NASCAR’s Richard Childress Speaks at Pediatric Trauma Briefing

We invite you to join legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress and the Congressional Pediatric Trauma Caucus on Thursday, June 15, at 9:30 am in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building for a discussion about pediatric trauma and virtual care.  This briefing is the first Caucus event after the April 26, 2017 publication of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report titled “Pediatric Trauma Centers: Availability, Outcomes, and Federal Support Related to Pediatric Trauma Care,” and is an opportunity to discuss how advancements in virtual care can help improve pediatric trauma treatment.

Pediatric trauma is the most frequent killer of children in this country and can occur in many forms; from concussions to burns, and from the athletic field to highway accidents.  The chilling reality is these types of injuries claim the lives of more children than all other causes combined.  The children that survive traumatic injuries may never be the same, as severely injured children are often hospitalized and can require surgeries and lengthy rehabilitation.

Richard and Judy Childress created The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma in 2008.  The Childress Institute is focused on funding research and medical education throughout the United States to improve treatment and raise public awareness of pediatric trauma.

The pediatric trauma experts participating in the briefing include:

  • Richard Childress, Co-Founder, Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, CEO, Richard Childress Racing, Welcome, North Carolina
  • Bob Gfeller, Executive Director, Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • Katrina Altenhofen, Paramedic, Washington County Hospital Emergency Department Medic, Washington County Ambulance, Washington, Iowa
  • Jamie Kissee, MA, Research Manager, Pediatric Telemedicine Program, UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Sacramento, California
  • Patricia Morrell, BSN, RN-BC, Pediatric Trauma Coordinator, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut
  • Jeffrey Upperman, Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Trauma Medical Director, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

The June 15th pediatric trauma briefing will enable Members of Congress and staff to learn more about the role of virtual care in combatting the pediatric trauma epidemic.  Please address questions to Preston Bell at preston.bell@mail.house.gov and 202-225-3715 or to Dennis Sills at dennis.sills@mail.house.gov and 202-225-3101.