Conference to feature keynote speech from U.S. Army Surgeon General and 125 experts, expected to draw more than 1,000 trauma researchers and caregivers

(SAN ANTONIO) – The National Trauma Institute, dedicated to the funding and development of research addressing trauma injury in the United States, will host the 15th Annual Trauma Symposium – the premiere symposium on trauma research and care in the nation – on August 31 and September 1, 2009, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.

The Symposium, which began as a U.S. Army-hosted seminar addressing military trauma, is now a comprehensive annual conference, geared toward all health care personnel, providing both civilian and military perspectives on trauma care, including clinical science, management guidelines and outcomes.

This year’s Symposium, focused on mass casualty response, features a mix of military and civilian topics involving more than 125 presenters, and is expected to draw an audience of more than 1,000. This year’s keynote speaker is LTG Eric B. Schoomaker, U.S. Army Surgeon General.

“The Symposium is crucial to our mission, which includes elevating trauma on the national research agenda, and advancing knowledge of trauma care,” said Sharon Smith, executive director for the National Trauma Institute. “We’re honored to have General Schoomaker join us for this important conference.”

Smith notes that even though trauma is at epidemic levels in the United States, many Americans don’t automatically associate trauma’s myriad causes – including car accidents, fires, and violent acts –as one comprehensive category.

Each year, trauma accounts for 37 million emergency department visits and 2.6 million hospital admissions across the nation. More than 170,000 of these trauma victims die each year, making it the leading cause of death for Americans under age 44 – not even counting American soldiers overseas.

Symposium presenters include:

• Dr. Dror Soffer, Director, Yitzhak Rabin Trauma Center, Tel Aviv Medical Center;

• Dr. Mauricio Lynn, Director, Trauma Resuscitation Unit, Ryder Trauma Center, Jackson   Memorial Hospital, Miami

• Andrew Peitzman, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center;

• Dr. Ronald Stewart, MD, FACS, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and   NTI Board Chairman

• COL Lorne Blackbourne, Commander U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research

Registration   information and conference updates are available at www.NationalTraumaInstitute.org.