Our program provides training in two high acuity trauma centers including Washington Hospital Center (WHC), which is the area’s busiest Level 1 trauma center. Level I Trauma Centers have 24 hour in-house coverage by trauma surgeons. In 2009, WHC saw an average of 5.8 trauma patients per day. As the regional burn center, the WHC trauma center also sees a high volume of burn victims. In 2009, 450 burn patients were seen in the unit. In addition, the Emergency Medicine Department is responsible for airway management in all trauma patients. This provides critical experience for our residents to develop the procedural and organizational skills necessary for airway management.

• PGY1 residents serve four weeks as a MedStar trauma team member.
• PGY2 residents spend one month at Baltimore’s R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Hospital, founded by R. Adams Cowley, the father of trauma medicine.
• PGY3 residents have trauma shifts interspersed with Emergency Department shifts; senior residents initiate trauma evaluations and resuscitation.