COM Outlook Winter 2020

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 51 Once the patients admitted to the hospital were stabilized, Semon stepped away from his clinical responsibilities to assume his role as trauma liaison to the hospital’s Emergency Prepared- ness Committee. Initially, he was asked to provide a briefing from the hospital’s conference room for the local news programs. As news of the tragedy began to go national, however, a citywide press briefing was organized at the incident command center in downtown Dayton. “I was very proud to stand next to Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, who updated the press on the incident. I then provided updates on the kinds of injuries we had seen and the care we provided,” Semon said. “I soon learned I had just appeared on several national news networks. Fortunately, I have had experience giving interviews to local news outlets several times, but this was certainly on a whole different level. I felt proud to represent our trauma center and give some voice to the victims of this tragedy.” Debriefing Dignitaries A day later, Semon learned that a number of dignitaries—including President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump—would be visiting the hospital within 48 hours to meet with the victims and interact with the medical team. “I was excited and somewhat nervous about meeting the President, but I felt it was important that he hear from those of us on the front line who care for mass-shooting vic- tims,” he explained. “I was able to talk to both the President and the First Lady about my experiences and my strong beliefs that gun control is a public health problem that requires legislation at the federal level.” Although Semon and his trauma team had never dealt with a mass- casualty crisis of this scale before, they were expertly prepared because of the detailed training they had received. “Preparation is key,” he stressed. “We hold both a hospital and a community-wide disaster simulation every year and expect everyone to participate as though it is a real event.” These types of mock drills serve a vital purpose, especially in actual situations where saving a life can come down to a split-second decision. “We are seeing mass- casualty events like these happen- ing more frequently,” Semon said. “Everyone who works in health care—no matter what your role—can play a part in preparing for an incident like this. Mass casualties affect everyone from the emergency room to the people in the hospital kitchen.” Taking Time to Reflect It’s been almost 12 years since Semon graduated from Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU’s) Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM); however, his admiration for his alma mater burns brightly. “I really have to thank my mentors at NSU-KPCOM and the Broward Health Medical Center who got me interested in trauma surgery early in my medical school years,” he explained. “The work is hard, the hours can be long, and the job sometimes thankless. But being able to see how our team came together to care for so many people in a horrific situa- tion like this makes me so proud of my profession.” o Semon provides a televised update on the status of the victims and the extent of their injuries.