Annual Meeting Update

Dear PTS Members,

As you know, due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity of creating the safest learning experience, portions of this year’s PTS Annual Meeting that was to take place in person November 4-7, 2020 in New Orleans, LA, will now be held in a virtual format. With the importance of the health and well-being of members, attendees, faculty, patients, staff, and other stakeholders, it is was clear that a traditional PTS Meeting will not be possible.

The PTS Board of Directors identified a Virtual Meeting Task Force, to evaluate and determine the best possible virtual learning environment for our membership. In order to incorporate the selected content, PTS will move forward with a one day, virtual LIVE Meeting on Friday, November 6th and host a series of monthly webinars. Each webinar will be 60 minutes and will be hosted on the second Thursday of each month at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, each webinar will then be recorded and housed on the PTS website.

If you were participating in a session or had an abstract acceptance, we will be in touch within the coming weeks with additional information. We thank you for your patience while we have made this shift and your continued commitment and support of the Society.

Please continue to watch the PTS website for updates, and we will keep you all informed as the PTS Virtual Meeting takes shape. We look forward to your participation during PTS LIVE!

Information and resources from the Center for Pediatric Traumatic Stress (CPTS)

The CPTS website - HealthCareToolbox.org - now has information and resources for healthcare staff and for families about managing the stress / psychological impact of COVID19. Check it out at: healthcaretoolbox.org/tools-and-resources/covid19

Here's what you will find there

FOR HEALTHCARE STAFF

	Downloadable tools: Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Toolkit for Emotional Coping for Healthcare Staff Slideset – for individuals or healthcare teams to learn coping and resilience building skills. Secondary Traumatic Stress for Healthcare Professionals Slideset – for individuals or healthcare teams to learn about secondary traumatic stress and how individuals and institutions can help address it.
	Information on the impact of COVID19 on healthcare staff wellbeing, and on promoting coping and resilience.
	Links to other useful resources

FOR FAMILIES

	Downloadable tipsheets for parents in English and Spanish: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Helping My Child Cope Coronavirus (COVID-19): Cómo Ayudar A Mi Hijo A Sobrellevar La Situación
	Information for parents on helping children cope, with special tips for families in which a child has existing health concerns.
	Links to other useful resources.

In Memory of Dr. Joseph Tepas, III

On December 20, 2019, we lost a true "voice for the injured child." Throughout his long career, Joseph J. Tepas, III, MD committed his time and talents to addressing the number one killer of children – trauma. Following his fellowship in pediatric surgery at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Tepas became head of the Division of Pediatric Surgery at Naval Regional Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA. In 1983, he joined the faculty of University of Florida - Jacksonville dedicating his life to the care of ill and injured children. "JJT" was instrumental in founding the pediatric trauma program in Jacksonville and was critical to the development of Florida's state trauma system and the first pediatric-specific trauma registry, the National Pediatric Trauma Registry. He was a surgeon dedicated to his patients who also understood the importance of evidence to inform decisions.

A message from our President

Highlights from the 2019 Pediatric Trauma Society Annual Meeting In this EAST Traumacast, Drs. Ian Mitchell, Alexander Gibbons, and Alejandra Casar Berazaluce present highlights from the 2019 Pediatric Trauma Society Annual Meeting. Great stuff on head injury risk calculation, whole blood and viscoelastic assays in pediatric resuscitation, Pediatric Trauma Research, and firearm violence prevention.

Your contribution will be used to support:

• The Joseph J. Tepas Best Presentation Award, awarded annually
• The Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Trauma, awarded annually
• Expenses related to the annual Keynote Speaker

Editor

Co-Editor

Interested in contributing to the Pediatric Trauma Society newsletter? Join Editor Jeff Upperman and other PTS members in creating a valuable resource for both pediatric and adult trauma care providers. Please contact the National Office for more information. View Recent Newsletters