Annual Scientific Assembly Committee

The Annual Scientific Assembly Committee is responsible for the overall format and program content for the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly.  The committee is responsible for reviewing, scoring and selecting clinical abstracts to be presented (oral, quick shot, and video presentations).  The committee is responsible for selecting the recipients of the Raymond H. Alexander, MD Residents’ Paper Competition.  In addition, the committee selects the plenary sessions, workshops, short courses, and any other special programming or sessions added to the meeting program. 

The mission of the Annual Scientific Assembly Committee is to plan, design, and oversee the execution of the top academic scientific meeting for trauma and acute care surgery professionals in the world. This includes ensuring all aspects of the meeting are developed with a focus on the core tenets of the organization: advancing science, fostering relationships, and building careers. As the trauma organization that particularly focuses on development of the “young trauma surgeon/professional”, the Committee should constantly be critically evaluating, revising, and incorporating the most up to date methods and metrics for delivering high quality content and opportunities for all EAST members and non-member attendees.

The Education Division Director is the Chair of the Annual Scientific Assembly Committee. 

Committee members are appointed by the President with approval by the Board of Directors.  Committee member terms are three years. All terms begin in January and conclude in January in the year specified in "term ends".


Members

Brad Dennis, MD, FACSBrad Dennis, MD, FACS, Chair
Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN
Term ends 01/17/2026
Brandon R. Bruns, MD, MBA, FACSBrandon R. Bruns, MD, MBA, FACS, Committee Member
University of Texas Southwestern in ,
Term ends 01/18/2025
Jessica Burgess, MD, FACSJessica Burgess, MD, FACS, Committee Member
Eastern Virginia Medical School in ,
Term ends 01/17/2026
Caitlin A. Fitzgerald, MDCaitlin A. Fitzgerald, MD, Committee Member
ECU in ,
Term ends 01/17/2026
Rondi Gelbard, MD, FACSRondi Gelbard, MD, FACS, Committee Member
University of Alabama at Birmingham in ,
Term ends 01/17/2026
Elinore J. Kaufman, MD, MSHPElinore J. Kaufman, MD, MSHP, Committee Member
University of Pennsylvania in ,
Term ends 01/17/2026
Tareq Kheirbek, MD, ScM, FACSTareq Kheirbek, MD, ScM, FACS, Committee Member
Brown University in Providence, RI
Term ends 01/18/2025
Matthew E. Kutcher, MD, MSMatthew E. Kutcher, MD, MS, Committee Member
University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS
Term ends 01/17/2026
Stefan W. Leichtle, MD, MBA, FACSStefan W. Leichtle, MD, MBA, FACS, Committee Member
Inova Health System in Falls Church, VA
Term ends 01/17/2026
Jonathan P. Meizoso, MD, MSPHJonathan P. Meizoso, MD, MSPH, Committee Member
Ryder Trauma Center / University of Miami in Miami, FL
Term ends 01/16/2027
Alexis K. Nickols, MDAlexis K. Nickols, MD, Committee Member
University of Kentucky in ,
Term ends 01/17/2026
Nimitt J. Patel, MDNimitt J. Patel, MD, Committee Member
MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, OH
Term ends 01/16/2027
Purvi P. Patel, MDPurvi P. Patel, MD, Committee Member
Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, IL
Term ends 01/18/2025
Joseph Posluszny, MDJoseph Posluszny, MD, Committee Member
in ,
Term ends 01/17/2026
Alicia R. Privette, MD, FACSAlicia R. Privette, MD, FACS, Committee Member
Medical University of South Carolina in ,
Term ends 01/18/2025
Rishi Rattan, MDRishi Rattan, MD, Committee Member
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, OR
Term ends 01/17/2026
Jacinta Robenstine, MDJacinta Robenstine, MD, Committee Member
Metrohealth Medical Center in ,
Term ends 01/17/2026
Samuel Wade Ross, MD, MPHSamuel Wade Ross, MD, MPH, Committee Member
Carolinas Medical Center in ,
Term ends 01/18/2025
Ayodele T. Sangosanya, MD, MBAAyodele T. Sangosanya, MD, MBA, Committee Member
Yale-Bridgeport Hospital in ,
Term ends 01/17/2026
Lisa Schlitzkus, MDLisa Schlitzkus, MD, Committee Member
UCHealth Memorial Central Colorado Springs in ,
Term ends 01/18/2025
Bellal Joseph, MD, FACSBellal Joseph, MD, FACS, Ex Officio
University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ
Term ends 01/17/2026
Leah C. Tatebe, MD, FACSLeah C. Tatebe, MD, FACS, Ex Officio
Northwestern University in Chicago, IL
Term ends 01/17/2026

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