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The University of North Carolina
Division of Trauma and
Critical Care Surgery
4008 Burnett Womack Building
CB 7228
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7228
(919) 966-4389
Fax: (919) 966-0369

Dr. Steven Schumacher's Blog from USS MERCY

Trauma and Critical Care Surgery

The Trauma and Critical Care Division of the UNC Department of Surgery and UNC Healthcare Systems is dedicated to fulfilling several missions including:

• To provide the highest quality care for injured and critically ill patients.
• To develop and implement multidisciplinary research programs designed
to investigate the physiologic, metabolic, and pathologic states affecting patients with multiple-injuries.
• To provide high quality relevant education to medical students, residents, nurses, and paramedical personnel in areas relating to the care of the injured patient.
• To provide a rich clinical and research environment to facilitate the training of Critical Care Fellows.
• To provide Community Outreach Programs, to direct educational forums (e.g. ATLS), and to advocate and implement injury prevention programs.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is home to UNC Hospitals’ Level I Trauma Center. This established program serves as the lead institution for the MidCarolina Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) and actively participates in the State Committee on Trauma (COT). Approximately 2000 multiply injured patients are admitted annually to the Center and are cared for by a fully-staffed infrastructure which is certified through the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). Patient care is overseen by ABS certified Trauma/Critical Care Specialists and is directed by the General Surgical Chief Resident with assistance from a senior resident and at least two junior residents.

The UNC Trauma System is the home of several central databases, including PreMIS and the State Trauma Registry. Trauma System protocol development and application, quality improvement initiatives, and database information are managed by a fully staffed team of specialty-trained Trauma Program Staff.

UNC’s Trauma Program supports an active Research Center with broad ranging investigative programs involving both clinical and basic scientific research. The Department of Surgery is funded by the National Institutes of Health/GMS via the T32 mechanism to provide structured and mentored research experiences through the Trauma Research Fellowship Program. The Trauma Center at UNC enjoys productive collaborative relationships with other campus-based Centers of Excellence. The UNC Highway Safety Research Center and the Injury Prevention Center are excellent resources and serve to further augment the strength of UNC’s program.

Teaching is a central mission of the Division. Medical students, residents, fellows, and nurses participate in regularly scheduled teaching rounds. In addition to weekly General Surgery Grand Rounds, the Critical Care Service maintains a weekly Critical Care Grand Rounds schedule and hosts a critical care-specific mortality and morbidity conference. The Multi-disciplinary Trauma Conference (MTC) facilitates discussion amongst trauma specialists in related medical and surgical fields.

The Trauma and Critical Care services function under the direction of Preston B. Rich, MD. Renae Stafford, MD, MPH, serves as the director of the SICU and the Critical Care Fellowship. Elizabeth Dressen, MD, Harry Marshall, MD, Anthony Charles, MD,
Horacio Hojman, MD and Anthony A. Meyer, PhD, MD, actively participate in these programs. Hartwig Bunzendahl, MD, PhD, directs the UNC Hernia Center, and is clinically based within the Trauma and Critical Division.

Sincerely,
Preston B. Rich, MD, FACS
Chief, Trauma and Critical Care Services
Trauma Medical Director, UNC Healthcare Systems