Atlanta, Georgia – September 24, 2008 – A prestigious 19-member advisory board representing healthcare and EMS providers, local government officials and business leaders from every region of Georgia will guide a trauma awareness campaign designed to educate Georgians about the need for a statewide trauma system.

Members of the Georgia Statewide Trauma Action Team (GSTAT) advisory board are:

•         Thomas D. Bell, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Cousins Properties and Board Member, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce;

•         Chad Black, Battalion Chief, Hall County Fire Services and Business Development Manager,

•         LifeNet Georgia, Gainesville;

•         Bambi Bruce, Trauma Coordinator, Walton Regional Medical Center, Monroe;

•         Katherine Cummings, Executive Director, Georgia Rural Health Association, Sandersville;

•         Lance Duke, CEO, The Medical Center, Columbus;

•         Don Faulk, CEO, Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon;

•         Ron Frieson, Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta;

•         Jerry Griffin, Executive Director, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Atlanta;

•         Dr. Vernon Henderson, Trauma Director, Atlanta Medical Center, Atlanta;

•         Jim Higdon, Executive Director, Georgia Municipal Association, Atlanta;

•         George M. Israel, III, President/CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta;

•         Cherry Jones, Trauma Coordinator, Floyd Medical Center, Rome;

•         Dr. Arthur Kellermann, Emory University/Grady Hospital, Atlanta;

•         Regina Medeiros, Trauma Coordinator, Medical College of Georgia Health System, Augusta;

•         Gary D. Nelson, PhD, President, Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Atlanta;

•         Dr. Gage Ochsner, Trauma Surgeon, Memorial University Medical Center, Savannah;

•         Dr. Doug Patten, Chief Medical Officer, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany;      

•         William Richardson, CEO, Tift Regional Medical Center, Tifton; and,

•         Courtney Terwilliger, President, Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services and Emanuel County EMS, Swainsboro.

The GSTAT advisory board will assist with campaign grassroots efforts, be available for speaking opportunities and media interviews, and provide feedback for the campaign, which is funded through a grant from Healthcare Georgia Foundation.

The campaign is aimed at helping to establish a statewide trauma system that will serve all Georgians, including many in rural areas of the state that are currently lacking access to adequate emergency transportation and trauma care.

Trauma patients who receive care at a trauma center within the first hour “golden hour” following injury have a better chance of survival. But Georgia is served by only 15 trauma centers – about half the number needed, according to state health officials – and many areas of the state currently lack access to adequate emergency transportation. As a result, trauma death rates are significantly higher than the national average. If Georgia’s death rate improved to the national average, it would mean a difference of as many as 700 more lives saved every year.

About the Trauma Awareness Campaign and the Georgia Statewide Trauma Action Team (GSTAT): The trauma awareness campaign is designed to educate Georgians about the need for a statewide trauma system. It is funded through a grant by Healthcare Georgia Foundation (www.healthcaregeorgia.org.) The Georgia Statewide Trauma Action Team (GSTAT) is a coalition of hospitals, EMS providers, physicians, nurses, local government officials, business leaders and others interested in creating a statewide trauma system. For more information, please visit www.georgiaitsabouttime.com.