UPMC Williamsport celebrates trauma survivors

Williamsport, Pa. — UPMC Williamsport marked National Trauma Awareness Month and National Trauma Survivors Day by organizing a special event that brought together trauma survivors and the medical teams that provided care for them.

The event served as a celebration of life and highlighted the crucial role of having a local trauma center.

Since obtaining its Level II Trauma Center designation in 2021, UPMC Williamsport has treated approximately 1,300 individuals annually, with a 98% survival rate.

“While those are exceptional numbers when it comes to our clinical expertise, the real impact and value of this program is evident in our survivors. Getting to host events like this where we celebrate those who do the hardest work in any trauma program – the survivors and their support persons – helps us realize the value of every life saved. Seeing their faces, talking with them, and observing their recovery reminds us of what our work is about and how even making an impact on one life makes it all worthwhile," said Ronen Elefant, M.D., trauma surgeon and medical director, Trauma Services, UPMC of North Central Pa.

During the gathering, members of the Trauma Services team discussed the importance of having a local trauma center and recounted UPMC Williamsport's decade-long journey to achieve designation. Trauma survivors and their guests were presented with tulip bouquets and handcrafted stained-glass purple tulips, symbolizing the pain and resilience associated with traumatic injuries.

UPMC Williamsport is one of only three trauma centers serving the 12-county region of north central Pennsylvania. It is the sixth accredited trauma center within the UPMC system, joining UPMC Altoona, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hamot, UPMC Mercy, and UPMC Presbyterian.

“Years ago, UPMC in North Central Pa. made the bold decision to build a trauma program, and our teams worked tirelessly for years to grow and develop the services we offer today,” said Patti Jackson-Gehris, president, UPMC in North Central Pa. and UPMC Williamsport.

“At UPMC, we use the phrase ‘life changing medicine’ a lot and one would only need to look around the room at an event like this and see our survivors to understand what it really means. They have experienced life-altering events and come so far in their recovery which to me is life-changing medicine in action. Access to quality trauma care is not a luxury, it is essential, and I’m proud of what we’re doing here with our program to serve so many communities in north central Pennsylvania.”

For more information on UPMC Williamsport’s Trauma Services, visit UPMC.com/TraumaNCPA .