Summit on the Advancement of Focused Equity Research in Trauma (SAFER-Trauma) - Program Director/Principal Investigator: Ho, Vanessa
Project Summary/Abstract
Trauma, or physical injury from mechanisms such as motor vehicle crashes, violence, or falls, is the leading
cause of death for Americans under age 46.(1) In 2016, a report from The National Academy of Sciences
Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) estimated that as many as 20% of all deaths from trauma may be prevented
with optimal trauma care, which translates to nearly 300,000 lives saved over ten years.(2) In an ideal
circumstance, trauma care should be “the great equalizer” – trauma care should be provided to all who present
with injuries, regardless of insurance status, skin color, or other factors. However, research in trauma populations
over the last fifteen years has largely demonstrated that poor outcomes after injury disproportionately affect
Americans from unfairly disadvantaged racial and ethnic minority groups, rural and inner-city residents,
economically marginalized groups, children, and older adults.(3) Despite research demonstrating that disparities
are present, pervasive, and persistent in trauma, we have not yet developed unified strategies to address,
reduce, and eliminate health inequities.
In collaboration with the Coalition for National Trauma Research (CNTR), a conference titled the Summit on the
Advancement of Focused Equity Research in Trauma (SAFER-Trauma) will generate research strategies to
identify trauma-related health inequities, elucidate their underlying causes, and develop innovative interventions
to address, reduce, and eliminate them.
This proposed summit will convene key stakeholders to illustrate health inequities in trauma, highlight relevant
current research, and address the following aims: 1) Characterize current gaps regarding research in health
equity in trauma, 2) Identify funding mechanisms and pathways for collaboration, and 3) Outline a research
agenda to address inequities in trauma.
The summit is being organized by the CNTR Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which comprises
representatives from all the major national trauma organizations who are passionate about trauma outcomes,
research, and equity. The reach of the organizing committee will allow for the engagement of clinicians,
researchers, and stakeholders to prioritize research into health inequities via an interdisciplinary and
collaborative network and develop an actionable research agenda. These collaborations will lay the foundation
to test, disseminate, and assess effective practices to identify health inequities in trauma care, elucidate their
underlying causes, and develop interventions.
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