WHAT:

The unique partnership between Kings County Hospital Center and the Army began in fall 2000, when the 101st Airborne Forward Surgical Team, under the command of Colonel Tom Knuth, M.D., served a one month trauma rotation in the hospital's Trauma Surgery Service. The experience was so valuable to the enlisted solders of the 101st Airborne that Brigadier General Robert Kasulke, Commander of the 8th Army Medical Brigade requested the same type of training for the members of the reserve core under his command.

The training program includes sessions in mass casualty management, trauma resuscitation, combat stress management and critical care of casualties exposed to chemical and biological agents. The reservists will be trained in trauma teams of 20-25 and four teams will be trained annually.

Kings County Hospital has the largest urban trauma center in New York State and is known for treating the most penetrating urban wounds, which are the closest to injuries seen in actual combat situations. Clinical training and supervision will be provided by the Kings County staff who have tremendous expertise in these areas.

WHEN:

WHERE:

WHO:

Brigadier General Robert Kasulke, M.D.
Commander, 8th Medical Brigade
U.S. Army Reserve

Colonel Tom Knuth, M.D.
Senior Clinical Consultant
Director of Combat Doctrine and Development
U.S. Army

Colonel Yelleshpur Jayaram, M.D.
Command Surgeon
77th Regional Readiness Command
U.S. Army Reserve

HHC & KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL

Benjamin Chu, M.D., M.P.H.
President, HHC

Jean Leon
Senior Vice President
Central Brooklyn Family Health Network
Executive Director
Kings County Hospital Center

Patricia O'Neill, M.D.
Co-Director
Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care
Kings County Hospital Center

CONTACT:

Bruce Hill
77th Regional Readiness Command/Public Affairs
718-352-5074