Armstrong, M.D., FACS

Trauma Surgeon, University of South Florida

Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons

Tampa, Florida

John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS, FCCP, MAMSE, is Professor of Surgery, Distinguished Educator, and Division Director at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; Advocacy Pillar Chair and Executive Committee member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma; member of the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators; and member of the American Medical Association Council on Long Range Planning and Development. He serves on the US Defense Health Board and chairs its Trauma and Injury Subcommittee. He is the 2022 ACS SurgeonsVoice Advocate of the Year.

Dr. Armstrong has led local, regional, and statewide trauma systems. He has served as Florida’s Surgeon General and Secretary of Health; Chief Medical Officer at the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS); and Trauma Medical Director at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He completed his Army career as a Colonel and Director of the US Army Trauma Training Center, Miami, FL.

Dr. Armstrong is a graduate of Princeton University, the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and the US Army Command and General Staff College. He performed his surgical residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii; his trauma/surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital; and his Master Educators in Medical Education Fellowship at the University of Florida. He believes that education and training are principal drivers of change.

Jennifer Fitzpatrick, M.D.

Orthopedic Surgeon, Parkview Medical Center

Pueblo, California

Dr. FitzPatrick’s interest in sports medicine began in college, as a midfielder for the University of New Mexico’s soccer team. As one of the top scorers and assist leaders, she earned All-Conference and Academic All-American honors. The pressure and team spirit of sports prepared her to excel at orthopedic surgery, as she love’s getting patients back in the arena. During her fellowship time at the University of Colorado, she served as team physician for CU Boulder football and basketball teams as well as Denver University lacrosse and hockey. Currently, she provides advanced treatment and surgical options for patients with a wide range of injuries, with a focus on conditions of the shoulder and knee. She also serves as team physician for the CSU- Pueblo Thunderwolves.

In addition, she also cares for the aging shoulder and knee with options of shoulder and knee replacement. Her hobbies and interests include participating in triathlons, coaching young athletes, skiing, spending time with her family in the Colorado outdoors, WFPB nutrition, and covering rodeo events.

Tandy Freeman, M.D.

Orthopedic Surgeon, Baylor Scott & White

Medical Director, Justin Sports Medicine Team

Medical Director, Professional Bull Riders Association, Dallas, Texas

As medical director of the top rodeo and bull riding organizations (PRCA and PBR), Dr. Tandy R. Freeman has treated some of the toughest and most severely injured athletes – professional bull riders, rodeo cowboys and cowgirls. In this capacity, the West Texan has covered events across the U.S. and in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. He has treated injuries that occur when 2,000 lbs. of raging bull collide with the fragile human body or when the ballet of rider and horse goes awry.

In addition to caring for rodeo athletes, he has served in various roles for a number of amateur and professional teams including Head Team Physician for the Dallas Mavericks (National Basketball Association, 1996-2001), as well as maintaining a sports medicine practice devoted to treating the injuries of all types of athletes.

He and his wife, Maureen, a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, live in Dallas, TX.

CAPT Robert Jacoby, USNR, ret., M.D., FACS, FMF

Trauma Surgeon, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center

Vacaville, California

Dr Jacoby attended Residency/fellowship at UC Davis Medical Center. He was an Attending at UC Davis for 8 years. In 2008, he became the Medical Director for a level 2 trauma center in Tacoma, WA. He was the Medical Director for 5 years. In 2013, Dr Jacoby joined the Trauma Program at Kaiser Vacaville as the Assistant Medical Director. Dr Jacoby joined the Navy Reserve in 1996 and has been recalled several times. The last deployment was to the heart of NY City during the COVID-19 Outbreak in early 2020. In addition to trauma surgery, Dr Jacoby brews award winning beer.

Uzer S. Khan, M.D., FACS

Trauma Surgeon, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital

Fort Worth, Texas

Uzer Khan completed his surgical residency training from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV followed by a year of surgical critical care fellowship training at Baltimore, Maryland at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.  Since then, he has practiced as an acute care surgeon and had responsibilities including directorship of the surgical intensive care unit, associate program director of the general surgery residency and director the surgical critical care fellowship program.  He recently moved to the Dallas Fort Worth area and is practicing at Harris Methodist Hospital.

Christopher Shank, M.D.

Neurosurgeon, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth

Fort Worth, Texas

Dr Shank is a Fort Worth native and board-certified neurosurgeon. As Neurotrauma Medical Director, he oversees a diverse team of practitioners and staff who are dedicated to the care of patients with complex neurotrauma pathology at THFW Level 1 Trauma Center. Under his direction, THFW became the first hospital in the country to receive the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Comprehensive Neurotrauma Care. He attended TCU for undergraduate education, UT Houston for medical school, and completed his neurosurgery training and a concomitant MBA at UAB in Birmingham, AL. He has published numerous articles, book chapters, and evidence-based guidelines on cranial and spinal pathology.

David Wisner, M.D.

Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery, UC Davis Medical Center

Sacramento, California

Dave Wisner is an Emeritus Professor at the University of California, Davis, where he served on the faculty for 35 years. He was the Chief of Trauma for much of that time and served as Interim Chair of Surgery for 5 years. At the end of his career, Dr. Wisner was the Vice-Dean for Clinical Affairs and the head of the overall faculty practice at UC Davis. Dr. Wisner also set up a brand-new Level II trauma program at a local community hospital and served stints as the Chief Medical Officer of both a local community hospital and a surgical hospitalist company. Dr. Wisner served as surgery medical clerkship director for many years and was the director of one of the first trauma/critical care fellowships in the country. He had active research effort during much of his career and is the author of over 140 publications and over forty book chapters. He was an engaged member of the ACS and the AAST and served on multiple committees for both organizations, including the Board of Directors of the AAST. Dr. Wisner was the recipient of multiple awards during his career, including many teaching awards. He is now happily retired and enjoys travel, family and not being up so often in the middle of the night.