Ep 40. NAEMT Radio – Highlighting the Pan American Trauma Society and its Impact

In this episode of NAEMT Radio, Rob Lawrence is joined by Dr. Paula Ferrada and Juan Cardona to discuss the impactful work of the Pan American Trauma Society (PTS), an organization that connects trauma experts across North, Central, and South America to improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Ferrada shares her journey from her early experiences in Colombia to becoming a leader in trauma care in the United States, highlighting her role as President of the Society and the evolving practices in trauma management, including the shift to prioritizing bleeding control in the "X-ABCs" of trauma care. Juan Cardona, NAEMT’s representative to the Pan American Trauma Society discusses his work supporting emergency systems throughout Latin America, emphasizing the importance of resourcefulness in pre-hospital care and the need for proactive, cross-border collaboration in trauma response.

Together, they underscore the importance of a two-way exchange of knowledge between regions, with each benefiting from the other’s strengths—whether it’s the U.S.'s systematic approaches or Latin America's adaptability under limited resources. The Pan American Trauma Society facilitates education, research, and resource-sharing, fostering a collaborative environment that ultimately enhances trauma care across the Americas. The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to engage with the PTS, attend the upcoming Pan American Trauma Congress in Ecuador, and collaborate with local trauma centers to strengthen their emergency care capabilities.

About Dr. Paula Ferrada

Dr. Paula Ferrada is a Colombian born female surgeon and physician. She is a leader in trauma and acute care surgery. She is an internationally recognized advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.

Dr Ferrada finished medical school in Cali, Colombia, and arrived in the United States to pursue further training. After a year of research at the University of Miami, Ferrada joined Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, one of the major Harvard teaching hospitals for surgical residency. She was the first Colombian woman to graduate from a surgical specialty from Harvard.

Dr. Ferrada trained for one more year in Trauma and Critical care at the University of Pittsburgh, and then joined the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Centeras their first Acute Care Surgery Fellow. She joined Virginia Commonwealth University as faculty in the Division of Acute Care Surgical Services. She advanced to the rank of Professor of Surgery at this institution.

Dr Ferrada currently serves as the system and division chief for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Services at Inova Healthcare system. She also serves as an educator with an appointment as a Professor of Medical Education at the University of Virginia.

Dr Ferrada is now a well-established surgeon-scientist, educator and leader.

Resources Discussed

Join the NAEMT: https://www.naemt.org/join/join

Pan American Trauma Society: https://www.panamtrauma.org/