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Trauma
One-Hour Concurrent Session

Firearm Violence: The Intensivist's Role in an American Pandemic

Sunday, February 23, 2025
3:15pm – 4:15pm Eastern Time
Location: W414
CE: 1

The effects of gun violence, which kills more than 45,000 people a year, are pervasive among families, communities, and healthcare workers. Ethnic minorities and economically and socially minoritized populations are disproportionately affected. It is a public health problem that requires public health solutions by providing trauma-informed care to those most affected. Research on firearm violence has been sparse for decades, in part due to difficulty securing funding. Research is needed on preventive strategies, including hospital violence intervention programs, outcomes, and screening for aspects such as safe storage. Multiprofessional collaboration is required among physicians, nurses, advanced practice practitioners, mental health professionals, and social workers. Clinicians can educate the public through the media and can work with elected officials to influence policy on firearm violence prevention. Speakers will comprise a diverse variety of pediatric and adult clinicians with respect to discipline, geographic location, and specialty.

Learning Objectives:

  • Appreciate gun violence as a public health crisis and recognize the health inequities inherent to the system
  • Discuss application of tools for implementing firearm injury prevention strategies in the hospital such as screening for safe storage and hospital-based violence intervention programs
  • Discuss trauma-informed care to identify secondary trauma in those at risk, such as clinicians
  • Design approaches combined with personal stories to work with the media and elected officials to influence policy

Presentations:

  • 3:20pm – 3:35pm Eastern Time
    The Epidemiology of Gun Violence in America: Understanding the Challenge

    Ramon Gist, MD, FAAP (he/him/his) – State University of New York Downstate Medical Center

  • 3:35pm – 3:50pm Eastern Time
    Broaching the Subject: The Guns Are out There, How Do We Engage to Reduce the Potential for Harm?

    Ashley Hink, MD (she/her/hers)

  • 3:50pm – 4:05pm Eastern Time
    Speaking Truth to Power: The Intensivist's Role in Legislative and Media Advocacy

    Elizabeth Mack, MD, MS, FCCM (she/her/hers) – Medical University of South Carolina