2026 Trauma/Critical Care Symposium

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Breaking Through Trauma, a Trauma/Critical Care Symposium presented by Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Trauma Services.

Friday, July 24, 2026

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Trauma Services presents the 23rd Annual Trauma/Critical Care Symposium to educate healthcare professionals about current evidence-based research and advances in trauma care.

Schedule

7 – 7:45 a.m.

Registration

Exhibitor Fair

Continental Breakfast

7:45 a.m.

Welcome

Session One

8:05 – 8:35 a.m.

ECMO in Trauma and Critical Illness: Patient Selection, Cannulation Strategies, and Real-World Pitfalls

Michael Paulsen, MD, Board Certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Director of ECMO and Aortic Surgery, Cottage Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Clinic

8:35 -9:05 a.m.

Spine Trauma: Classification and Management

Benjamin Hendricks, MD, Neurosurgeon, Sierra Vista

9:05 – 9:35 a.m.

Whole Blood, Whole New World: How We Got Ahead of the Flow

Casey Barbaro, MD, FACS, Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon, Anacapa Surgical Associates

9:35 – 9:50 a.m.

Session 1 Speaker’s Panel Q&A

9:50 – 10:20 a.m.

Break and Exhibitor Fair

Session Two

10:20 – 11:05 a.m.

Failure to Rescue: Recognizing and Reversing Clinical Deterioration in Surgical Patients

Morgan L Hennessy MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

11:05 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

Lunch and Exhibitor Fair

12:05 – 12:50 p.m. | Keynote

Overcoming the Impact of Trauma for Those who Serve

Sergeant Mike McGrew (Ret.), Co-founder and CEO, 911 At Ease International

12:50 – 1:05 p.m.

Session 2 Speaker’s Panel Q&A

1:05 – 1:30 p.m.

Dessert Break and Exhibitor Fair

Session Three

1:30 – 2 p.m.

The Threats We Face and How We Respond to "The Big One"

Garrett Huff, Fire Chief, Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Chris Mailes, Fire Chief, Santa Barbara County Fire Department

2 – 2:45 p.m.

Case Review: Integrated Emergency Response to Machinery Trauma

Vince Pierucci, EMS Director, Santa Barbara County EMS Agency and Chad Fleming, Operational Battalion Chief, Nipomo Battalion, Cal Fire/San Luis Obispo

2:45 – 3 p.m.

Session 3 Speaker’s Panel

3 – 3:10 p.m.

Stretch Break

Session Four

3:10 – 3:40 p.m.

Pediatric Trauma Pitfalls: The Child Who Looked Fine

Jordan A. Justice, MD, FACEP, FAAP, Director of Pediatric Emergency Education, Cottage Health, and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Cedars-Sinai

3:40 – 4:25 p.m.

Rattlesnake Bites: Trends and Treatment

William Ganske, MD, Associate Trauma Medical Director, Cottage Health

4:25 – 4:40 p.m.

Session 4 Speaker’s Panel Q&A

4:40 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Course Description:

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Trauma Services presents the 23rd Annual Trauma/Critical Care Symposium to educate healthcare professionals about current evidence-based research and advances in trauma care.

Educational Objectives

• Explain the advantages of whole blood, including the ability to simplify and streamline transfusion in acute care and the impact on survival outcomes in the prehospital setting.

• Examine the coordination and communication strategies during a prolonged incident, including key operational, safety and medical considerations.

• Identify risk factors for rattlesnake bites, examine prehospital and in-hospital treatment strategies and compare available antivenin products.

• Recognize common traumatic cervical and thoracolumbar fracture patterns in older adults and integrate clinical findings, spinal stability, and injury mechanisms to guide operative versus non-operative management and the urgency of intervention.

• Identify early signs of deterioration in surgical patients and apply a structured approach to escalation and management, while recognizing systems-based factors that influence failure to rescue, team coordination and patient outcomes.

• Identify how resources are assembled and organized while respecting jurisdictional areas, unique hazards, response considerations and extended care for the caregivers.

• Apply practical strategies to reduce missed injuries by identifying high-risk pediatric trauma presentations that may initially appear benign and recognizing common cognitive and diagnostic pitfalls.

• Summarize the impact of trauma on military service members, including strategies to remove stigma around seeking help and approaches to support healing at home and in the workplace.

• Evaluate indications for ECMO in trauma and critical illness by integrating patient physiology to select appropriate VV or VA support and anticipate common complications and management challenges.

Accreditation Statement: The Santa Barbara County Consortium for Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the California Medical Association (CMA) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement: The Santa Barbara County Consortium for CME designates this hybrid activity for a maximum of 6.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered

Nursing, provider number 00252 for 6.5 contact hours

This CME event did not receive commercial support.

Christy Borneman
Sr. Marketing Coordinator

Wendy Campbell

Marketing Manager

Leslie Church
Symposium Program Manager

Tyra Darke
Trauma Injury Prevention Specialist

Bobbie Evans
MSN, RN, CCRN, Nurse Educator Critical Care

Lauren Fink
BSN, RN, Stroke Coordinator

Kelly Kam

BSN, RN, CEN, MICN, Pre-Hospital Care/MICN Program Coordinator

Basilia Lahorra
Trauma Administrative Assistant

Brooke LeBlanc

MSN, RN, CEN, Trauma Performance Improvement Nurse Coordinator

Kathryn Loster

MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN, Med/Surg Educator

Denise McDonald
MSN, RN, Director Emergency and Trauma Services

Cherith Neisler
BSN, RN, CCRN, Trauma Registrar Lead RN

Tamara Norton
MHS, CME Program Consultant

Rohit Sharma
MD, FACS, Trauma Medical Director

Lauren Sutherlin
BSN, RN, CEN, Trauma Program Manager

Mayra Henson
RN, Injury Prevention Coordinator

Keynote Speaker

Overcoming the Impact of Trauma for Those who Serve

Retired Sgt. Mike McGrew is the CEO and co-founder of 911 At Ease International and leader of 911 Project Harmony, two innovative programs dedicated to protecting the mental wellness of first responders and their families. Raised in a first responder family, Mike served with the Santa Barbara Police Department for 31 years, working some of the city’s most trauma-filled assignments. During his career, he received Santa Barbara County’s highest law enforcement award for Valor and Outstanding Performance on three occasions.