Katie Buchholz always knew that she wanted to be a dancer.

“I had been taking classes since I was 4,” Buchholz said. “By eighth grade, I told my parents that this is what I wanted to do with my life.”

After graduating from college with a degree in dance, Buchholz set off from her Texas hometown to pursue her dream in Los Angeles. She spent several years working at a professional dance studio, teaching dance classes for children. She also danced on an international tour with a well-known children’s entertainer. Buchholz was well on her way to the career of her dreams.

But on the night of July 3, 2024, one single moment changed everything.

A Life-Altering Incident

While driving home from an outing with friends, Buchholz sustained life-threatening injuries in a devastating, head-on car crash.  She was rushed by an emergency services team to Cedars-Sinai.

“Katie came to us as a polytrauma, meaning she had multiple serious injuries, and required immediate intervention,” said Yassar Hashim, MD, associate medical director of Trauma at Cedars-Sinai, who was the trauma surgeon on duty the night Buchholz arrived at the medical center. “She had to be intubated right away to secure her airway, and she received a massive blood transfusion to replace what she had lost due to her injuries from the accident.”  

Buchholz had major trauma to both legs, including a broken femur in her right leg and vascular and nerve injury in her left. She broke multiple ribs and her left wrist and had a traumatic brain injury from the impact of the crash.

As a Level I trauma center, Cedars-Sinai is equipped to handle complex injuries like Buchholz’s.

“It’s all about teamwork,” Hashim said. “Each individual, from the trauma surgeons to the Emergency Department physicians, our residents, nurses and more, has a specific role. We follow our protocols and are trained to support these critically injured patients in an environment where every second counts.”

Coordinated Care

As the attending trauma surgeon, Hashim had the role not only to save Buchholz’s life, but to also help coordinate the multidisciplinary care she would need to manage her various injuries.

“There were a lot of teams involved,” Hashim said. “Katie required care from my colleagues in orthopedics, vascular, plastic and reconstructive surgery, Surgical ICU, and more.”

One of the many doctors she would encounter was Mitchel Seruya, MD, director of the Peripheral Nerve and Microsurgery Fellowship and professor of Surgery in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery. Seruya was called upon to repair the severe nerve injury in her left leg.

“The nerve that was severed is an important one because it feeds sensation in the bottom of the foot,” Seruya said. “Especially because she’s a dancer, she needs the feedback of that sensation to be able to feel where her foot is in space. If we couldn’t repair it, the hope of getting back to a career in dance would have been out.”

By harvesting a graft from the nerve that feeds her outer calf and sewing under a microscope with a suture thread that is finer than a doll hair, Seruya was able to reconstruct the injured nerve. The fix is not immediate, though, as electricity goes through the graft at the rate of about an inch per month. As time goes on, sensation will return as it continues to improve.

Little by Little

After being discharged from Cedars-Sinai, Buchholz went home to Texas for several months to stay with her parents.

“I still needed so much help at the beginning,” Buchholz said.

She worked diligently with physical, occupational and speech therapists to improve her strength and coordination. Through her determination and positive attitude, she saw progress. By July 2025, just one year after her accident, she was able to move back to Los Angeles to restart her life and career, even if it looks a little different than what she initially imagined.

“I know this is a long journey, but I live by the mantra of ‘little by little,’” Buchholz said. “Whether it’s being able to blow my own nose, relearning how to walk, or being able to lift heavier weights, I celebrate every incremental step as a win.”

Even while she waits for the nerve regrowth to get full sensation back to her foot, she continues her therapies and has returned to teaching at a local children’s dance studio. She believes her passion influences her healing.

“I was a dancer; I am a dancer,” Buchholz said. “I have progressed so much physically and mentally because I am determined to get back eventually.”

Her physicians praise this positive outlook.

“It is priceless to have patients with this kind of glass-half-full attitude,” Seruya said. “Their mindset helps heal them.”   

Inspiring Others

Buchholz is sharing her story at Cedars-Sinai’s upcoming Trauma Survivors Reunion on Monday, June 8. For the first time, Cedars-Sinai is bringing together trauma survivors, physicians, nurses, social workers, emergency services professionals and other medical staff to celebrate the strength of their patients who overcame life-altering injuries.

At the reunion, she will be able to reconnect with Hashim, the trauma surgeon who helped save her life.

“Because of my brain injury, I have no memories from immediately before or after my accident,” Buchholz said. “I may not recognize the people who were there that night, but I’m excited to meet them and say, ‘Thank you.’”

Hashim is looking forward to the event as well.

“We receive critically injured patients and see them in their most vulnerable state, often with no one else but us to advocate for them,” Hashim said. “I am excited to see Katie again and see how far she has come. These kinds of things are what make my job so rewarding. She went from struggling for her life to speaking at our event. It’s remarkable.”

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: Stop the Bleed Courses at Cedars-Sinai

Miranda was riding home from school on a motorized minibike when he was hit by a vehicle and then dragged by a semitruck, resulting in catastrophic injuries. Initially rushed to a nearby Level II trauma center to be stabilized, Miranda had injuries so extensive and life-threatening that physicians there decided the best chance to save his life was to transfer him to Cedars-Sinai.  

“As a Level I trauma center, Cedars-Sinai is prepared to deal with highly complex cases like Albert’s,” said Galinos Barmparas, MD, medical director of Trauma in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai. “Even with our team’s extensive resources and expertise, it’s still a miracle Albert is alive, with the injuries he sustained.”

Major crush injuries to Miranda’s left leg required an amputation up to his hip. He also had a broken pelvis, a damaged urethra, and he battled severe infections from wounds he suffered after he was dragged on the road. Miranda required more than 20 surgeries and the expertise of physicians across multiple specialties, including trauma, orthopedics, plastic and reconstructive surgery, urology, pediatrics, physical therapy, and more.

“I never thought I'd be in a situation like this in my entire life, but here we are,” Miranda said. “But after, like, a long way coming, I've met new people here who've treated me well. And I'm actually glad that they wanted to work with me. ... So it made [Cedars-Sinai] feel like home.”

Barmparas said more than 100 healthcare workers helped Miranda get to this point.

“Patients may survive the initial hit and the initial surgeries,” Barmparas said. “But if they don't have the specialists and the resources, they may not be able to make it.”

Electric and gas-powered bikes that can travel upward of 25 miles per hour, like the one Miranda was riding at the time of his accident, are a safety concern for Barmparas, who oversees trauma surgery at Cedars-Sinai.

“These vehicles are dangerous. I can tell you that I see motorized bike, e-bike and electric scooter injuries in the trauma bay on a regular basis,” he said. “Patients come in all the time with traumatic brain injuries, facial fractures and other life-altering trauma.”

The accident occurred in late September, so Miranda spent the winter holidays, as well as his 17^th birthday, in the hospital. But in that time, he has made tremendous strides in his recovery and has regained some mobility with the assistance of a wheelchair and walker.

“It feels a little surreal, I think, the progress that we have seen from him,” said Romina Kim, MD, a pediatric hospitalist with Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s. “From not even being able to get out of bed to now walking with the walker. He’s a completely different kid from the one that we saw six months ago. It’s quite a miracle.”

Now, after more than five months in the hospital, Miranda is finally being discharged from Cedars-Sinai to continue his recovery at a rehabilitation center.

“Next is actually the rehab,” Miranda said. “I don't know how long I'll be there, but I hope it's a short amount of time so I can just get home already.”

The Cedars-Sinai team recently celebrated Miranda’s discharge with a celebration walk and send-off tunnel, waving pompoms and cheering him on as he made his way down the hallway of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s. His physicians are encouraged by his resilience and how far he’s come not only with his physical, but also mental recovery from this traumatic event.

“He has a lot of dreams and aspirations,” Kim said. “And with the kind of attitude that he has, he can really become whatever he wants. I think he's going to do great things.”

As for Miranda, he is looking forward to getting stronger so he can get back to his normal routine and spend time with his friends. Still, he says he’ll miss his Cedars-Sinai care team.  

“Everyone has been so supportive and that's what keeps me positive,” Miranda said. “You know, if they want something good for me, I want something good for me as well.”

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: Stop the Bleed Courses at Cedars-Sinai

What do all those changes have in common? The ability for trauma surgeons to be more deliberate when every second counts, said Margulies, director of Acute Care Surgery in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai.  

“One of the biggest advancements we’ve made is actually knowing when we can avoid an operation,” said Margulies, who joined Cedars-Sinai in the early 1990s and was medical director of Trauma for more than 25 years.

It was 1984 when Cedars-Sinai was first designated a Level I Adult Trauma Center and, after its most recent evaluation and recertification by the ACS COT, it continues to be one of the longest-running Level I centers in Los Angeles County.  

“Maintaining Level I status for our hospital ensures that patients in our community have access to a center capable of managing any injury, no matter the severity, with the full spectrum of subspecialty support,” said Galinos Barmparas, MD, medical director of Trauma at Cedars-Sinai. “Patients can expect coordinated, expert and compassionate care delivered by a team that lives and breathes trauma readiness.”

Advancements in Care

Early in Margulies’ career, trauma patients often required more invasive, exploratory surgery to determine a diagnosis, Margulies said. But as imaging technologies improved, the care team could make better-informed decisions.

“The increased quality and speed of CT scans have made a big difference,” Margulies said. “And bedside ultrasound also became more common in the ’90s with the focused abdominal sonography in trauma—or FAST—exam, which allows us to make more rapid assessments of critically ill patients and provide more minimally invasive care when appropriate.”

Aside from better treatment techniques and technologies, Margulies said the types of trauma injuries he sees have also shifted.

“Before seatbelt laws were strictly enforced and airbags were required in cars, we saw a lot of head injuries and extreme traumas from ejection following motor vehicle collisions,” Margulies said. “Now that some of those safety measures are in place, we actually see more pedestrians hit by cars, potentially due to distracted driving.”

Margulies also noted that, because the patient population is getting older, many traumas the team treats now are a result of falls.

The trauma team at Cedars-Sinai has grown over the past 40 years as well. In 1999, ACS rules for Level I trauma centers began requiring an attending surgeon to always be on-site, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“There were five of us who were attendings at that time, so I practically lived at the hospital,” Margulies said.

Since then, the team has more than doubled to 11 attending surgeons on faculty, with the expectation to grow. Additionally, all Cedars-Sinai trauma surgeons have completed a fellowship in surgical critical care.

What the Future Holds

Cedars-Sinai will continue to be evaluated by the ACS COT every three years to be redesignated as a Level I center.

“This reverification is both a validation and a reminder of the tremendous daily effort by our trauma team. It represents not just excellence in meeting national standards but a sustained commitment to continuous improvement and compassion in trauma care,” Barmparas said. “Every verification cycle is an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and how we can keep pushing the standard forward for our patients and community.”

Read more from the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Stop the Bleed Courses at Cedars-Sinai

After her moped was mowed down by an SUV 14 years ago, Cedars-Sinai trauma surgeons spent weeks rebuilding her body. As for rebuilding her life, Brown continues to do that on her own. Brown’s role as a peer support volunteer in Cedars-Sinai’s new Trauma Survivors Network, helping others healing from physical trauma, is the newest part of that recovery.

The Trauma Survivors Network, a program of the American Trauma Society, connects survivors and educates and empowers patients and their families during recovery. At Cedars-Sinai, Brown and a team of other volunteers connect with patients to listen, share, encourage and reassure.

“It’s a community,” said trauma educator Gregory Jones, RN, injury prevention and outreach coordinator for the Cedars-Sinai Trauma Program. “Going through physical trauma can feel isolating. We wanted to have Trauma Survivors Network programming here so patients can feel a broader range of support as they navigate healing and recovery, and to help them feel more connected.”

Cedars-Sinai is one of only four Level I adult trauma centers in Los Angeles County, which means it provides the highest-quality care for every aspect of injury—from prevention and emergency lifesaving surgeries and clinical care, to rehabilitation. In 2024, more than 1,600 patients were treated at the medical center for traumatic injuries.

A 2023 paper published in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open noted that while trauma care has significantly improved survival over the past 50 years, continued struggles with disabilities, emotional challenges and brain injuries are common for many.

With this in mind, Jazmin Perez, a clinical social worker in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery, ensures trauma patients and survivors are aware of Trauma Survivors Network resources—information about recovery, inpatient and outpatient support groups, and peer visitation opportunities.

“We also check in with patients after they’ve been discharged from the hospital to see how we can continue to help,” Perez said. “Healing continues long after they get home, so making sure they feel supported and a sense of belonging is vital.”

Improving the patient experience and fostering a sense of community is a key goal of the Trauma Survivors Network; another, Jones said, is connecting survivors with the providers who cared for them.

“We want to introduce survivors to their first responders, as well as reconnect them with their trauma team,” Jones said. “We want these providers to be reminded of how much what they do matters.”

More Awareness for Trauma

Trauma Survivors Network volunteer Louise Lund experienced debilitating injuries in 2024.

One minute she was driving home from work; the next, emergency responders were removing her through her car’s roof. Lund was unconscious, with a shattered hip, pelvis and sternum, 12 broken ribs, and a paralyzed leg. A driver had sped through a red light at more than 90 miles per hour, hitting Lund directly in the driver’s side.

She had five nine-hour surgeries in five weeks and was at Cedars-Sinai nearly three months. As her body healed, there were unexpected symptoms to manage—hair loss, which she learned is normal after trauma, and the more common signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

She recalls a lonely road to recovery filled with uncertainty and sorrow, as well as a realization that the road also represented a path toward healing and hope. Today Lund is eager to assure patients they are not alone.

“I want to bring more awareness to what happens to a person not only physically, but mentally,” Lund said. “Being able to say to people recovering, ‘Your resilience is your superpower,’ is part of my new journey of healing.”  

Representation for Survivors

It was a full-circle moment when Corentin Villemeur, another Trauma Survivors Network volunteer, recently picked up his official volunteer jacket. He was hospitalized in 2018 after he was hit by a drunk driver while walking across the street. He felt well-supported during recovery, but at the same time, no one had been through what he had.

“It’s comforting to know you’re not the only one,” he said.

The Trauma Survivors Network also gives Villemeur the opportunity to express gratitude.

“I’ve struggled with how to say thank you to Cedars-Sinai in a meaningful way,” Villemeur said. “The providers don’t always get to see all the good work they’ve done. I’m back to nearly 100%, and I want them to see how my hard work and their hard work paid off.”

Jones commended the Trauma Survivors Network volunteers, saying, “They had a dynamic life before their injury, and they’re able to share how they’ve reclaimed that life. They’re even stronger now, and they’ve opted to come back and help us help others—which is what Cedars-Sinai is all about.”

Stronger now, Villemeur—who once feared he would no longer be able to stand—is back to Latin dancing and distance running.

Stronger now, Lund is walking on her own again.

Stronger now, Brown can enjoy playtime with her young daughter.

“For a long time,” Brown said, “I was trapped in a body and life I didn’t recognize. Now I’m passionate about helping others also find the strength to keep going and come out on the other side with a life they love.”

For more information or to participate in the Trauma Survivors Network, contact Jazmin Perez at jazmin.perez@cshs.org.

Read more in Cedars-Sinai Discoveries Magazine: Regenerative Medicine for Orthopedics

And as people in Los Angeles County spend more time indoors in the aftermath of widespread wildfires—avoiding smoke-filled air, keeping out of the way of emergency responders and sheltering in place—they should be prepared to treat some of those injuries on their own, when possible, said Gregory Jones, RN, injury prevention and outreach coordinator for the Cedars-Sinai Trauma Program.

“It’s good to have basic knowledge—and a first-aid kit—ahead of time,” Jones said. “Unfortunately, many people don’t think about it until it’s too late. You want to prevent being in a situation in which you are completely unprepared.”

When Jones—whose job is to be prepared for emergencies and trauma—was recently faced with looming evacuation orders during an approaching wildfire, he was reminded first-hand that proper planning and preparation take time, focus and even practice.

“I talk every day about the importance of being prepared, and yet, as we packed to evacuate, I still needed to pause and recenter myself,” he said. “Be as ready as you can for an emergency, and that includes at-home first-aid planning. Know what to do to help yourself or someone else.”

The Cedars-Sinai Newsroom spoke with Jones about ways to prepare for and treat injuries at home, especially when it may be difficult to leave the house for immediate care.

What is the first thing a person should do if they’ve been injured at home or are looking to help someone who has?

Assess the situation and take a deep breath. Basic knowledge of first-aid practices will help. For example, for a bad cut, you should apply pressure to stop bleeding. If someone else is injured, consider whether it’s safe for you to help, or whether there is a chance you also could get injured. Also think, “Is this bigger than what I can do at home?” If that’s the case, make every effort to seek medical help. If there’s a life-threatening emergency, call 911. But when it comes to immediate care for cuts, burns, sprains and fractures, even a little knowledge goes a long way. So does a first-aid kit.

What should be in a first-aid kit?

A basic first-aid kit should have bandages, gauze, medical tape and an antibiotic cream. To supplement that, you could include varying sizes of bandages, extra gauze and a small pair of scissors. If you have young children, add fun adhesive bandages or stickers. SpongeBob SquarePants is a very good distraction from an injury.

What is the best way to treat a bad cut?

First, if there’s glass on the floor and you’re barefoot, grab slippers. Wash the cut with soap and water and apply direct pressure to stop bleeding. Dress the wound with antibiotic cream and cover it with a sterile bandage or gauze. Cleaning and covering the wound are critical to prevent infection. If you don’t have a bandage, use a clean kitchen towel or a T-shirt. Even a sock would work; in an emergency, you may need to improvise and use whatever is handy.

In the case of an amputation—you’ve lopped off the end of a finger chopping vegetables—try not to panic. Put the amputated part in a plastic bag filled with water and ice. This ice bath may allow it to be reattached when you are able to access medical care.

A word about pets: If your pet gets a cut, clean the wound with soap and water, use antibiotic cream and try to bandage the area until you can get them to a vet.

What is the best way to care for a burn?

For a mild burn—you touched a hot pan, for example—the first thing to do is cool down the burned area. Run cool water over it, and maybe apply ice, but never put ice directly on the skin. If you do use ice, put it in a plastic bag, wrap a towel around the bag, and only use it for a minute or two at a time. You want to cool the skin, not freeze it. Cover the burn with gauze or a sterile bandage.

If the burn is more severe—there’s a blister or broken skin—clean the area with soap and water, and then apply antibiotic cream and dress it with a sterile bandage. Don’t break the blister; it provides a protective barrier and helps prevent infection.

What should a person do if there’s a sprain or fracture?

For sprains, apply ice to help reduce swelling. You may want to alternate between ice and heat. If you think you have a broken bone and you cannot get medical help right away, splint the limb to immobilize it. You can splint a leg with household items such as a broom and mop. Place one on either side of the leg to help immobilize it and use medical tape to secure the splints. To splint an arm or wrist, consider using a book on either side of the arm, and use a kitchen towel or even a sock to hold the limb in place. Remember, improvisation is key.

Is there anything else to remember when it comes to emergency planning or at-home care for injuries?

Two things: Take a basic first-aid or a Stop the Bleed class. Most communities offer them. Also, remember to give yourself grace. My career is in trauma and emergency medicine, and even still, as my family prepared to evacuate last week, it was a tense time and a little chaotic. I had to remind myself of the importance of grace.

For the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom team's complete coverage of the Los Angeles County wildfires, please click here. 

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog:  Mental Emergency Toolkit | Strategies to Try When Panic Takes Hold

And when that emergency arises, anyone can be ready to save a life, said Gregory Jones, RN, injury prevention and outreach coordinator for the Cedars-Sinai Trauma Program.

“There are certain lifesaving steps everyone can take before help arrives,” Jones said, adding that it’s his mission to share those steps far and wide so people at the scene know what to do until health professionals can take over.

“A person can bleed to death in three to five minutes,” Jones said, “but it can take upwards of eight minutes for emergency help to arrive.”

Uncontrolled bleeding is the No. 1 cause of death after a mass shooting, stabbing, and other mass casualties. 

The techniques Jones teaches are part of Stop the Bleed, a program developed by the American College of Surgeons following the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in which 26 people, most of them children, died.

Stop the Bleed methods are effective in all traumas that involve bleeding, whether it’s from natural disasters or car accidents, said Jones, who has taught Stop the Bleed to groups throughout Greater Los Angeles for the past seven years.   

If an emergency arises, the first step is to call 911, Jones said. After that, there are three basic techniques to stop bleeding until help arrives.

Technique No. 1

Find the wound that’s bleeding and cover it with gauze, or even a shirt or towel, if that’s all that’s handy. Then put one hand on top of the other and press on the wound and hold it there until help arrives.

Technique No. 2 

If blood is pouring out of the wound, you have to pack the wound. If you have gloves, put them on, then use gauze, a towel or a T-shirt to pack the wound. Stuff the material into the wound as far as it can go. After you’ve packed the wound as much as possible, press on it with a covering and both of your palms until help arrives.

Technique No. 3

If you have a tourniquet, place it about three inches above the wound. Tighten the tourniquet by turning the crank in either direction until the bleeding stops. This will be painful but it’s important to keep turning until the bleeding stops. When you’re done, make note of the time when you placed the tourniquet.

Those interested in learning more can find a class led by Cedars-Sinai trauma educators or take an interactive online course through Stop the Bleed.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Donating Blood During a Disaster--How It Helps

As a Level I trauma center, Cedars-Sinai offers advanced resources and technologies to serve Los Angeles County and beyond 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The Cedars-Sinai Newsroom sat down with Galinos Barmparas, MD, medical director of Trauma in the Cedars-Sinai Department of Surgery, to discuss how people can have a healthy holiday season and avoid life-changing injuries and accidents.

Do you see an uptick in trauma cases around this time of year?

We tend to see an increase in trauma cases on almost all holidays throughout the year and this season is not an exception. In fact, because it is a protracted holiday period, that allows for an even higher volume of patients and an increased chance that these patients may get injured to the point that they require admission to a trauma center.

What are some common cases the trauma surgery service sees during the holidays?

As the trauma surgery team, we see patients with the most serious injuries.

Some of the most common injuries we see around this time of year are falls from ladders as people try to decorate their homes or trees. Those falls may result in significant head, neck and spine injuries.

We also see injuries from new toys. Kids may receive things like scooters, skateboards or hoverboards as presents and, in their excitement and lack of experience with them, they use them without the proper protective equipment, which is extremely dangerous. We, unfortunately, see some very serious injuries related to this.

As people are spending more time at home, cooking and using their fireplaces, there also tends to be an increase in fires and burn-related injuries.

One thing I would be remiss if I did not mention is the impact of alcohol. This time of year, there are more opportunities to drink and often, people are drinking to excess. We, unfortunately, see an increase in motor vehicle collisions with drivers coming from holiday gatherings under the influence of alcohol or other substances, and the injuries caused to themselves and others can be catastrophic.

But it’s not only drugs and alcohol. During this season, people are busy and distracted. They may be rushing. It gets dark earlier. There’s more traffic. There are more people out walking. All of these factors combined can cause dangerous situations that result in traumatic injury.

What are some ways individuals can avoid traumatic injury and a hospital visit this time of year?

This advice is really for all times of year, not only for the holidays, and it’s simply to be proactive in preventing injury.

As a trauma surgeon, my mission is not only to treat the severely injured, but to prevent injuries. So, my message is to think before you act. Don’t climb a ladder carrying sharp tools or other instruments that may injure you in a fall. Be cautious when cooking, especially with young children around. Be mindful of tripping hazards, such as rugs or extension cords for lights, especially when elderly family members who may have balance issues are visiting your home. And, of course, always designate a sober driver.

If someone does happen to get injured, how should they determine whether to seek help at a hospital or trauma center versus urgent care?

Urgent care is a great option for minor injuries like simple lacerations. Things that would definitely require a hospital visit are falls from 10 feet or higher, falls from lower heights when you may have sustained a head injury and have an altered mental state or you are confused or have passed out, and any bleeding that is significant and not stopping. In any of those cases, you should call an ambulance and get to a hospital immediately to be evaluated and treated.

Is it difficult for members of the trauma surgery service to work during the holidays when most everyone else is enjoying time with family and friends?

My team covers trauma surgery, emergency general surgery and the surgical intensive care unit, and we have a duty to care for patients every day of the year. This is a mission, and we understand this. We are also fortunate to have a diverse team of individuals. We have different religious beliefs and may celebrate different holidays throughout the year, so that allows for some flexibility in on-call scheduling as well.  

But at the end of the day, we’re a team. And it’s not just the trauma surgeons alone. We have our surgical residents, our ICU staff, our nursing staff, our operating room staff. It’s really a trauma family, rather than just a trauma team. So maybe we’re not with our real family, but we’re with our trauma family, and that’s special too.

Read more from the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Stop the Bleed Courses at Cedars-Sinai