Trauma Anesthesiology

Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the flagship hospital of the BJC HealthCare system, is ranked among the top U.S. hospitals. It is proudly certified as a Level I Trauma Center, handling over 3,000 trauma cases annually.

The Charles F. Knight Emergency & Trauma Center (Adult) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital occupies the ground floor of a multistory building with surgical suites, radiology, laboratory, and essential services. The Trauma Center receives 95,000 ED visits annually.

Our Mission & Values

The Trauma Anesthesia Team is dedicated to delivering exceptional, seamless perioperative care of acutely ill patients with precision and compassion. Through research, innovation, and education, we strive to improve patient outcomes, expand the boundaries of trauma care, and foster a culture of lifelong learning and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Our Core Values
  • Education – We are committed to teaching and passing on our expertise throughout the department.
  • Respect – We advocate for mutual respect and ensure that all team members and patients are treated with dignity.
  • Support – We create a supportive environment where colleagues feel comfortable reaching out for help and taking care of their well-being.
  • Communication – We set clear expectations, listen actively, and engage in open, constructive dialogue with our patients and colleagues.
  • Clinical Expertise – We stay at the forefront of trauma anesthesiology, ensuring continuous learning and sharing knowledge within our medical community.

Our Role in Trauma Care

In line with our core values of clinical expertise and communication, we ensure that every patient receives the highest level of care, while fostering seamless coordination across multidisciplinary teams. Every patient admitted to the Emergency Department for level-one trauma receives dedicated support from the Trauma Anesthesia team. Barnes-Jewish Hospital has a dedicated trauma operating room, which is consistently staffed 24/7 by an attending anesthesiologist, along with either a CRNA or a Resident/Fellow physician.

Beyond clinical duties, our team embodies a culture of support and respect, ensuring that colleagues feel empowered to ask for help, advocate for one another, and work collaboratively in high-stakes environments.

WashU Medicine is a proud partner of the Trauma Anesthesiology Society.

Education

As a renowned academic institution and a nationally recognized anesthesia residency, we are dedicated to providing trainees with a comprehensive and immersive experience in trauma anesthesia, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to excel in this dynamic and critical field. Our commitment to education extends beyond training—it is a fundamental value that drives our faculty to continuously mentor, innovate, and advance trauma care.

Residents rotate with the trauma team multiple times during their training, and they have a dedicated education curriculum, led by trauma faculty, to teach specifics of trauma care. In addition, WashU Medicine is one of only a handful of institutions in the nation that offer a fellowship in Trauma Anesthesia. With a distinguished faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and a commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and research, our fellowship program offers an unparalleled platform for professional growth and advancement.

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Research

The Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine is world-renowned for its contributions to research. The Department supports research endeavors across all divisions, and the Trauma division is active in academic activities both within the WashU community as well as abroad. Our research efforts align closely with our mission to expand the boundaries of trauma care, ensuring that innovation translates into improved patient outcomes and clinical excellence.

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