Interactive Seminar Provides a Forum to Discuss Trauma in the Developing World

The Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit led a special seminar on December 3, 2010 that provided an in-depth look at trauma care and research in low and middle-income countries. The seminar, entitled “Trauma in the Developing World: Innovative Approaches to Research and Evaluation,” was co-presented by the Division of Acute Care Surgery in the Department of Surgery of Johns Hopkins Hospital, and was put on in collaboration with the Department of Surgery of the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. The seminar attracted a large number of attendees from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Johns Hopkins Hospital and several organizations outside of the school.

Dr. Kent Stevens, the associate director of trauma and clinical services for the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, and a trauma surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, delivered a powerful presentation on the use of data in improving care of the injured patient in developing countries. His talk was followed by Dr. Michel Aboutanos, the director of the International Trauma System Development Program in the Division of Trauma and Critical Care at Virginia Commonwealth University, who spoke specifically about trauma system development in the Latin American region.

Joined by Dr. Rao Ivatury, the director of the Division of Trauma and Critical Care at Virginia Commonwealth University, and also Dr. James Neifeld, the chair of the Department of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University, the group then formed an interactive panel moderated by Dr. Adnan Hyder, the director of the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit. The discussion centered on increasing access to trauma care, evaluating existing programs and overall improving the trauma systems in low and middle-income countries.

The Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit was pleased to host this important seminar and looks forward to continued collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University and others as we work together toward reducing the burden of trauma injuries around the world.

For more information, please contact the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit. Presentations from the seminar will soon be available for download.