) course. She is the appointed STN chair liaison to the Committee on Trauma and a nurse reviewer for the ACS. Amy remains active as faculty for ATCN, the Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC), Rural Trauma Team Development Course (RTTDC), and speaks on trauma topics on a state and national level. Amy has been involved in trauma system development in Michigan through her leadership role in the Michigan Trauma Coalition and Regional Trauma Advisory Committee in West Michigan.

Amy Kritchen, BSN, RN, CEN

Director of Accreditation, Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation
Amy Krichten RN, BSN, CEN is the Director of Accreditation for the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. Prior to this, Amy served as the Trauma Program Manager for WellSpan Health ~ York Hospital, a Level-1 Trauma Center. She has been a consultant and site surveyor for state trauma systems and has spent her twenty-plus years of nursing in the trauma spectrum. She graduated from Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing, and received her BSN from Regis University in Denver Colorado. She currently is the co-chair of the STN-Leadership Institute Committee and is faculty for the STN-TOPIC course. In addition, Amy is an ATCN Instructor and a Certified Emergency Room Nurse.

Stanley J. Kurek, Jr. DO, FACS

Professor of Surgery, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Professor of Surgery at Florida State University College of Medicine
Chief of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center, Ft. Pierce, Florida

Previously Dr. Kurek was the Chief of Trauma and Medical Director of Surgical Critical Care at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. He also served as the Medical Director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship and was an Associate Professor of Surgery at UTMCK. Dr. Kurek has also worked for the Medical University of South Carolina as an Assistant Professor of Surgery, Trauma/Surgical Critical Care Attending, Medical Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Medical Director of Surgical Quality, Safety and Clinical Effectiveness and the Program Director of the Surgical Critical Care Residency program.

Dr. Kurek received his undergraduate degree in Biology from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA and received his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. A residency was completed at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center/Temple University and a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Lehigh Valley Hospital. While at Lehigh Valley Hospital he was an Assistant Professor of Surgery and the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Trauma.

Dr. Kurek is a member of numerous professional organizations and is presently President of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. He previously was Vice Chair of the Tennessee Committee on Trauma. He has received numerous honors and awards, as well as, many publications related to Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care.

Robert W Letton, Jr, MD, FAAP, FACS

Director, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Center, Women's and Newborn Pavilion, OU MEDICAL CENTER
Robert W. Letton Jr., M.D., Professor, joined the Section of Pediatric Surgery in June 2006. Dr. Letton was born in Alabama, but grew up in Kentucky. He received his pre-medicine degree at Davidson in N.C. and his M.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. After completing his general surgery residency, including a year as the Bradshaw Research fellow, at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (formerly Bowman Gray School of Medicine) in Winston-Salem, N.C., he spent an additional two years of training in pediatric surgery at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Letton served on the faculty at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and West Virginia University - Charleston Division before joining our faculty. Dr. Letton is board certified in both surgery and pediatric surgery.

Dr. Letton recently received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army Reserve after sixteen years of reserve duty, serving two tours of duty overseas under Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He is currently serving as the Director, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Center, Women's and Newborn Pavilion of the OU MEDICAL CENTER. Dr. Letton's clinical and research interests include pediatric trauma and critical care, especially the metabolic response of children to injury and illness and their response to nutritional support.

Molly Lozada

Administrator, Trauma Verification Program, American College of Surgeons
Molly Lozada has been with the American College of Surgeons for over two decades. In the early stages of her career with ACS, she served as technical support for the National Trauma Data Bank registry software. Several years ago, Lozada transitioned to the role of ACS Verification, Review, & Consultation Program Administrator. She has been integral to the growth of the Optimal Trauma Center Organization & Management course that is offered collaboratively by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) and the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN).

Gary Thomas Marshall, MD, FACS

Assistant Professor of Surgery at New York University School of Medicine, Attending Physician of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at Bellevue Hospital Center and Tisch Hospital of NYU Langone Medical Center, and Medical Director of the Bellevue Surgical ICU
Marshall completed his General Surgery Residency at Virginia Mason Medical Center and his fellowship in Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery at Vanderbilt University. He has a research and clinical interest in Geriatric Trauma, and has numerous publications on trauma in the elderly patient, specifically on head injury and anti-platelet agents in the elderly and the impact of age on outcomes in trauma. He has received educational grant support through the Geriatrics for Specialists Initiative of the Hartford Foundation and American Geriatric Society. He has served on Geriatric Trauma Committees at the state and national level, and assisted in the development of guidelines for geriatric trauma patients for the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and the Trauma Quality Improvement Project of the American College of Surgeons.

Mary Alice McCubbins, CPNP-PC, RN

Trauma Nurse Practitioner, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Mary Alice is the Trauma Nurse Practitioner at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She directly manages and coordinates multiservice and rehabilitative care from admission to discharge for polytrauma patients and provides direct care to patients in the Pediatric Ambulatory Wound Clinic (PAWS) where both inpatients and outpatients are seen for burn and other wound management. Mary Alice actively served in the US military for 22 years and retired from the Air Force in 2008. In addition to multiple deployments during her military career where she participated in and directed the care of wounded soldiers and host country nationals, Mary Alice obtained extensive pediatric primary care experience while managing base pediatric clinics and providing direct care to thousands of military children, This primary care experience has proved invaluable in Mary Alice’s current role not only as she collaborates with primary care providers to transition victims of trauma back to their healthcare home but also to help take a holistic approach to the pediatric trauma patient instead of just addressing the traumatic injuries.

Judy Mikhail, MSN, MBA, RN

Program Manager, Michigan Trauma Quality Improvement Program (MTQIP), Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Judy Mikhail is currently the Program Manager for the Michigan Trauma Quality Improvement Program (MTQIP), which is based at the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor. She has over 30 years of progressive trauma nursing experience, most recently as the administrator for Trauma, Bariatrics, and Neuroservices at Hurley Medical Center, a Level-1 Trauma in Flint, Michigan. She began her nursing career in the Burn Unit at Hurley, and progressed from surgical ICU staff nurse to clinical nurse specialist and ultimately a trauma program manager and trauma administrator. Judy earned her diploma in nursing from Hurley Medical Center School of Nursing, her BSN from the University of Michigan, and MSN from the University of Texas. In 2003, she completed work on her MBA from Colorado State University. Judy Mikhail is currently a full-time doctoral nursing student at the Medical University of South Carolina. She has been active in many professional organizations, including the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), the American Burn Association (ABA), the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), and the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN).

Judy Mikhail is a nationally recognized speaker in trauma care and has been an active educator and course director for PreHospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN), the Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC), Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing (CATN), Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). She serves as an adjunct instructor for the University of Michigan-Flint, School of Nursing. She has authored over 18 publications in trauma, including the evaluation and treatment of abdominal trauma, the use of midlevel providers in trauma centers, injury severity scoring, resuscitation endpoints in trauma, and care of the burn patient. She has won three local research awards. Judy Mikhail has served as President and Treasurer of the board of directors of STN. She has been involved in trauma system development in Michigan, including serving as President of the Michigan Trauma Coalition, and currently serves on the State of Michigan Trauma Advisory Committee.

Frank “Tres” Mitchell, III, MD, MHA, FACS

Medical Director of Trauma & Surgical Critical Care, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Frank “Tres” Mitchell is the Medical Director of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center. Dr. Mitchell has a long history in the trauma community and is highly visible at the national level. Dr. Mitchell graduated with a BA from the University of Missouri and earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He went on to complete his General Surgery Residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He is board certified in General Surgery and in Surgical Critical Care. Dr. Mitchell has been a member and officer of the National ATLS Committee and a Region Chief for the Committee on Trauma. He has served as an ACS Committee on Trauma Site Reviewer since 1999. He is a member of the Committee on Trauma Verification Review Committee, and most recently, he completed serving as its Chair. He is active in many professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, the American Association for Surgery of Trauma, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Western Trauma Association, and the Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics.

Kim Muramoto, RN, BS

Director of Trauma Programs, Centura Health Littleton, Castle Rock and Porter Adventist Hospitals
Kim Muramoto, RN is a Trauma Director for three trauma centers in the Denver metro area, one Level II and two Level III centers. She has experience with ED, ICU, flights and education.

Julie Nash MSN, RN

Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Manager, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
With 23 years of nursing experience, Julie has served in a variety of areas including emergency medicine, occupational health, case management and trauma management. She currently serves as the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Manager at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a Verified Level I American College of Surgeons Trauma Center and a designated Level I Trauma Center for the States of Missouri and Illinois. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Julie serves on multiple regional, state and national trauma and EMS committees.

Kristen Ray, RN, MSN

Senior Clinical Nurse II, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center
Kristen Ray has more than 3 years clinical experience caring for trauma patients at the University of Florida and Shands Jacksonville Level I Trauma Center, which has more than 4,000 trauma admissions per year. She also has 5 years experience at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, a PARC trauma facility that sees over 6,500 trauma admissions per year and that conducts ground breaking research in trauma care. Ray is a Masters prepared RN with focus on education and research in trauma care and outcomes improvements.



Benjamin Reynolds, MPAS, PA-C

Director, Office of Advanced Practice Providers, University of Pittsburg Medical Center
Ben Reynolds is a certified physician assistant and the director of UPMC’s Office of Advanced Practice Providers, which oversees the operational readiness and practice advancement of nearly 2,000 physician assistants, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners throughout the UPMC’s nearly 500 practices and 22 hospitals. Ben is also heavily involved in the development of new models of care, expanding opportunities with UPMC to use the maximum skill sets of physician assistants and other health care professionals to increase access, improve outcome and decrease costs.

An advocate for interprofessional integration, Ben has championed and led a number of projects in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh which put these new models of care into clinical practice. Ben is a recognized national leader of advanced practice providers, advocating on their behalf to professional organizations, state and federal leaders to expand scope of practice and remove unnecessary barriers to safe and effective care. As a faculty member with the University of Pittsburgh, he teaches Fundamentals of Surgery for the physician assistant program and clinically precepts students in the management of trauma, critical care and general surgery as a practicing physician assistant at UPMC Presbyterian. Ben’s office oversees the placement of nearly 600 advanced practice providers students in nearly 2,000 clinical rotations throughout UPMC from 38 different academic programs. Additionally, Ben serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery for the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and holds academic appointments with the Pitt School of Nursing as well as Chatham University. Ben served in the United States Navy prior to pursuing a career in the physician assistant field and is a member of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants, American Academy of Physician Assistants, and American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants.

Babak Sarani, MD

Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Babak Sarani, MD, is the chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at The GW Medical Faculty Associates. He is also an associate professor of surgery at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dr. Sarani completed medical school and training in General Surgery at The George Washington University School of Health & Sciences. He then completed a fellowship in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at the University of Pittsburgh. He worked at the University of Pennsylvania from 2005-2011 in the Division of Trauma Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency Surgery. While there, he also helped establish their rapid response system. He is a member of the leading societies related to general surgery, trauma surgery, and critical care.

Dr. Sarani has received numerous invitations to lecture on topics related to trauma surgery, critical care, and rapid response systems in the United States and Europe. He is also widely published in these fields and has authored several chapters related to these topics. Dr. Sarani's commitment to teaching is evident in the numerous teaching awards he has received from GW, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently the moderator of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Traumacast podcast. His research interests include diagnosis and management of coagulation disorders following trauma, delirium in the ICU, and optimal design of rapid response systems.

Christine Schulman, MS, RN, CNS, CCRN

Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Legacy Health
Chris Schulman is a trauma and critical care clinical nurse specialist who has worked at all 3 Level 1 Trauma Centers in the Pacific Northwest. She has presented at numberous regional and national conferences, including AACN's National Teaching Institute, the ENA National Education Symposium, and the Society of Criticial Care Medicine Annual Education Conference. She has published several articles in critical care journals on a variety of clinical topics and professional development. She currently serves a 3 year term on the AACN Board of Directors.

Elizabeth Seislove, MSN RN

Elizabeth Seislove has been in trauma for the past 24 years. She started out at as a trauma ICU nurse, followed by the APN for the Trauma ICU. Elizabeth transitioned into the Pediatric Trauma Coordinator position, followed by the Program Manager and now the Director of the program. She is an active member of the Society of Trauma Nurses and has held several position within the society: Chair of Neuro Sig, ATCN Chair, and currently national faculty for the ATCN program, president of the society and planning committee member for the EAST/STN collaborative efforts. Elizabeth has spoken locally, regionally, nationally and internationally on various trauma topics.

David Skarupa, MD

Assistant Professor, University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville
Dr. David Skarupa is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at University of Florida – Jacksonville in the Division of Acute Care Surgery. He graduated from Ohio State University College of Medicine. He completed general surgery residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI, and his trauma and critical care fellowship at University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Dr. Skarupa has been a physician liaison for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Eastern Association of Trauma, and Society of Critical Care Medicine.

Lynn Gerber Smith, RN, MS

Senior Clinical Nurse II, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
Lynn has been a nurse at the University of Maryland for 38 years. For 36 of those years Lynn has worked at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in the Trauma Resuscitation Unit (the TRU). Lynn has her Masters Degree in Nursing Education and enjoys traveling across the US and the UK to speak. She has presented in 40 states and 4 countries. Lynn currently coordinates nursing education and process improvements in the TRU. In addition, Lynn has more than 15 publications, the most recent in a British pre-hospital text.

Deb Syverson, BSN, RN, EMT

Trauma Program Manager, Sanford Health - Fargo, Fargo, ND
Deb Syverson is the Trauma Program Manager at Sanford Health – Fargo, an American College of Surgeon’s verified level II Trauma Center in Fargo, North Dakota. Deb has a nursing career of 25-plus years, caring for adults and pediatrics in critical care, emergency nursing, and flight nursing. She has also been an educator for Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN), Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing (CATN), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and many “home-grown” trauma courses for the rural trauma centers in the region.

Deb has been an active participant and leader in the inclusive North Dakota state-wide trauma system for the past 15 years, including functioning as a site-reviewer for the Level IV & V trauma centers. Additionally she has maintained an active role in the MN state-wide trauma system, as the chairperson for the WESTAC (Western MN Regional Trauma Committee). Deb has been a member of STN for 14 years, and has been involved with the Rural Special Interest Group for 10 years.

Oszkar Szentirmai, MD, FACS

Faculty and Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of South Florida (USF) and Chief of Neurosurgery, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center
With his partners and colleagues at USF and in Ft. Pierce, Dr. Oszkar Szentirmai is building a comprehensive neuroscience program on the Treasure Coast. He is the only Endoscopy Fellowship trained neurosurgeon and the only surgeon offering Robotic Minimally Invasive Spine and Brain surgery with the state-of-the-art Mazor Robotics Renaissance System on the Treasure Coast. He is on staff at both Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute as well as St. Lucie Medical Center.

Throughout his career, Dr. Szentirmai has pioneered new surgical techniques and technologies to advance the treatment of cranial and spine conditions. He has published more than a dozen peer reviewed scientific papers and two book chapters. His current research is focused on advancing minimally invasive robotic spine and brain surgery, spinal cord injury as well as brain tumor research. Dr. Szentirmai works with his colleagues at the University of South Florida to be able to offer the highest level of care to his patients with brain tumors and movement disorders on the Treasure Coast.

Dr. Szentirmai earned his medical degree at Semmelweis University in Budapest in his native country of Hungary. He completed his neurological surgery internship and residency training at the University of Colorado in Denver. During his training he spent dedicated time in minimally invasive as well as complex spine surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and more focus in the last two years of his training on the management of brain tumors and aneurysms with vast exposure to stereotactic procedures –such as Stereotactic Radiosurgery with Gamma Knife or Cyber Knife and Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease and Essential Tremor-, “awake” brain surgeries, and pituitary tumor resections.

During Dr. Szentirmai’s training at Denver Health and the University of Colorado Spine Center, he gained extensive experience in neurocritical care for brain and spinal cord injury patients as well as both minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. His training in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit at the University of Colorado Hospital –one of the few centers in the United States with Fellowship training program in Neurocritical Care- allowed him to gather extensive experience over 7 years in the management of the critically ill neurosurgical patients. He also completed fellowships in neurosurgery at both Cornell University at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York and Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the American Medical Association.

When not caring for patients, Dr. Szentirmai is spending dedicated time in advancing his research activities. For fun he enjoys spending time with his family exploring the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Coast marine life on the Treasure Coast as well as outdoor sports.

Joseph J. Tepas III, M.D.

Associate Dean for Clinical Informatics; Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery; Chief Medical Information Officer, UF Health Jacksonville
Dr. Tepas is an Associate Dean for Clinical Informatics; Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery; Chief Medical Information Officer, for UF Health Jacksonville. He specializes in Pediatric Surgery, Surgery and Surgical Critical Care and holds board certifications in Pediatric Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. He completed his Professional Education at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, his residency in surgery at Naval Medical Center (Portsmouth), Portsmouth, VA, and Fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. His special interests include: Pediatric surgery, neonatal surgery, pediatric trauma, pediatric congenital anomalies, and pediatric surgical critical care with special emphasis on comprehensive pain management.



Glen Tinkoff, MD, FACS, FCCM

Associate Vice of Surgery for Emergency Surgical Services, Christiana Care Health System
Glen Tinkoff, MD, FACS, FCCM is the Associate Vice of Surgery for Emergency Surgical Services at Christiana Care Health System in Newark, DE. Dr. Tinkoff also has an appointment at the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a clinical professor of surgery. He received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati, School of Medicine, and completed general surgery residency at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as well as fellowships in surgical critical care at State University of New York at Stony Brook and trauma research at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA. He was recruited in 1992 to Christiana Care Health System as the medical director of the trauma program, a position in which he served until 2008.

Dr. Tinkoff has recently completed 18 years on the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma during which he served on its region committee as state chair and region chief, executive committee, and most recently, as chair of the performance improvement and patient safety committee. He remains clinically active in trauma care and serves the Delaware Division of Public Health’s as the medical advisor to the state trauma system. He recently was awarded the National Safety Council’s Surgeon’s Award for Service to Safety. He has numerous peer reviewed publications and has provided invited lectures on clinical issues in acute care surgery, trauma center and systems administration and management, trauma-related performance improvement and peer review, and surgical education.

Brian Van Ness, PA-C

Physician Assistant, Surgical and Trauma ICU, Hackensack University Medical Center
Brian Van Ness, MS, PA-C currently works as a full time Physician Assistant in the Surgical and Trauma ICU at Hackensack University Medical Center and part time as a Physician Assistant for the Surgery, Trauma and Neurosurgery Service at Jersey City Medical Center. Mr. Van Ness graduated from the Physician Assistant program at Seton Hall University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry in NJ in 2002. Prior to graduating PA school, Mr. Van Ness was a Registered Nurse for 10 years working in the ER/Trauma Resuscitation and the Surgical and Trauma ICU at Morristown Medical Center in NJ. Currently Mr. Van Ness is also an adjunct professor at the Physician Assistant programs at Seton Hall University in NJ and Mercy College and Wagner College in NY. He was an invited speaker at the EAST annual conference in 2015 and the NJ State Society of Physician Assistants annual 2015 conference, speaking about Surgical Critical Care. Mr. Van Ness was honored as the NJ State Physician Assistant of the Year in 2013.

Stephen T. Wegener, PhD

Associate Professor and Director, Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Dr. Wegener has 25 years experience providing clinical services to persons with traumatic injury. His research program is supported by NIH, DOD, CDC, PCORI.

Ian Weston, MPP

Executive Director, American Trauma Society
Ian Weston serves as Executive Director of the American Trauma Society. He is focused on the development of trauma systems, regionalized systems of care, and resources for trauma patients and their providers. Prior to joining ATS, Ian served as the director of the HHS EMSC-National Resource Center at Children’s National Medical Center, and as a health legislative adviser to U.S. Congressman John Sweeney. Ian holds a Masters Global Medical and Health Policy from George Mason Univ. and received his B.A. in Public Policy & Political Science from Syracuse University.

Cassandra Winter, MPAS, PA-C

Senior Physician Assistant, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Graduated in 2009 from Gannon University with a Masters in physician assistant science. Currently employed at the University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA in the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery department. She is a clinical assistant professor at Chatham University actively precepting physician assistant students on a regular basis. She has a special interest in education and enjoys preparing lectures for her students, advanced practitioner residents and also for conferences such as EAST this past year.

Career Center

Visit the new and improved Career Center website. This site was designed to assist STN members in managing their careers.

STN Members (job seekers) have free use of the site to post their resume, build a personal Career Profile, and review jobs posted. Just follow the links to where you want to go.

Employers and Recruiters, have the opportunity to immediately reach the most qualified candidates in the field of trauma nursing. You can maximize the exposure of your available jobs to the right target audience. You can view the price schedule when you register to post a new vacancy or to view the resumes.

STN is pleased to provide this service to its members and employers.

Resource Library

The Society of Trauma Nurses is pleased to offer its members a variety of resources to enhance their careers and contribute to their professional development. This Resource Library has been designed to assist you in your position by providing forms, policies, procedures, guidelines, etc to help you perform your job more efficiently. The documents are collected from the STN listserv as well as from members who have submitted resources to share and are then posted to the library. The resource library will be updated monthly with listserv documents and with individual submissions upon receipt. We encourage you to take advantage of the clearing house and to submit your documents to the library so that other members can benefit from your experiences and resources.
Topics Include:
  • Administration
  • Clinical Practices and Guidelines
  • Facility Specific Guidelines
  • Forms
  • Geriatric Trauma
  • Injury Prevention
  • Job Descriptions
  • Leadership Development
  • Pediatric Trauma
  • Performance Improvement
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Public Awareness
  • Rural Trauma
  • Trauma Activation
  • Videos
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The Society of Trauma Nurses is a professional nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure optimal trauma care to all people locally, regionally, nationally and globally through initiatives focused on trauma nurses related to prevention, education and collaboration with other healthcare disciplines.

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