May is Trauma Awareness Month—a time to recognize the extraordinary work our teams do to care for people during their most urgent and life-threatening moments. As the only Level 1 Trauma Center serving San Francisco and northern San Mateo counties, ZSFG is the hub of emergency care, disaster response, and recovery for our region. We are here for our community when it needs us most.

Last fiscal year, ZSFG helped 3,413 trauma patients with serious, life-threatening injuries. Every one of those patients received coordinated, expert care from a highly trained, multidisciplinary team of trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, radiology and lab staff, counselors, and many more.

Trauma care doesn’t stop at the emergency room doors. Every patient receives expert care from our Trauma Surgery and Neurosurgery teams to support the best possible outcomes. Specialists in Otolaryngology (ENT), Ophthalmology, Vascular, and Oral Maxillofacial Plastics contribute significantly to our patients’ healing process. Our outstanding Rehabilitation Services team is there for our patients for the long haul, helping them regain strength and reach their full potential. Anesthesia and Radiology are vital to any treatment plan post-injury.

Our role as a Level 1 trauma center means we offer not only acute care, but also prevention, research, and rehabilitation. Thanks to our longstanding partnership with UCSF, we are also home to cutting-edge research and medical education that helps advance trauma care across the nation.

Since 2009, the Orthopaedic Trauma Institute at ZSFG has led the region in treating complex musculoskeletal injuries. Their team of surgeons and specialists provide everything from trauma and spine care to sports medicine, pediatrics, prosthetics, and rehabilitation. They are a vital part of helping patients recover and reclaim their lives.

This month is also a time to shine a light on prevention—the first step in reducing injury and violence in our communities. I want to especially recognize the Wraparound Project. One of the first hospital-based violence intervention programs in the country, Wraparound uses a trauma-informed approach to help patients heal and thrive after violent injury. Their work includes emotional support, long-term mentorship, and connection to vital resources like mental health care, housing, tattoo removal, job training, and legal services.

Their impact is made possible through deep partnerships with city agencies and community-based organizations. Together, we’re not just treating injuries—we’re working to stop violence before it happens and build healthier, safer futures for everyone.

As part of Trauma Awareness Month, we invite you to the upcoming Community Health Fair, hosted by ZSFG and DPH teams and our partners in the community. The event features health screenings, ears/nose/throat cancer screenings, stroke awareness education, a “stop the bleed” demonstration, fire-safety demonstration, Wraparound violence prevention services, overdose prevention, food and nutrition guidance, CPR training, and more. The goal is to inform our community on how to prevent injuries and common health emergencies as well as mitigate trauma while help is on the way.

Community Health Fair
Sunday, May 25, 2025
10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Fillmore and Turk Mini Park
Western Addition

– Susan