TraumaCon 2025 - Bio

Rene is currently managing trauma, emergency and transplant departments for a healthcare group in Africa. She serves on the international committee for STN, is a board member for the Emergency Medicine Society of South Africa and a Fellow of the Academy of Nurses of South Africa. She has been an invited speaker on several international, national and regional congresses as an expert in trauma management (clinical and administrative), injury prevention, major incident (disaster) management, performance improvement and several other emergency medicine topics. She has published peer reviewed articles in medical journals, chapters as part of the TNCC, ENPC and ATCN manuals and a co-author of several injury prevention booklets.

Dr. Bath is the Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Trauma Service at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, at Level I trauma center in southwest Virginia. She specializes in traumatic brain injury and has presented her research nationally and internationally. She assisted with the diaphragm pacer program implementation and assists with pacer placements in the OR, patient/family education, and transition of care to facilities including staff education and training.

Katherine Bendickson started her medical journey as a Spokane Volunteer Fire Fighter in her father's footsteps when she was 16. From the intense fire department her love of emergency and trauma medicine flourished. She graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor's in science and nursing and a job waiting in Anchorage, AK where her husband was stationed in the Army. After working a year on the medical surgical/stepdown unit she moved to into the Emergency Department. After many adventures and medical stories, she landed in Seattle, WA. Katherine's background includes working as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, working several trauma centers from 1-4, and caring for all ages and backgrounds in the process. Currently she is the Trauma Program Coordinator at Valley Medical Center, a Level III trauma facility near Seattle, WA. As chair of the Geriatric Committee, she hopes to bring her knowledge, passion, and drive to create the best outcomes for such a large part of the trauma population that is frequently underserved.

On her off time, she performs German Folk Dancing, volunteers with a costume/cosplay group called Costumed Characters for Causes, teaches Stop the Bleed, takes Brazilian Jui Jitsu, loves to read and spend time with her amazingly supportive two kids and husband who listen to all her gory stories.

Vicki is currently the Executive Director, Trauma Services for Banner Health. She was a Trauma Program Manager/Director for over 25 years prior to becoming the executive leader for the system trauma service line. Vicki is active at the local, state, and national levels and holds membership in many professional organizations. She serves as an ACS trauma reviewer and a state trauma surveyor for several states.

Cindy Blank-Reid received BSN from Villanova Univ. and MSN in Burn, Trauma and Emergency Nursing from Widener Univ. Has worked on a surgical floor, trauma/NS ICU, ED, pre-hospital and as a TPM. For the past 20 years she has been the Trauma CNS at Temple Univ. Hospital in Philadelphia. Has published and lectured nationally and internationally on a multitude of nursing topics. Has worked on several STN committees including geriatrics and the annual conference. Has served on the Society of Trauma Nurses Board of Directors and is a Past President.

Carrie Chismarich is a Trauma Performance Improvement Coordinator at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, an ACS Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, Missouri Level 1 Trauma Center and Illinois Level 1 Trauma Center servicing the Greater Saint Louis Metropolitan Area. She has been a nurse in the field of emergency, critical care, and trauma for over 23 years. Over the past 14 years, she has held several trauma program positions including the Injury Prevention Outreach Coordinator at a Level 1 ACS trauma center, Clinical Director of Trauma Services at a state designated Level 2 trauma center, and a Research Coordinator at a Level 1 ACS trauma center. She is an experienced healthcare leader with a strong focus on program development, healthcare operations, performance improvement, and trauma research and education.

Mrs. Chisolm is President of Optimal Healthcare Advisors, a consulting practice that helps trauma centers enhance operational performance. She has over 20 years' experience in trauma program leadership.

Currently working as an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing in the DNP AGACNP acute care program. I continue my practice at UK level 1 trauma center as an advanced practice provider in the trauma ICU, with over 25 years of prehospital and ICU/ED critical care experience in my career. I enjoy serving the community as a Stop the Bleed instructor, in addition to teaching Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Troy DeJoode is President of the Carson & Claire Forever Foundation. He speaks frequently on resilience, confidence in crisis, perseverance, family experiences during trauma, the miracle of organ donation, grief, and the importance of living in the moment.

Troy experienced that which no father or husband should have to live through after a truck ran a stop sign crashing into the family minivan hospitalizing his three-year-old son, taking the lives of his five-year-old son and five-month-old daughter, and leaving their mother in a coma with a traumatic brain injury. Come along as Troy take the audience on an amazing journey of perseverance from tragedy and adversity to hope and healing. Mixing humor in a conversational style, Troy manages to make a deeply personal and unimaginable tragedy relatable to the audience delivering tears and laughter, as well as hope and healing. Troy lives in Nevada, Iowa with his wife, Michelle and kids, Chase, Bretton, Dylan and Ashlynn. He is Executive Director of the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, and a recovering lawyer.

Janice is the Trauma Program Director at Cooper, Southern NJ’s Level One Trauma Center. She received her BSN from Villanova and MSN/ Acute Care NP from Thomas Jefferson University. She is a member of numerous professional organizations including the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Society of Trauma Nurses, American Association of Critical Care Nurses and American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She has presented at numerous National, Regional and local conferences on various trauma and critical care topics. In 2024 she received the Villanova Nursing Alumni Medallion for Excellence in Nursing Leadership and was also named the American Association of Nurse Practitioner’s APN of the Year for NJ.

Dr. Domingues has experience in Health Management, Nursing and Medical Education, and Medical-Surgical Nursing. Consultant in Trauma Systems/Services development and management and Coordinator at All Trauma Company. Member of the STN ATCN and International Committee, and the Panamerican Trauma Society Nursing Committee.

Dan Dworkis MD PhD FACEP is an ER doctor and the Chief Medical Officer at the Mission Critical Team Institute where he directs the division of Mission Critical Medicine. His work focuses on multidisciplinary and multi-professional teams working complex, rapidly adaptive problems. Dr. Dworkis is the author of The Emergency Mind: Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure, and the founder of The Emergency Mind Project.

Katie Fisher, BSN, RN, CCRN currently is the Trauma Program Manager and back-up Emergency Preparedness Officer for Memorial Hermann Greater Heights in Houston, Texas. Her background includes nine years as an emergency department nurse, five years as a flight nurse, and 4.5 years in trauma services. She is involved in multiple campus and system projects affiliated with trauma and other disciplines. In her free time, she enjoys being on the go with her husband and their three daughters.

Dr. Fox is the pediatric trauma medical director at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ a combined Level 1 adult/Level 2 pediatric trauma center. She is also the Associate chief Medical Officer for the health system. Dr. Fox is the President of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and serves as a lead site reviewer for the American College of Surgeons Verification Review Committee.

Paula Halcomb is a DNP prepared, board certified Clinical Nurse Specialist for Trauma Surgical Services at UK HealthCare. She has been a nurse almost 40 years, the majority of that dealing with critically ill trauma patients. Her areas of interest include early mobility and post ICU disability prevention, traumatic brain injury management and fall prevention.

Maureen Higgins received her Masters in Social Work at the University of Michigan. She has extensive experience in oncology both in-patient and out-patient, as well as community outreach and program development. She is currently the Project Manager with MaineHealth/Centers for Community Improvement/Healthy Aging, responsible for piloting and implementing A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls/Virtual throughout the health system.

Cindy Joseph, BSN, RN, CFRN, CPEN, is the Manager of Outreach and Trauma Education at UCHealth Northern Region, where she coordinates trauma education programs and facilitates Stop the Bleed initiatives. Drawing from her extensive background as a flight nurse, she regularly shares her trauma care knowledge at EMS and critical care conferences nationwide. Cindy maintains multiple instructor certifications and contributes to the field through her work on the Society of Trauma Nurses Clinical Committee, as an item writer for the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, and as author of the Disaster chapter in the 9th Edition Trauma Nurse Core Course.

Helen Jowett is a Trauma Program Manager and Clinical Nurse Consultant at The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, specializing in trauma care and quality improvement. As the International Director with the Society of Trauma Nurses, she contributes to global trauma care efforts and is a founding member of the Australian & New Zealand Trauma Quality Improvement Program. Helen also serves as the Immediate Past President of the Australian & New Zealand Trauma Society and works with international trauma organizations to enhance care worldwide.

Debra started her medical career as a Medic in Atlanta, GA. To date she has over 30 years of trauma nursing experience. Debra has been involved in Trauma Management for over 22 years and has been in the role of Manager of Trauma Services for Prisma/ Greenville Memorial for 12 years. She is an ATCN Educator and Course director. She is serving as the chair of the ATCN 9th edition Revisions. She also serves on the Journal of Trauma Nursing Editorial Board.

Amy Koestner, MSN, RN is the Director of Trauma Services at Corewell Health Butterworth, an ACS verified Level I Trauma Center, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amy is an active in the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) for over 20 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles, including President in 2008. She is a Nurse Reviewer for ACS, VRC and other state designating agencies.

Knut Magne Kolstadbraaten is an experienced trauma program manager from Norway. Knut has served 7 years as the international director at STN and he is currently the chair of the nurse committee in ESTES (European Society of Trauma and Emergency Surgery).

Lindsay is currently a Nurse Supervisor at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, TX where she has been practicing pediatric emergency nursing for 18 years. Lindsay has also worked extensively with the Texas Pediatric Readiness Project as a Regional Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator where she has been actively engaged in promoting and developing pediatric readiness across multiple hospital systems in the central Texas region. In addition, Lindsay is involved in numerous quality and process improvement projects through her role as a Trauma Nurse Leader, is a trained simulation facilitator, and an active ENPC Instructor.

Becca is a pediatric emergency care specialist with 18 years of experience. She serves as the ED RN Practice Specialist Dell Children's Medical Center and Associate Director for Nursing Curriculum Development at the DCMC Simulation Center. Additionally, Becca is a Nurse Content Creator for SimBox, focusing on simulation education and video production. She has contributed to the Texas Pediatric Readiness Project as a Regional PECC and is the Chair of the Emergency Nurses Association Pediatric Committee. She continuously strives to enhance pediatric care through education, simulation, and quality improvement initiatives.

Shawn is the outgoing LDC Chair and has been with the committee since 2017 as the LDC Extern. Shawn has 30 years of Emergency/Trauma experience from the bedside into leadership.

Dr Schaefer is a retired Army Trauma Nurse who advocates for civilian prehospital blood programs so we don't forget the hard lessons we learned on the battlefield.

Suzanne Sherwood holds a BSN and MS degree with a Trauma Critical Care focus, and a post-graduate certificate in Education from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She has over 35 years of experience as a clinical nurse in the Trauma Resuscitation Unit at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Maryland, and 10 years as an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She has authored journal articles and book chapters; including the 5th edition of “Trauma Nursing, Resuscitation through Rehabilitation;” published in 2020; and endorsed by both the Society of Trauma Nurses STN and AACN. Suzanne maintains her TCRN certification, has taught in the TCRN certification program, and continues her involvement with the “Stop the Bleed” program.

Sarah has been caring for patients as an emergency department nurse since 2007 and forensic nurse since 2010. She was instrumental in starting the forensic program at The University of Kansas Health Systems in Kansas City, Kansas.Sarah currently is the Forensic Supervisor for Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, KS. She obtained her Master's degree in nursing with an emphasis on forensics from Aspen University in Colorado. Her go to self-care is eating frosting and traveling with her family and best friends.

Dr. Diana Skaff is an accomplished healthcare leader, educator, and consultant with extensive experience in healthcare management, nursing leadership, and academic affairs. Dr. Skaff leverages a global perspective to advance healthcare systems across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. A visionary with a history of trailblazing contributions, Dr. Skaff led the development of Lebanon's first national trauma system and trauma education program. Notable accomplishments include conceptualizing and executing Saudi Arabia’s largest international trauma conference and establishing a comprehensive nursing and quality system for the American Hospital Dubai. Diana is the chair of the Leadership Development committee and an active STN member in the International Committee, CEPU committee, ATCN Committee, and the 9th Edition ATCN revision Committee.

Steven has 26 years in healthcare encompassing Emergency, Trauma, Flight, Nursing Administration, Education, and Paramedicine experience. He has authored chapters in several textbooks and has spoken on multiple levels including international. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and the Exam Construction & Review Committee for the CEN exam with the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing.

Krongdai Unhasuta is a trauma specialist and holds post doctorate fellow in trauma from the college of nursing, University of Colorado Denver. She has a university professor background with strong trauma care in teaching both bachelor and master degree students for 25 years. She uses her positive attitude to encourage others trauma academic, training, and research with The Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand, Trauma Association of Thailand, Trauma Nurses Network, Trauma Nurses Society of Thailand, and ATCN Country Director of Thailand.

LeAnne Young is the 2024-2025 President for the Society of Trauma Nurses and the Assistant Clinical Director of Trauma and Injury Prevention at Texas Children’s Hospital (Houston, TX). She also serves as Chair of the Trauma Centers Association of America (TCAA) Pediatric Trauma Committee and is an active member of the Pediatric Trauma Society (PTS) and the Pan American Trauma Society (SPT). LeAnne has over 19 years of trauma nursing experience with over 14 years of experience in both adult and pediatric trauma program operations. She has led trauma programs at community based, urban, and rural trauma centers with varying levels (I – IV) of state designation and ACS verification.