Phoebe Trauma Team expands with addition of trauma surgeon

ALBANY – Dr. Mohammad Choudhary learned first-hand the importance of expert trauma care as a medical student. The New York native attended King Edward Medical University in Pakistan where, because of a shortage of physicians, medical students sometimes took on responsibilities of resident physicians and other care providers. Choudhary vividly remembers a day when he personally had to transport a patient with a severe head injury to the hospital.

“It showed me the importance of the golden hour – of providing care within 60 minutes of a traumatic injury – and it made me realize the importance of education in the trauma field,” Choudhary said.

The experience also cemented his interest in trauma care. Following medical school, he completed his general surgery residency at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center followed by a surgical critical care fellowship at Westchester Medical Center in New York. Choudhary worked as a trauma surgeon for two years before joining the Phoebe trauma team led by Medical Director for Trauma Services Dr. Leon Dent.

“We’re certainly pleased to welcome a trauma surgeon of Dr. Choudhary’s caliber to Phoebe,” Dent said. “We have an outstanding team that we continue to expand as we enhance our trauma services and as we look forward to moving into our new Trauma & Critical Care Tower.”

In March, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital earned state designation as a Level II Trauma Center – the only Level II center south of Columbus and Augusta. Construction continues on the new tower that will house the emergency and trauma center as well as a new NICU and adult ICU. The emergency and trauma center will be the first section to open in the fall.

“That’s another thing that attracted me to southwest Georgia; I’m proud to know we are building a new trauma center that will help us treat trauma patients,” Choudhary said.

May is Trauma Awareness Month, and Choudhary said he looks forward to being a leader on the trauma team to help expand community education and outreach, as well enhance training at Phoebe with the ultimate goal of earning national verification as a Level II Trauma Center.

“My goals at Phoebe are to continue to improve our response to mass casualty events, assist the trauma medical director to develop us into an ACS (American College of Surgeons) verified trauma center and bring education to our staff using our state-of-the-art simulation lab,” he said.

Choudhary recently led PPMH’s participation in a community mass casualty drill and said he is thrilled to be part of a team that is elevating trauma care for a large region of Georgia.

“It’s a great honor and thrill to help an injured person, and it is that joy that brings me to work every day,” he said. “This part of the state needs a trauma center to provide care for these patients because every life matters.”

Special Photo: Phoebe