In the Arena

EAST In the Arena: Intimate Partner Violence in Trauma

In this episode of EAST In the Arena, Dr. Toba Bolaji, Dr. Katie Riera, Dr. Andrea Tsoris, and Dr. Jeremy Levin sit down with Dr. Amanda Teichman of Rutgers University for an engaging conversation on the complex and critically important issue of intimate partner violence. Together, they explore how Dr. Teichman's center has worked to thoughtfully integrate screening into the trauma evaluation process, the multidisciplinary stakeholders required to make that effort successful, and the real-world impact these initiatives can have on the care of a particularly vulnerable patient population. This episode highlights both the challenges and opportunities in identifying and supporting patients experiencing intimate partner violence, while offering listeners valuable insight into how trauma centers can play a meaningful role in addressing this important public health issue.

EAST In the Arena: Rethinking Management of Grade I/II Colon Injuries

Join the EAST In the Arena Crew/Drs. Tsoris, Levin, and Murali as they talk with Dr. Caitlin Fitzgerald of East Carolina University about managing non-destructive traumatic colon injuries and leading an EAST multi-center retrospective study. Dr. Fitzgerald describes how training differences sparked the question, how early single-center data suggested primary repair improved morbidity compared with resection, and how she conducted her first multi-center trial.

EAST In the Arena: Trauma-Informed Care and AI - A New Frontier in Patient Education

In this episode of EAST In the Arena, co-hosts Dr. Jeremy Levin and Dr. Shyam Murali explore the intersection of AI and patient education with Dr. Bahaa Succar and Dr. Linda Dultz from UT Southwestern. They discuss the innovative use of AI platforms to enhance the readability of patient education materials, particularly for underserved trauma populations. The conversation delves into the methods used to ensure the accuracy and simplicity of the information, the specific challenges faced by trauma patients, and the potential for AI to complement and empower healthcare delivery.

EAST In the Arena: From Trauma to Transplant? The Controversial World of Liberal ED Thoracotomies.

In this episode of EAST in the Arena, hosts Dr. Katie Riera and Dr. Shyam Murali, live from the 38th (2025) EAST Annual Scientific Assembly, delve into the complexities surrounding emergency department (ED) thoracotomies and organ donation with Dr. Danielle Brabender and Dr. Matt Martin from USC. They explore institutional practices, the impact on survival and organ donation rates, and the controversial aspects of balancing patient care with societal benefits. Highlighting the importance of guidelines, resource use, and the training environment, the episode provides a thorough examination of the subject's intricacies.

EAST In The Arena: Optimizing the Trauma Bay through Simulation and Human Factors Engineering

Join the ITA fam as we talk with Dr. Daniel Lollar, an associate professor of surgery at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, about his work in optimizing the trauma bay through simulation and human factors engineering. The discussion explores the impact of structural constraints on trauma care and how Dr. Lollar, along with a multidisciplinary team, used engineering and simulation to optimize a new trauma bay. Key points include the importance of space and equipment placement in trauma bays, the iterative design process using simulations, and the methodologies like link analysis, bump analysis, and crossover analysis to enhance efficiency and safety. The episode also touches on the substantial cost savings achieved and the broader implications of this approach in healthcare facility design.  Manuscript Citation: Scarboro DB, Jones NA, Wolf LD, Collier BR, Lollar DI. Using Human Factors Engineering to Enhance New Trauma Bay Effectiveness. J Surg Res. 2025 Sep 10;315:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2025.08.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40934853.