American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Archives

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) was founded in 1938 with the purposes to furnish leadership and to foster advances in the surgery of trauma; to afford a forum for the exchange of knowledge pertaining to research, practice and training in the surgery of trauma; to stimulate investigation and teaching in the methods of preventing, correcting and treating injuries from all types of accidents; to enhance the study and practice of the surgery of trauma by establishing lectureships, scholarships, foundations, and appropriate evaluation procedures in the surgery of trauma where appropriate; to afford recognition to those who have contributed to the surgery of trauma by extending to them membership in the Association. Surgery of trauma is that field of medicine which includes investigation, care and rehabilitation of the injured patient.

Founded at a time when traumatic surgery was one of the fastest growing branches in the field of surgery, there was no special interest in trauma among the vast majority of general surgeons. After World War I, there was an attitude against working with fractures, burns, shock or other injuries that were common to the war. However due to America's increasing industrialization, these types of injuries were happening more frequently and causing a quandary for traumatic surgery. Less then ten percent of the papers presented at conferences for the American Surgical, Southern Surgical, Western Surgical, and Pacific Coast Surgical Associations related to trauma. Half of the patients that hospitals admitted were trauma cases, but over ninety percent of doctors who treated these patients had no interest in trauma as a specialty.

At the 1937 meeting for the Western Surgical Association a group of six surgeons discussed this lack of interest in the treatment of surgery of trauma. Several days later, at the Southern Surgical Association, others joined the dialogue about how to improve the surgery of trauma. A committee formed to look into the organization of a new society focusing on the surgery of trauma. The committee featured Edgar Gilcreest, as the chair and Ralph Carothers as secretary. Gilcreest and Carothers then traveled across the country interviewing surgeons and raising interest in a new trauma society. After gauging interest, they planned an organizational meeting for the American Association of Traumatic Surgery (AATS) on June 14, 1938. Before the organizational meeting, they sent letters to 300 surgeons in the United States and Canada; over 175 responses came back supporting the formation of the AATS. In its first year of existence, the association changed its name several times, but at the second annual meeting the organization formerly identified itself as the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST).

The AAST is a scientific society that is limited in size with membership conferred only by election. Initially, 85% of the members were to be general surgeons so that the AAST would not become a too-narrowly-focused specialty organization. As time went on, the membership became more lenient for including surgical specialists. Members are expected to be active in their particular specialty board, usually either the American Board of Surgery (ABS) or the American College of Surgery (ACS). Kellogg Speed M.D., first president and founding member of the AAST, also served on the Board of Governors for ACS.

The AAST meets annually with the scientific sessionsbeing the most anticipated. The scientific sessions feature paper presentations by fellows and their guests followed by discussion. Initially, the Secretary organized the scientific program. In 1963, the Board of Managers created the position of Program Chairman to assume the responsibility of organizing the scientific sessions; in 1966 this duty was transferred to the Recorder.

In 1959, after the program committee accepted an unparalleled number of papers it became apparent that the AAST needed to develop its own journal. The Journal of Trauma, the first journal devoted solely to trauma, was published in 1961. Initially the journal was published bi-monthly, but became a monthly publication in 1969. Changes in format took place in 1970 that allowed a thirty percent increase in content. The format changed again in 1978, adopting a style more generally used by other medical journals. Initially funded with a portion of membership dues, it later became self-sufficient and was able to return a profit.

Notable Accomplishments

In 1956, AAST president Charles G. Johnston, M.D. proposed the AAST, the American College of Surgery, and the National Safety Council combine their efforts to form the Joint Action Program. Its purpose is to promote accident prevention and better emergency care of the injured. To accomplish this, the program aimed to improve training of ambulance personnel, require ambulances to carry full equipment, and require ambulances to conform to all laws and regulations governing ordinary traffic. In 1961, the Surgeon's Award for Distinguished Service to Safety by the National Safety Council was awarded to Johnston for his work with the Joint Action Program.

One of the AAST's current key resources is the National Trauma Data Bank. It was started by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and it holds over one million records from 405 trauma centers. The AAST also continues to fund fellowships and trauma research to promote the training of trauma surgeons. Its legislative action program has also become more active. A current focus is the National Trauma/EMS Systems Program within the Health Resources and Services Administration. It works to support statewide trauma system development within states' EMS systems.

Sources: http://www.aast.org/ viewed July 11, 2005.