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.

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. 

Join the EAST In the Arena crew as they talk about the trauma systems in Canada with Dr. Evan Wong of McGill University and Dr. Nori Bradley of the University of British Columbia. We will compare and contrast the Canadian Trauma System with the U.S., the size and scope of rural trauma in Canada, and the unique aspects of a nationalized system of care! 

Do job interviews give you palpitations like the oral boards did? Wondering how to find the right fit? Wish you could read minds and know what to say? Well, this comes pretty close. Join Drs. Shyam Murali, Hassan Mashbari and Prerna Ladha as they get candid advice from Drs. Eileen Bulger, Mayur Patel, Michael Cripps, Jeffery Claridge, Marty Schreiber, Rishi Rattan and Ben Zarzaur.

Join the ITA crew as we chat with Dr. Jonathan Meizoso from the University of Miami and Ryder Trauma Center as he discusses his journey from fellowship training in Denver to his research and work at Ryder Trauma Center. Our conversation delves into the importance of prioritizing circulation over airway management in trauma patients, particularly those in hemorrhagic shock. The discussion highlights the need to revamp traditional ATLS guidelines and the challenges of implementing new practices in diverse medical environments. Key insights include the impact of intubation timing on patient outcomes and the role of effective communication and interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing trauma care. 

Recorded live at the 37th (2024) EAST Annual Scientific Assembly, this episode spotlights Dr. Allyson Hynes and her leap from emergency medicine to surgical critical care. Join the ITA crew as they dissect SCC training models for EM-intensivist and how EM‑trained intensivists amplify trauma capacity. Catch fast‑paced career tips and future‑focused insights on hybrid trauma practice.

Join the hosts of EAST: In the Arena and Careercast in this special Combocast! as they talk with Dr. Alison Wilson, Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at West Virginia University, about how she is leveraging the resources and expertise in trauma and critical care at her home shop to empower local and regional hospitals to care for their communities. 

EAST In The Arena - https://www.east.org/education-resources/inthearena

EAST Careercasts - https://www.east.org/career-development/careercasts

Join the hosts of EAST: In the Arena as they talk with Dr. Libby Schroeder from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI and her work with trauma informed care – an empathy driven approach to treating our patients, for their benefit. 

Join the hosts of EAST In the Arena as they talk with Dr. Rachel Rodriguez of Indiana University Medical Center about her work through to minimize the time to source control with an innovative alert system for emergency general surgery patients, similar to trauma systems. 

Join the hosts of EAST: In the Arena as they talk with Dr. Vanessa Ho from MetroHealth Medical Center about her work through EAST Multicenter Trials  to identify which geriatric trauma patients we should be scanning to minimize missed injury.

Supplemental Information
Ho VP, et al. Scanning the aged to minimize missed injury: An EAST multicenter study. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2024 May 27. 
doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000004390. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38797882.