FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2025
Contact Email: press@TRC4.org
Advancing Trauma Care: Symposium to Showcase Latest Research and Innovations to Improve Outcomes for Civilian and Military Communities
Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor & Military Medicine Pioneer to Keynote
SAN ANTONIO, TX – The Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative (TRC4) will host the second annual University of Texas System Trauma Research Symposium on February 10th and 11th at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center in Austin, Texas.
The two-day symposium will be focused on cutting-edge trauma innovation and bring together experts, researchers, and practitioners from the UT System and the Department of Defense to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and forge new professional partnerships. The symposium aims to promote collaboration on lifesaving and innovative trauma research that serves both civilian and military communities across Texas and beyond. Attendees will hear about groundbreaking trauma-related research being conducted by faculty across the UT System.
“This symposium will build on the foundation we laid during our inaugural event, expanding our focus to explore new frontiers in trauma research and its application,” said Dr. James Bynum, Executive Director, TRC4. “Our 2025 program is designed to challenge assumptions, inspire collaboration, and highlight cutting-edge research that addresses trauma’s multifaceted impact—whether psychological, physiological, or social.”
This year’s keynote speakers are Colonel Valerie G. Sams, USAF, and Mr. Marc Fucarile. Col Sams, a Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon, is a leader in military healthcare and trauma medicine, serving as the Director of the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (CSTARS) in Cincinnati and a trainer for the Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCAT). Her contributions as a researcher, educator, and innovator have made her a driving force in advancing trauma care.
Marc Fucarile, a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, will share his powerful journey of resilience and recovery. As a right-leg above-the-knee amputee, Marc has become a passionate advocate for the mobility-impaired community and a source of inspiration for overcoming adversity.
About TRC4
TRC4 was established by The University of Texas System Board of Regents. The TRC4 mission is to integrate efforts that will transform trauma care both on the battlefield and in the civilian sector, resulting in dramatic improvements in survivability. This mission will be accomplished through research, training, and clinical partnership and support. Based at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and on behalf of the UT System, the TRC4 will facilitate, and fund groundbreaking interinstitutional collaborative basic, clinical, and translational research between UT institutions and the Department of Defense (DoD)/Defense Health Agency (DHA). This endeavor will provide significant economic and business opportunities for Texans by leveraging both state and federal funding sources.
About The University of Texas System
With 14 institutions that enroll over 256,000 students overall, the UT System is the largest university system in Texas and one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produced over 66,000 graduates last year and awarded more than one-third of the undergraduate degrees in Texas. They also educate more than one-half of the state’s health care professionals with a four-year degree or above, and award 63% of the state’s medical degrees annually. The combined efforts of UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics resulted in nearly 10.8 million outpatient visits and more than 2.1 million hospital days in 2023. UT’s $4.3 billion research enterprise is one of the nation’s most innovative, ranking No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the U.S. for both total and federal research expenditures. With an operating budget of $32 billion for fiscal year 2025, UT institutions collectively employ more than 160,000 faculty, health care professionals, support staff and students.
