University of Colorado Department of Emergency Medicine

Leadership is about taking bold risks, holding yourself and your team accountable, and staying agile in an ever-changing world. In this clip from WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast, Col. Vik Bebarta, MD, shares key leadership lessons he’s learned from working alongside some of the most effective leaders in military and medical environments. ? Take Risks – Fortune favors the bold. Great leaders create an environment where their teams feel empowered to take calculated risks—whether it’s making a tough call in a briefing or making critical decisions in combat or healthcare crises. ? Accountability & Execution – Ideas are important, but execution is everything. Leaders must act decisively and hold themselves and their teams accountable for delivering results. ? Agility & Adaptability – Military medicine and healthcare challenges evolve rapidly. The best leaders stay nimble, pivot when necessary, and adjust strategies to meet changing demands. Vik Bebarta has seen firsthand how these leadership traits define the most effective leaders - past, present, and future. Check out the full conversation on the WarDocs Podcast for more insights! ?? YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gp7gKE9C ?? Apple: https://lnkd.in/gYYqdBvd ?? Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gcr5nN_P

“We began brainstorming ways to improve our care for patients with specific language needs after we noted a 2.5% to 5% increase in the number of ED encounters with a preferred language other than English,” says Maddie Ross, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the University of Colorado Department of Emergency Medicine. With numbers like those in mind, Ross and the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital’s emergency department hired their first cultural care coordinator, Marina Delgado Hernandez. Learn more about Delgado Hernandez and her new role here: https://bit.ly/3DoGaLM #Healthcare #EmergencyMedicine #PatientCare

What makes emergency medicine a top choice for military doctors? In this clip from the WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast, Col. Vik Bebarta, MD shares how his path from the Air Force Academy to deployments in combat zones led him to discover his passion for emergency medicine and saving lives in the most high-stakes situations. This is just a preview of the full conversation, which offers a firsthand look at combat casualty care, cutting-edge frontline research, and the critical role emergency physicians play in military healthcare. Vik Bebarta also shares how these experiences inspired him to establish the COMBAT Research Center, advancing innovation and improving care on the battlefield and at home. ?? Listen now on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform to hear the complete story. Stay tuned - we’ll be sharing more clips from this insightful podcast in the future. https://lnkd.in/grGhJYN3

?? How can doctors prepare for the health challenges of climate change — and what can we learn from global collaboration? Jay Lemery, MD, professor of?emergency medicine?and co-director of the University of Colorado Climate & Health Program?recently traveled to India with the U.S. Department of State to exchange ideas with health professionals, students, and researchers — strengthening global collaboration around climate and health. “These kinds of trips are truly about human connection,” says CU’s Dr. Jay Lemery. “It’s cultural diplomacy, and in my case, it’s science diplomacy.” ?? Read how this cross-cultural exchange is helping shape the future of climate and health:?https://lnkd.in/gDGGnHsd

We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking effort with Safi Biotherapeutics Inc, supporting the development of manufactured red blood cells for trauma and hemorrhage care. This work has the potential to revolutionize both military and civilian blood supply needs, especially in future large-scale combat operations. ? It’s a privilege to work alongside Safi, Emory University School of Medicine, and our colleagues in the University of Colorado Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. ? Looking forward to advancing this critical innovation for combat casualty care and beyond! Vikhyat Bebarta Adit Ginde Todd Getz

Most people don’t realize this, but 1st responders and combat medics are our first line in nearly every crisis—trauma, emergency care, extreme weather, disasters and war. They show up when everything else fails. Yet the greatest threat to this workforce isn’t just the dangers they face in the field—it’s their mental health. The weight of what they see, do, and endure is immense. And if we fail to protect them, we fail the entire system of emergency and disaster response. This perspective by Dr. Angela Wright and Ian Stanley, PhD is one you should read from the University of Colorado Department of Emergency Medicine and the CU Center for COMBAT Research. Backed by hundreds of publications, federal funding, and real policy change, their work is advancing how we support those who run toward danger. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gYcYxuXf

First responders are the first to offer help in emergencies, yet the psychological toll of their work is often overlooked. Our latest article digs into the hidden crisis of mental health challenges faced by those on the front lines—from alarming statistics to the real fear of speaking up. Discover how research is paving the way for better support and community well-being. ?? Read the Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gYcYxuXf

I’ve seen firsthand how battlefield innovations save lives. It’s time we bring that same urgency to U.S. hospitals. In this invited article with The Conversation U.S., we explore how combat-proven medical strategies can be rapidly implemented to save lives here at home and the importance of military-civilian strategic trusted partnerships and collaborations. - "These partnerships aim to save lives on the battlefield. But they also save lives across the U.S. by turning military medical gains into better health care for all." As Director of the CU Center for COMBAT Research in Colorado, we're committed to driving this mission forward. As the article states, “What works in war can work in hospitals—if we move fast enough.” This is about impact. It’s about saving lives. Let’s get it done. Read the article here - "How medical treatments devised for war can quickly be implemented in US hospitals to save?lives" - https://lnkd.in/gW6bgk5z Co-authors - Dr. Adit Ginde and Dr. Arthur Lodge Kellermann

We’re proud to share some exciting news! The CU Center for COMBAT Research is growing quickly, and we’re honored to welcome Dr. Jonathan Boyd to our team as the COMBAT Center scientific lead for Threat Exposure and Medical Countermeasures. Dr. Boyd brings a wealth of expertise in toxicology and pharmacology. His distinguished career has focused on understanding inflammatory responses to chemical, biological, and physical stressors. His leadership in high-impact research—funded by agencies like the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and The National Institutes of Health—has made significant contributions to medical countermeasures and battlefield medicine. As a Professor in the University of Colorado Department of Emergency Medicine and the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy. Dr. Boyd’s expertise will help drive innovation in combat casualty care and medical preparedness. His extensive publication record and recognition, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award, highlight his dedication to advancing science in this critical field. We are thrilled to have Dr. Boyd join the COMBAT Center as we continue to expand and attract top-tier talent committed to saving lives on and off the battlefield. ?? Please join us in welcoming him to the team!

Congratulations to Dr. Ian Stanley!??? Exciting news from the CU Anschutz Research Awards! Ian Stanley, PhD has been recognized with the?2025 Rising Star Research Award, an honor that highlights his exceptional contributions as an emerging leader in research. As an?Assistant Professor of Research in the University of Colorado Department of Emergency Medicine and Psychological Health Lead for the CU Center for COMBAT Research and the University of Colorado Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, Dr. Stanley's work is making a significant impact, and this award is well deserved. ?? Join us in celebrating this achievement and the continued excellence of our research community!