Better Together: R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Gala Honors State Emergency and Trauma Medical Professionals
World's First and Only Integrated Trauma Hospital Leads on Global Stage
Nearly 150 first responders and top medical professionals who saved a patient from near-certain death were honored tonight at the 30th Annual R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Gala at the Baltimore Convention Center.
The annual event, with 1,400 in attendance, honors the state's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and trauma medicine professionals who represent Maryland's unique, highly coordinated trauma system in saving the lives of the most critically injured.
"It's a privilege to care for patients when life is on the line," says Thomas M. Scalea, MD, the Honorable Francis X. Kelly Distinguished Professor of Trauma Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Physician-in-Chief of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland. "Trauma is a team sport, and the incredible story of survival and recovery that we shared this evening would not have been possible without the seamless care of the prehospital providers, nurses, physicians and rehabilitation specialists — who together make up Maryland's trauma system, the most sophisticated system of care in the United States."
Funds raised from this year's event will benefit nurses. The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Director's Nursing Fund makes it possible to advance the practice of nursing through science and evidence by investing in advanced education, training and research. It also provides opportunities for trauma nurses to share their knowledge with other medical professionals locally, regionally and around the world.
"Tonight we celebrate the support of our generous donors who have committed to raising critical funds to support Shock Trauma's mission," says Janice Eisele, senior vice president of development for the University of Maryland Medical System Foundation. "I encourage others who believe in this institution to pledge to also demonstrate their passion for our unique system of care that is in our very own backyard."
Those in attendance heard the extraordinary story of Dallas Vaughn, the teenager who survived a terrible car crash in West Baltimore and is thriving today because of the care he received at Shock Trauma.
"I don't remember anything:" Teen fights for his life after horrific car accident
On September 25, 2017, Dallas Vaughn was driving to his grandmother's house in West Baltimore. The then 19-year-old had been suffering from a bad cold, and went to pick up some of her homemade chicken soup.
But Vaughn never made it. At approximately 7:35 pm, several calls came in to the Baltimore City Police Department's 911 dispatcher: There had been a horrible accident. A car had flipped over and a man was trapped in his vehicle. "I don't remember anything," says Vaughn. Within minutes, EMS arrived at the scene of the accident. Vaughn was partially ejected from his car, but one of his legs was still trapped inside. Rescue workers with the Baltimore City Fire Department used a Jaws of Life extraction tool to pry open the car roof and dashboard in order to free Vaughn's leg.
Vaughn was first taken to Sinai Hospital, the closest trauma center, where he was given blood for an ongoing hemorrhage from his injuries. Imaging showed that he had extensive fractures in his pelvis and both legs. His injuries were beyond the capabilities of the team at Sinai, so the decision was made to transport Vaughn to Shock Trauma. "I was happy that he was going to Shock Trauma because I knew that meant he was going to the best place in the world, and they would help save his life," says Tyrone Vaughn, Dallas' father.
"Dallas came in with a crushed pelvis and extremities, hemorrhage and a terrible intra-abdominal injury," says Dr. Scalea. Temporary pins and rods held the young man's fractured bones together as the Shock Trauma team worked to stop the internal bleeding. Suddenly, Vaughn's heart stopped. He went into cardiac arrest, and the team resuscitated him with chest compressions and medications – all with multiple serious injuries throughout his body. Vaughn then went into respiratory failure. The decision was made to place him on VV ECMO, short for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which is essentially heart-lung bypass. "There are only a couple of trauma centers in the country that would be willing put a trauma patient on ECMO," says Dr. Scalea.
While Vaughn was receiving care on the Lung Rescue Unit, Dr. Scalea told Tyrone Vaughn that his son was critically ill and he may not survive. "It was tough. Scary. A lot of tears. A lot of praying," says the older Vaughn.
On November 30, 2017, after spending 62 days at Shock Trauma, Dallas Vaughn began his next phase of recovery: rehabilitation. He did his physical therapy at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute. Vaughn showed the team there that he was a hard worker. His father remained by his side, motivating him with physical challenges to keep his spirits high.
Recently, Vaughn and his father opened a car wash and detail center in West Baltimore. For every car that comes through their lanes, one dollar is donated to Shock Trauma. In this way, they intend to be forever connected to Dr. Scalea and the team that saved Vaughn's life.
Global Impact
Shock Trauma is a global leader that reaches far beyond Maryland. Last year, the institution welcomed 78 observers from 14 countries and provided educational opportunities in 52 countries and counting. "We not only see it as our mission to treat patients here at the Shock Trauma, but to teach others what we know," says Karen Doyle, MBA, MS, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, senior vice president of nursing and operations at Shock Trauma. Leaders at Shock Trauma have lent their expertise to help construct trauma hospitals in Israel, India, South Korea and Italy. Shock Trauma hosts the largest C-STARS (Center for the Sustainment of Trauma And Readiness Skills) program in the country, providing real-time training in trauma and critical care for U.S. Air Force doctors, nurses, technicians and medics prior to deployment, with 5,000 soldiers trained since 2001.
"We are a gift from the State of Maryland to the State of Maryland, and to the world," says Dr. Scalea.
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About the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Director's Nursing Fund
The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Director's Nursing Fund allows Shock Trauma nurses to distinguish themselves by advancing the practice and science of trauma nursing through specialized education, and training and research. With this funding, trauma nurses are engaged in nursing research and evidence based practice focused on compassion fatigue and burnout as well as treatment for post-ICU delirium and strategies to mitigate workplace violence. Thanks to this fund, in previous years Shock Trauma Center nurses attended the Society of Trauma Nurses annual conference, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Scientific Assembly, Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Clinicians conference, National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, and Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses course, among others. In addition, retreats are offered to 60 senior clinical nurses twice a year. They include motivational and inspirational speakers who focus on improving care at the trauma center and self-care. Conversely, the fund opens opportunities to send our nursing leaders to conferences to share best practices they’ve developed and train critical care staff across the country. Learn more about the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Director's Nursing Fund
About the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland
The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland was the first fully integrated trauma center in the world, and remains at the epicenter for trauma research, patient care, and teaching, both nationally and internationally today. Shock Trauma is where the "golden hour" concept of trauma was born and where many of the life-saving practices in modern trauma medicine were pioneered. Shock Trauma is also at the heart of Maryland's unparalleled Emergency Medical Service System. Learn more at www.umm.edu/shocktrauma
About the University of Maryland Medical Center
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) comprises two hospitals in Baltimore: an 800-bed teaching hospital – the flagship institution of the 14-hospital University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) – and a 200-bed community teaching hospital, UMMC Midtown Campus. UMMC is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurological care, cardiac care, diabetes and endocrinology, women's and children's health, and has one of the largest solid organ transplant programs in the country. All physicians on staff at the flagship hospital are faculty physicians of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At UMMC Midtown Campus, faculty physicians work alongside community physicians to provide patients with the highest quality care. UMMC Midtown Campus was founded in 1881 and is located one mile away from the University Campus hospital.
