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DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 2023

As the seasons change and we head into the holiday season, I wanted to take a minute to express my gratitude to our amazing team. What you have accomplished in the last year is nothing short of incredible! And, as with all great endeavors, the path forward has been filled with plenty of mountains, valleys, and obstacles to overcome…

Given the constant ups and downs, we are lucky to live in a place that often reminds us to stop and appreciate the beauty of our home, reflect on where we are at and where we are going, and put all the crazy things the world throws at us into a broader perspective.

So, along our journey, I hope that each of you have the opportunity to take stock of your team’s achievements and take a moment to celebrate and appreciate how rare and special it is to have such a fantastic group of colleagues to work beside!

Best Wishes for a joyful holiday season!

--Christy Hopkins

Department of Emergency Medicine Chair

Department of Emergency Medicine Website: A huge thanks to Andrea Wilson, Christine Carlson, Dan DeFilippo, and Austin Stevens for all their work updating the Department website.

ED dedicated CT Scanner: Anticipated opening March 2024. This will be built in the old Urgent Care area behind the main ED. Plans include a room for Simulation!

West Valley City Project: 24 bed Emergency Department, expected groundbreaking 2024, with anticipated opening in 2027.

Junior Faculty Retreat: Spring 2024. Focus on junior faculty development. Starting with your Why, Time Management, Promotion Milestones, Basic Research Pathways

Patrick Hughes, DO, MEHP, FACEP, was an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine. He was the Associate Program Director and Simulation Director for the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Emergency Medicine Residency Program. 

Dr. Hughes received his undergraduate degree from the Lyman Briggs School at Michigan State University. He earned his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He then earned his Master of Education in Health Professions from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hughes completed his emergency medicine residency at Michigan State University and went on to complete a fellowship in Medical Simulation at Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio. 

His research interests include simulation, medical education, disaster medicine, geriatric medicine and pulmonary embolism. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and been a co-investigator or consultant on over $5 million dollars in grant funding. His simulation work was featured on CNN and in the New York Times.

I grew up in Colorado, trained in Vermont, and am excited to join the team here at the University of Utah! When in the ED my favorite presentation is SCAPE. When not in the ED I love to get outside. Even if it means waiting in the red snake to get up the canyons! 

Congratulations to Dr. Eric Swanson, Professor of Emergency Medicine, who celebrated his 25th anniversary as the Air Med Medical Director! Dr. Swanson first trained as a flight physician at the University of Pittsburgh during his EM residency. He became Medical Director for Air Med in 1998. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Air Medical Journal, and is the Chair of the Utah Air Ambulance Committee. 

Dr. Swanson has won many awards, including the 2001 Air Medical Physician Association Medical Director of the Year Award, the 2002 Utah Department of Health’s EMS Physician of the Year Award, the 2009 Air Medial Physician Association’s Distinguished Physician Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2015 Barbara A. Hess Research and Education Award for the Association of Air Medical Services.

Air Med serves the largest rural catchment area in the country and through Dr. Swanson’s leadership, Air Med has always been on the cutting edge of care. Air Med was the first Helicopter EMS system to use etomidate for RSI, and LMA’s for failed RSI. Air Med was also involved in the first study of the EZ-IO, and a multicenter study using TXA. Air Med supports specialized programs including neonatal transport and the mechanical circulatory support transport program. Through Dr. Swanson’s efforts, Air Med has elevated the care for thousands of patients throughout our region!

Dr. Megan Fix, Professor and Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Emergency Medicine, and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for the SOM, was this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to University of Utah faculty that demonstrate outstanding service and contribution to the School of Medicine and have demonstrated commitment to enhancing medical education. Way to go Dr. Fix!!

Mayor Nathan Roll was awarded the University of Utah Staff Excellence Award which recognizes superior service and ongoing contributions by University of Utah employees. Mr. Roll has been at the University of Utah for over 18 years, he now serves as the Director of Operations for the Department of Emergency Medicine. Through his leadership, he has supported the advancement of EMT’s with unique programs that benefit patients and staff institution wide. Initiatives include EMT – US guided peripheral IV placement, the UofU Rapid Response Team which responds to medical emergencies campus-wide, and most recently, Mr. Roll has worked to bring Event Medicine coverage to the Delta Center and other community events. 

Dr. Harsh Singh has served for the last 3 years on the Resident Student Organization board for ACOEP. He recently traveled to Washington DC to attend the ACOEP Scientific Assembly where he presented on Cardiogenic Syncope and also had the opportunity to teach others techniques on chest tube insertions.

The 2024 graduating EM class represents at the City of Love! 

University of Utah DOEM Faculty at the ACEP Advanced Airway Techniques Lab.  Drs. Megan Fix, Graham Brant-Zawadzki, Christy Hopkins, and soon to be faulty member Patrick Hughes!

Congratulations to Dr. Guillaume Hoareau on being accepted into the Fellowship of the American College of Critical Care Medicine (FCCM)! 

Early Success! RAZ patient LOS is 193 minutes (>3 hours) shorter than regular ED patients! (RAZ length of stay (pink) vs. regular ED patients (blue)

Dr. Eric Swanson, Medical Director for the University of Utah Air Medical Program announced the Whole Blood Titan program, which brings lifesaving treatment to critically ill patients, even before they reach the hospital. Dr. Swanson celebrates 25 years as the leader of this amazing program!

For more on Air Med: see recent Instagram posting of Dr. Swanson discussing Air Med’s past achievements, current philosophy and goals, and his vision for the future!

Dr. Chris Ryba, has been named as the Event Medicine Medical Director and Assistant EMS Fellowship Director!  Dr. Ryba is a key member of the University of Utah's Department of Emergency Medicine EMS section and recent graduate of the DOEM Fellowship. He has consistently demonstrated his dedication to public safety and effective disaster response throughout his career. In his new role, he has oversight over more than four hundred public events including sporting events, concerts and other public gatherings and works closely with Nathan Roll (Operations Director) and the EMT team to provide for the medical care needs of event spectators. This is a developing role within the Department of Emergency Medicine and we are grateful to have Dr. Ryba’s expertise!

New Assistant Ultrasound Fellowship Director: Congratulations to Dr. David Crockett!  David hails from the front range suburbs of Colorado. He completed his bachelor's in Biological Engineering from Cornell University in 2008. During his spare time in college, he built several internet games and applications that ultimately led to a four-year detour as a founder of a startup called Quiz Monster, which was acquired in 2012. David then returned to his original dream of becoming a physician and in 2017 he graduated from Dartmouth Medical School, and in 2020 he completed his residency in emergency medicine from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. 

As a resident, David developed an interest in point-of-care ultrasound, especially as a way to apply his software experiences to his clinical practice. After residency, David matched into the world’s best ultrasound fellowship at the University of Utah. As a fellow, he helped build a QA program called Ultrasound Vault, and studied machine learning models that interpret bedside echocardiograms. Since graduation, David has remained involved with ultrasound at the University of Utah, and he is honored to serve as the assistant fellowship director. Outside of medicine, David enjoys napping on the couch with his two cats, hand tool woodworking, and romping around Millcreek Canyon with his dog Sadie.

Dr. Jamal Jones, an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah's Department of Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Section, recently collaborated with the Vietnamese Society of Emergency Medicine, alongside the Baystate and Baylor University emergency medicine group, to teach the Echocardiography portion of the Emergency Ultrasound Workshop in Vietnam. 

Wilderness Medicine Section Chief and Fellowship Director, Dr. Scott McIntosh, presented important research looking that the blast overpressure exposure and effect on avalanche workers at the International Commission for Alpine Rescue in the Dolomites, Italy.

New Assistant Wilderness Medicine Fellowship Director: Congratulations to Dr. TJ Hartridge! Dr. Hartridge has a long history of love of the mountains, a previous ski patroller in Colorado, he recently graduated from the University of Utah DOEM Wildness Medicine Fellowship program and has become a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. Additionally, he is working on completion of his Diploma in Mountain Medicine. He is currently part of the Snowbird Ski Patrol. 

“The University of Utah’s Wilderness Medicine Fellowship is truly world-class and a one-of-a-kind experience. I look forward to the work and learning that lies ahead and I am so thankful for the opportunity to assist in the ongoing scholarly endeavors of our fellowship and the field of wilderness medicine.”  

The University of Utah's Department of Emergency Medicine Section of Wilderness Medicine took part in the Silverton Mountain Medicine Symposium. At the symposium, our physicians led sessions on critical topics, including avalanche rescue, the neurobiological stress response, and hands-on training with Silverton Mountain Rescue. 

In our avalanche rescue workshops, participants learned efficient transceiver searches and snowpack assessments. The team also explored the science of the neurobiological stress response and provided practical, real-life rescue experience alongside Silverton Mountain Rescue. The WM team was proud to represent the University of Utah and contribute to promoting safety and preparedness in wilderness settings at this remarkable event!

This September, the Global Health team, led by Dr. Jane Yee, had the opportunity to present lectures and teach workshops at the latest Vietnamese Society of Emergency Medicine sponsored conference.

Dr. Claudia Bouvier journeying to the Sacred Valley of Peru, a place where ancient traditions meet modern-day aspirations. Dr. Bouvier assembled 60 first aid kits, which were specially designed for the Promotoras-community health care workers.  She conducted intensive training sessions over two days to empower these incredible Promotoras with the knowledge and skills needed to provide essential medical care.  Alongside Dr. Shakira Bandolin, a graduate from the Utah EM Global Health Fellowship and Division Chief for Global Health at UC Davis, the group provided comprehensive first aid training for the entire community. Health and wellness became a shared journey through this important collaboration.

Welcome Dr. Carl Skinner! Dr. Skinner is a retired Army Colonel, previous Chair and program director in Emergency Medicine. He will join the Tox team taking call at the Poison Control center and providing Toxicology consults.