ZSFG Updates

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Trauma Awareness Month: A Time to Honor the Extraordinary Work Happening at ZSFG

A Note from our CEO, Dr. Susan Ehrlich

May is Trauma Awareness Month and I am thrilled to take this opportunity to recognize the extraordinary work our teams do to care for our patients during their most urgent and life-threatening moments.

Trauma remains the leading cause of death and disability for Americans under age 45, and millions of Americans are affected, underscoring the critical importance of prevention, rapid response and high-quality trauma care systems.

Zsfg Trauma Photo
“At Zuckerberg San Francisco General, trauma care is more than a service. It is a profound commitment to stand with our patients and community during life’s most critical moments. Trauma remains the leading cause of death and disability, a reality that underscores both the urgency of our mission and the trust our community places in us. As a Level I Trauma Center, we are dedicated to delivering the highest standard of care through clinical excellence, rapid coordination, innovation, and an unwavering focus on quality and equity. I am deeply grateful for the extraordinary skill, compassion, and commitment of our trauma teams. Every day, they bring not only expertise, but also humanity and hope to patients and families when it matters most. It is an incredible honor to serve alongside them and to care for our community in its time of greatest need.” – Joseph Cuschieri MD, FACS, FSIS, Chief of Surgery

ZSFG has a long and distinguished history as a leader in trauma care. In the late 1960s, we were among the first hospitals in the nation to develop a dedicated trauma system, helping to establish many of the principles that define modern trauma care today, including organized trauma teams, rapid resuscitation protocols, and integrated surgical and critical care. This pioneering work laid the foundation for today’s Level I trauma center standards and continues to influence trauma systems nationwide.

In 2025, ZSFG cared for about 3,500 trauma patients, including 2,300 trauma activations involving serious, life-threatening injuries. Each patient received coordinated, expert care from a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team, including surgeons, emergency physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, radiology and laboratory professionals, counselors, rehabilitation specialists, and many others. As a Level I Trauma Center, our mission extends beyond acute care to include injury prevention, research, education, and rehabilitation.

Through our longstanding partnership with UCSF, ZSFG is home to nationally and internationally recognized leaders in trauma and acute care surgery who are advancing the field through groundbreaking research, innovation, and education. Our faculty play key roles in shaping national guidelines, contributing to American College of Surgeons initiatives, leading multicenter clinical trials, and partnering with global institutions to strengthen trauma systems worldwide. This work not only improves outcomes for our patients locally, but also informs best practices and standards of care across the country and around the world.

ZSFG Trauma Team
The Trauma Team gathered recently to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Trauma Nurse Practitioner program at ZSFG.

Susan