Newswise — LOS ANGELES – Jeffrey S. Upperman, MD, medical director of the Trauma Program and Pediatric Disaster Resource and Training Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has been selected to serve on the newly established National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters (NACCD). The NACCD was established to provide expert advice and consultation to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on comprehensive planning and policies to meet the unique health needs of children before, during, and after a disaster or other public health emergency.
Upperman, and 14 other experts from the nation’s preeminent scientific, public health, and medical fields, will evaluate and provide input on the needs of preparation for children in disasters. He will also provide advice and consultation on state emergency preparedness and response activities for children, including related drills and exercises.
The HHS Secretary approved Upperman’s four-year term; he was selected from 82 nominations. “This appointment reflects the fact that Dr. Upperman is recognized as one of the leading authorities in pediatric trauma and disaster preparedness in the nation,” says Henri R. Ford, MD, MHA, Vice President and Surgeon-In-Chief at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). “We are fortunate to have such a talented individual lead the Trauma Program at CHLA and on faculty at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.”
“This is the best effort yet on the federal level to focus on children and disasters,” says Upperman. “I look forward to contributing the knowledge and experience I’ve gained in my role at CHLA to better prepare children and families across the country for disaster emergencies.”
Since 2007, Upperman has implemented many strategic initiatives at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on improving care for children who have experienced trauma. Some of these initiatives include, translational research, which comprises over 50 peer-reviewed trauma and disaster management articles, over 25 abstracts related to disaster preparedness and trauma, book chapters and invited manuscripts, and nearly 90 additional abstracts and presentations on pediatric trauma and surgical critical care. Upperman created the vision and led the development of a state-of-the-science Pediatric Disaster Resource and Training Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for conducting research and educating health care workers and other important stakeholders on the necessary care for children in the face of chaos. He has also led a $5 million HHS grant related to children and disasters.
“Upperman's appointment to the NACCD is a testament to the positive work that has been led by him in LA County. His participation will undoubtedly create positive differences in how our community's care for children's needs in disasters,” says Bridget Berg, MPH, FACHE, Program Manager of the Pediatric Disaster Resource and Training Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Upperman remains current in the field of pediatric trauma and disaster preparedness through continued research and in his role as a reviewer for the American Journal of Disaster Medicine. He is a member of many professional organizations, including: Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST), the Scientific Advisory Committee of the American Red Cross, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), and Los Angeles County Trauma Hospital Advisory Committee (THAC). Upperman is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve Medical Corps. He served in combat duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom 2.
About Children's Hospital Los Angeles Children's Hospital Los Angeles has been named the best children’s hospital on the West Coast and among the top five in the nation for clinical excellence with its selection to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll. Children’s Hospital is home to The Saban Research Institute, one of the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States. Children’s Hospital is also one of America's premier teaching hospitals through its affiliation since 1932 with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.
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Media Contact: Lorenzo BenetOffice: 323-361-4823Email: [email protected]
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