Mass General Brigham Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Symposium 2025
The care of patients with major trauma or significant surgical emergencies is challenging. The goal of the Mass General Brigham Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Symposium is to give clear guidelines to practicing health care providers on this field. Through cutting edge lectures but also multiple interactive sessions, the Symposium explores issues such as bleeding control, management of severe trauma, hollow visceral perforations, critical infections, acutely inflammatory conditions, intestinal obstruction, and hernia emergencies. It also expands to aspects related to ethics, leadership, quality, and organization in trauma and acute care surgery. The focus is not on esoteric details but on practical messages that can be transferred to daily practice.
Target audience
This activity is intended for Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and other members of the healthcare team who focus on critical care, emergency medicine, general surgery and trauma/acute surgery.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of the activity, participants will be able to:
- Apply treatment plans for trauma and acute surgery patients.
- Describe indications for operative versus non-operative management after complex emergency surgical problems.
- Evaluate challenges related to systems of, and leadership in, patient care.
- Create systems to improve quality of trauma care in their own institutions.
- Organize multidisciplinary teams to provide well-coordinated care.
Maintenance of Certification (MOC)
American Board of Surgery (ABS) MOC Recognition Statement
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.
Registration instructions
| Tuition Type | Early Bird Tuition Fees (until September 22, 2025) |
Regular Tuition Fees (after September 22, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $800.00 | $850.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $650.00 | $700.00 |
| Resident/Fellow | $550.00 | $600.00 |
| Allied Health Professional/Other | $650.00 | $700.00 |
Cancellation Policy:
Registrations cancelled on or before October 27, 2025 will be refunded, less a $90 administrative fee. Registrations cancelled after October 27, 2025 will not be refunded.
Contact mgbcpd@mgb.org if you require assistance in cancelling your online registration.
Additional information
Massachusetts General Hospital, and Mass General Brigham
Faculty credentials
Course Director
George Velmahos, MD
John F. Burke Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Division Chief of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Speakers
Katherine Albutt, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital
Arun Aneja, MD
Member of the Faculty of Orthopedic Surgery,
Harvard Medical School;
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Reza Askari, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Hugh Auchincloss, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery,
Harvard Medical School;
Associate Program Director, Surgical Residency Program,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Matthew Bartek, MD
General Surgeon, Critical Care Physician,
Palliative Care Physician,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Salem Hospital
Eric Benoit, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine;
General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care,
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Christopher Burns, MD
Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital;
General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Trauma Surgery,
South Shore Hospital
Jason Brocker, MD
Instructor in Surgery, Part-time,
Harvard Medical School;
Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery,
Salem Hospital
Cristina Carpio, MD
Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital;
General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Trauma Surgery,
South Shore Hospital
Jason Cohen, MD
Chief Medical Officer,
Boston MedFlight
Charles Cook, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Chief of Acute Care Surgery, Trauma, and Surgical Critical Care,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Zara Cooper, MD
Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Director, Center for Surgery and Public Health,
Director, Center for Geriatric Surgery,
Michele and Howard J. Kessler Endowed Chair in Surgery and Public Health,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Joshua Davies, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine;
General and Minimally Invasive Surgeon,
Boston Medical Center
Michael DeWane, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital
Jon Dorfman, MD
Trauma and Critical Care, UMass Memorial Health
Walter Dzik, MD
Associate Professor of Pathology, Part-time,
Harvard Medical School;
Associate Pathologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Peter Fagenholz, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Pancreatic and General Surgeon,
Surgical Director, Pancreatitis Treatment Center,
Massachusetts General Hospital
David Fink, MD
Instructor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Denise Gee, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Vice Chair, Clinical Operations, Department of Surgery,
Surgical Director, Mass General Weight Center
Section Head, Swallowing, Heartburn and Esophageal Disease Program,
Massachusetts General Hospital
John Hwabejire, MBBS
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Director, Trauma Research,
Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Megan Janeway, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine;
Surgeon, Acute Care and Trauma Surgery/Surgical Critical Care,
Boston Medical Center (BMC);
Haytham Kaafarani, MD
Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Medical Director, Hospital Quality & Safety,
Medical Director, Trauma Center,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Kristina Kramer, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery,
UMass Chan Medical School – Baystate;
Surgical Critical Care, General Surgery, Trauma Surgery,
Baystate Health
Yusef Kudsi, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Part-time,
Harvard Medical School;
Gastrointestinal and General Surgery,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Priti Lalchandani, MD
Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital;
General Surgery, Trauma Surgery,
South Shore Hospital
Casey Luckhurst, MD
Instructor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Pancreatic and General Surgeon
Inpatient Director, Pancreatitis Treatment Center,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Stephanie Lueckel, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University;
Associate Surgeon-in-Chief,
Interim Chief, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Critical Care,
Rhode Island Hospital
Thuan Ly, MD
Hansjorg Wyss AO Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery,
Harvard Medical School;
Chief, Orthopaedic Trauma Center,
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Kristin Madenci, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Lydia Maurer, MD
Clinical Fellow in Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital
Frederick Millham, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, Part-time,
Harvard Medical School;
Chief of Surgery, South Shore Hospital
Stephanie Nitzschke, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Program Director, General Surgery Residency,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Joshua Ng-Kamstra, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery,
Harvard Medical School;
Surgeon,
Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Stephen Odom, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery,
Harvard Medical School;
Surgical Critical Care,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Charu Paranjape, MBBS
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Chief, General Surgery and Acute Care Surgery,
Associate Chair of Surgical Education,
Newton-Wellesley Hospital;
Associate Program Director, Surgical Residency Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
Jonathan Parks, MD
Instructor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Ali Raja, MD, MPH
Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School;
Executive Vice Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Nakul Raykar, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Micki Reinhorn, MD
General Surgery, Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Nari Sabeti, MD
Medical Director, Surgical Weight Loss Program,
Salem Hospital
Ali Salim, MD
Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Division Chief, Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care,
Endowed Chair in Surgery,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Anupama Seshadri, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Surgical Critical Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Douglas Smink, MD
Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Chief of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital;
Vice Chair for Education, Department of Surgery,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Irene Souter, MD
Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology,
Harvard Medical School;
Reproductive Endocrinologist,
Director, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Program,
Fertility Center,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Christopher Stapleton, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery,
Harvard Medical School;
Assistant Program Director, Neurosurgery Residency
Associate Fellowship Director, NeuroEndovascular Surgery Fellowship,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Sheina Theodore, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University;
Trauma Attending, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Division, Rhode Island Hospital
Crisanto Torres, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Trauma Surgeon, Boston Medical Center
Kathryn Twomey, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine;
Trauma Surgeon, Boston Medical Center
Robert Winchell, MD
G. Thomas Shires II Professor of Surgery,
Professor of Medical Ethics in Medicine,
Chief, Division of Trauma, Burns, Acute and Critical Care,
Weill Cornell Medicine
Susana Wishnia, MD
General Surgery, Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Elan Witkowski, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Gastrointestinal Surgeon,
Head, Hernia Center,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Amy Wyrzykowski, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
Surgical Critical Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Michael Yaffe, MD
Instructor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School;
David H. Koch Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, Mass General Brigham is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation Statements
AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM
Mass General Brigham designates this live activity for a maximum of 15.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nursing
Mass General Brigham designates this activity for 15.5 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician Assistants
Mass General Brigham has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 15.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Program
Monday, November 10, 2025 | 7:00am – 4:30pm
Trauma & Critical Care
|
7:00am |
Welcome & Introduction | George Velmahos, MD |
|
Session I: THE MAJOR CONTROVERSIES IN PREHOSPITAL TRAUMA CARE |
|
|
7:30 |
Helicopter Transfer Does Not Improve Outcomes – Or Does It? | David Fink, MD |
|
7:40 |
Tourniquets Look Good On TV, Not On Patients – Or Do They? | John Hwabejire, MD |
|
7:50 |
Prehospital Intubation Hurts More Patients Than It Helps – Or Doesn’t It? | Jason E. Cohen, DO |
| 8:00 | Prehospital Blood and FFP Are Given When Not Needed – Or Not? | Charles Cook, MD |
|
8:10 |
(Vibrant) Discussion |
|
Session II: IS SIMPLE FLUID EVER GOOD? |
|
|
8:30 |
The case for Ringer’s Lactate Resuscitation In Trauma: I Don’t Think There Is One | Megan Janeway, MD |
|
8:45 |
Irrigation After Chest Tube Insertion: When You Have Nothing Better To Do | Kristin Madenci, MD |
|
9:00 |
Peritoneal Resuscitation: There Is A Reason Why Some Methods Don’t Stick | Jonathan Parks, MD |
| 9:15 | Discussion |
| 9:30 | BREAK |
| 10:00 | Session III: Trauma Jeopardy | Moderator: Katherine H. Albutt, MD Players: 3 Fellows |
|
Session IV: WHEN NOT TO OPERATE (WHEN OTHERS SAY YOU SHOULD) |
|
|
10:40 |
When Not To Do A Craniectomy (when others say you should) | Christopher Stapleton, MD |
|
10:50 |
When Not To Do A Thoracotomy/Sternotomy (when others say you should) | Crisanto Torres, MD |
|
11:00 |
When Not To Do A Laparotomy (when others say you should) | Jon Dorfman, MD |
| 11:10 | When Not To Fix The Bones (when others say you should) | Arun Aneja, MD |
| 11:20 | Discussion (possibly confrontational) |
|
Session V: THE JOHN F BURKE KEYNOTE LECTURE |
|
|
11:40 |
Introduction | George Velmahos, MD |
|
11:45 |
Blood Transfusion: False Teachings, Lessons Learned | Walter Dzik, MD |
|
12:15pm |
LUNCH |
|
Session VI: GUIDELINES YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE (A REALLY RARE EVENT) |
|
|
1:15 |
Introduction | Robert Winchell, MD |
| 1:17 | CBVI Guidelines | Anupama Seshadri, MD |
| 1:22 | B.I.G. Guidelines | Joshua Ng-Kamstra, MD |
| 1:27 | VTE Guidelines | Kathryn Twomey, MD |
| 1:32 | Antibiotic Prophylaxis Guidelines | Eric Benoit, MD |
| 1:37 | Resuscitative Thoracotomy Guidelines | TBD |
| 1:42 | Discussion About U.G. (Ugly Guidelines) | Priti Lalchandani, MD |
|
Session VII: THE SURVIVOR GAME |
|
|
2:00 |
A Complex Trauma Case To Be Solved By Those Who Solve Complex Trauma Cases | Kristina Kramer, MD; Amy Wyrzykowski, MD; Cristina Carpio, MD; Lydia Maurer, MD; Stephanie Lueckel, MD; Sheina Theodore, MD |
|
2:45 |
BREAK |
|
Session VIII: CASES FROM THE AUDIENCE |
|
|
3:00 |
Case #1 | Symposium Participant |
|
3:10 |
Discussion On The First Case |
|
3:15 |
Case #2 | Symposium Participant |
|
3:25 |
Discussion On The Second Case |
|
3:30 |
Case #3 | Symposium Participant |
| 3:40 | Discussion On The Third Case |
|
Session IX: OPERATIVE MASTERY |
|
|
3:45 |
Pyloric Exclusion For Severe Duodenal Trauma | Ali Salim, MD |
|
3:55 |
Total Liver Isolation For Retrohepatic IVC Injury | George Velmahos, MD |
|
Session X: LAST PERSON STANDING |
|
|
4:05 |
An Interactive Game With The Audience |
|
4:30pm |
Adjourn |
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 | 7:25am – 4:30pm
Acute Care Surgery & Hernia
|
7:25am |
Introduction of the Day | George Velmahos, MD |
|
Session XI: THE MURKY WATERS OF ACUTE CARE SURGERY |
|
|
7:30 |
The Dreadful Bariatric Complications | Susana Wishnia, MD |
|
7:45 |
Thoracic Empyema Resistant To Drainage | Hugh Auchincloss, MD |
|
8:00 |
Pancreatic Necrosis With Complications | Casey Luckhurst, MD |
|
8:15 |
Discussion |
|
Session XII: POSSIBILITIES/IMPOSSIBILITIES |
|
|
8:30 |
Operative Management of Chyle Leaks is Possible/Impossible | Peter Fagenholz. MD & Casey Luckhurst, MD |
|
8:45 |
Conclusion: You Are Wrong But Let’s Find Common Ground! | TBD |
|
8:47 |
Closure of a Huge Open Abdomen is Possible/Impossible | Stephen Odom, MD & Amy Wyrzykowski, MD |
| 9:02 | Conclusion: You Are Wrong But Let’s Find Common Ground! |
| 9:04 | Primary Anastomosis of Hinchey IV Diverticulitis is Possible/Impossible | Stephanie L. Nitzschke, MD; Christopher Burns, MD |
| 9:19 | Conclusion: You Are Wrong But Let’s Find Common Ground! |
| 9:21 | BREAK |
|
Session XIII: LEADING AMIDST CHAOS |
|
|
9:45 |
The Chaos |
|
9:55 |
Debriefing |
|
10:10 |
Order Out of Chaos |
| 10:20 | Conclusions – Practical Lessons to Remember |
|
Session XIV: BEFORE THROWING THE TOWEL |
|
|
10:30 |
Extremity Amputation for NSTI | Thuan Ly, MD |
|
10:45 |
Premortal Egg/Sperm Procurement | Irene Souter, MD |
|
11:00 |
As Septic Shock Takes Over | Nakul Raykar, MD |
| 11:15 | Discussion |
|
Session XV: KEYNOTE LECTURE |
|
|
11:30 |
Introduction | Zara Cooper, MD |
| 11:35 | Towards Integrated Systems of Care | Michael DeWane, MD |
|
Session XVI: SOS – A STRANGULATED HERNIA |
|
|
12:05pm |
The Confusing Ones: Femoral or Inguinal? | Micki Reinhorn, MD |
|
12:15 |
The Troublesome Ones: Parastomal | Michael DeWane, MD |
| 12:25 | The Secret Ones: Obturator, Lumbar, Mesenteric, Spiggelian | Douglas Smink, MD |
| 12:35 | The Upper Ones: Hiatal, Morgagni | Charu Paranjape, MD |
| 12:45 | Discussion |
|
Session XVII: ROBOTIC REPAIRS: LIMITED OR UNLIMITED? |
|
|
1:00 |
How Large Can You Go? | Reza Askari, MD |
|
1:15 |
Extraperitoneal Approach | Joshua Davies, MD |
|
1:30 |
Triple Neurectomy | George Velmahos, MD |
|
1:45 |
Discussion |
| 2:00 | BREAK |
|
Session XVIII: HERNIAS IN CHALLENGING POPULATIONS |
|
|
2:20 |
Cirrhosis-Ascites-Flood Syndrome | Nari Sabeti, MD |
|
2:35 |
C-Section Hernia But “I Want More Children” | Casey Luckhurst, MD |
| 2:50 | Is Obesity A Reason To Refuse Repair Any More? | Elan Witkowski, MD |
| 3:05 | Discussion |
|
Session XIX: COMMON DILEMMAS AFTER HERNIA REPAIR |
|
|
3:15 |
Drains: Where, How Many, How Long? | Yusef Kudsi, MD |
| 3:30 | Pain Control: What’s Emerging? | Matthew Bartek, MD |
| 4:00 | Restrictions and Rehabilitation | Reza Askari, MD |
| 4:15 | Discussion |
| 4:30 | Final Comments | George Velmahos, MD |
|
4:35pm |
Adjourn |
-
Available credit
15.50 AAPA Category I CME15.50 abs_accredited_cme15.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™15.50 Nursing Contact Hours15.50 Participation -
Event starts
November 10, 2025, 7:20 am EST -
Event ends
November 11, 2025, 4:35 pm EST -
Price
$800.00 - Register for this course
-
Venue
Fairmont Copley Hotel138 St James Ave
Boston, MA 02116 US - This is a live event.