April 21, 2009

Shining Knight Gala celebrates trauma survivors at VCUHS

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By Chris Landrum
VCU Communications and Public Relations

Front row from left: Lindy Creasey, dietician; Benedicta Casupanam, R.N., OR; Stephanie Hamilton, chaplain; Yolanda Guthrie, clinical social worker; William Christie III, patient; Wilhem Zuelzer, M.D., Orthopaedics; Ajai Malhotra, M.D., Trauma. Middle row from left: Robert Hawkins, RT; Greg Chenault, Pharm.D.; Charles Fields, M.D., chief resident; Tim Perkins, R.N., STICU; Rao Ivatury, M.D., trauma medical director; Tanya Huff, R.N., STICU; James McConnell, RT. Back Row from left: Chief Dennis Hales, paramedic, Chesterfield EMS; Capt. Mike Hite, paramedic, Chesterfield EMS; Capt. Vincent Urguhart, paramedic, Chesterfield EMS; Gareth Reeves, R.N., E.D.; Silas Shaw, ORT, OR; and Lynnwood Stallings, M.D., Anesthesia. Photo courtesy of VCU Trauma Program
Front row from left: Lindy Creasey, dietician; Benedicta Casupanam, R.N., OR; Stephanie Hamilton, chaplain; Yolanda Guthrie, clinical social worker; William Christie III, patient; Wilhem Zuelzer, M.D., Orthopaedics; Ajai Malhotra, M.D., Trauma. Middle row from left: Robert Hawkins, RT; Greg Chenault, Pharm.D.; Charles Fields, M.D., chief resident; Tim Perkins, R.N., STICU; Rao Ivatury, M.D., trauma medical director; Tanya Huff, R.N., STICU; James McConnell, RT. Back Row from left: Chief Dennis Hales, paramedic, Chesterfield EMS; Capt. Mike Hite, paramedic, Chesterfield EMS; Capt. Vincent Urguhart, paramedic, Chesterfield EMS; Gareth Reeves, R.N., E.D.; Silas Shaw, ORT, OR; and Lynnwood Stallings, M.D., Anesthesia. Photo courtesy of VCU Trauma Program

A group of trauma survivors, first responders and VCU Health System care providers recently gathered for the first ever Shining Knight Gala. The gala, a fund-raiser for injury prevention programs and patient and family support groups, had 14 sponsors and raised $22,000.

One of the highlights of the event was a presentation about William Christie, who survived a near-fatal car accident in 2002 with the help of the VCUHS Department of Surgery trauma team. Despite low vital signs, he was nursed back to health and was a guest at the gala.

The program specifically highlighted the VCUHS trauma program, which provided care to more than 4,000 patients in 2008. Patients are admitted into the trauma center for a variety of reasons, including vehicle crashes, falls, burns and crime-related injuries.

The VCUHS is one of only two nationally recognized Level I trauma centers in the state and is the only one in central Virginia. Virginia recognizes five Level I trauma centers in the state, including the VCUHS. The VCU Health System was the first hospital in Virginia to be recognized after the introduction of the state verification process in 1981.