As a Level I Trauma Center, research is a cornerstone of the Center for Trauma and Critical Care (CTACC). Our research program is led by Dr. Susan Kartiko, who oversees projects focused on improving outcomes for patients with traumatic injuries and critical illnesses.
CTACC investigators routinely publish cutting-edge studies on topics such as brain injury, mental health in trauma patients, orthopedic trauma, hemorrhage and resuscitation, emergency care, and critical care management. Our faculty are nationally recognized, serving as invited speakers and panelists at major conferences, including:
- Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST)
- American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST)
- Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)
- Academic Surgical Congress (ASC)
Ongoing Research Initiatives
Dr. Kartiko serves as the site Principal Investigator for a multi-center study with the Medical University of South Carolina, titled “Testing a Scalable Model of Care to Improve Patients' Access to Mental Health Services after Traumatic Injury.” This project aims to develop best practices for screening trauma patients for acute stress disorders and connecting them with appropriate care.
Dr. Quintana serves as the Principal Investigator for Acumen sponsored post market tracheostomy study to ensure excellent outcome for patients with respiratory failure. Dr. Quintana also serves as PI in various qualitative studies on trauma survivorship using photo elicitation.
Dr. Sarani serves the principal investigator for several all-DC initiatives to deliver life saving measures at the scene in collaboration with DC FEMS with the goal of improving trauma patient’s outcome, such as early delivery of TXA, whole blood and calcium in patients with hemorrhagic shock.
Community and Policy Impact
CTACC has a longstanding partnership with the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to address preventable deaths from violence. Past projects have examined injury patterns in urban versus mass casualty shootings and wounding patterns in pediatric shooting victims, with the goal of identifying strategies to reduce mortality in these vulnerable patients. CTACC also has a longstanding partnership with DC Fire and Emergency Services in addressing and improving the care given to DC residents.
CTACC’s recent publications include:
- Chest Wall Injury Society guidelines (Aug 2025): Comprehensive recommendations on surgical stabilization of rib fractures, co-led by Drs. Kartiko and Sarani PubMed.
- Elderly small bowel obstruction outcomes (Oct 2024): Analysis by Drs. Kartiko, Quintana, Sarani, and Estroff, identifying optimal surgical timing based on patient frailty Lippincott Journals.
- Racial disparities in VTE prophylaxis (Nov 2023): Led by Zebley with major contributions from Drs. Estroff, Quintana, and Sarani, highlighting race-based differences in care provision Health Sciences Research Commons.
- PTSD management guideline (2025): A systematic review led by Dr. Kartiko recommending early PTSD screening and cognitive behavioral therapy PubMed.