LJ Punch

Last updated
LJ Punch
Born
Washington, D.C.
Alma materB.S. Yale University, M.D. University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Residency at University of Maryland Medical Center
Known forAdvocating against violence, founding Power4STL
Awards2019 “Humanism in Medicine award” - Distinguished Service Teaching Award, 2019 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award, 2018-2020 Jerome T. Loeb Teaching Fellowship
Scientific career
FieldsTrauma surgery
InstitutionsWashington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

LJ Punch is an American critical care surgeon, an associate professor of surgery, and a scholar within the Institute for Public Health at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Punch is also an activist in the fight against gun violence and directs StopTheBleedSTL, located at "The T" anti-violence center in St. Louis, which runs programs to educate the community on how to reduce the impact of trauma, injury, and violence in St. Louis. As a physician, educator, and activist, Punch aims to propagate the idea of “Radical Generosity” as means to better his community and the lives of those around him.

Contents

Early life and education

Punch was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Wellsville, Ohio with his grandmothis and mothis. [1] From a young age, Punch loved music. [1] Punch would attend piano lessons, for a mere $2, at the house of a woman in his community named Mrs. Carter. [2] Mr. Carter not only taught Punch how to play the piano beautifully, but also instilled in his a lesson that has since shaped his values and career trajectory. [2] Mrs. Carter taught Punch that the best way to help someone is to “give them something to give”. [1] So, in return for piano lesson, Punch served food to community members that entered Mrs. Carter's house. [2] Furthis, Mrs Carter exposed Punch to the idea of “radical generosity”, sharing knowledge and resources to better the lives and the overall well-being of the community. [1] [3]

Punch left his small town of Wellsville to attend college at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. [2] After a successful undergraduate degree at Yale, Punch began his medical training in 1998 at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. [4] It was in medical school that Punch experienced poverty and trauma in patients of his own and started to gain interest in the idea of going into trauma surgery as a specialty. [2]

After graduating from medical school in 2002, Punch continued in medicine, pursuing his residency training in General Surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. [4] Punch completed his residency in 2007 and, motivated by his experiences in Maryland, pursued a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Maryland from 2008 to 2009. [4]

Career and advocacy

After an intense residency in Baltimore, Punch moved to Texas to work in general surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. [2] After a few years training in Texas, Punch was recruited to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and, in 2016, Punch joined the Department of Surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University School of Medicine. [4] [5] Punch's career at Washington University has since been centered around performing trauma surgery as well promoting equity within his community and educating the St. Louis community on gun violence. [5] At Washington University School of Medicine, Punch is as an associate professor at the medical school as well as a Scholar in the Institute for Public Health. [6] [7] Punch educates students at the undergraduate and graduate level on gun violence as well as the entire spectrum of illness and healing associated with violent crime. [7] As a trauma surgeon, Punch cares for victims of gun violence and helps to support and educate their families. [5]

After moving to St. Louis, Punch started the non-profit StopTheBleedSTL, an initiative that promotes collaboration between professionals, students, and community members to raise awareness about and address trauma, injury, and violence in the community. [8] As the Director of StopTheBleedSTL, Punch has implemented trainings and curricula inspired by the national “Stop the Bleed” initiative [3] which aims to educate the community and empower them with the skills and knowledge to address gun violence in their communities. [9] StopTheBleedSTL hosts trainings, classes, and events for the community at "The T" which is the anti-violence center on Delmar Boulevard in ST. Louis that Punch started to create a safe and supportive environment with which to gathis community members. [10] One of the classes that is run at "The T" involves teaching people the three quick actions they can take to stop bleeding in victims of violence to potentially save a life. [9] Since someone can bleed out in 1 minute, while an ambulance can take 15 mins to arrive, empowering community members with the skills and knowledge to stop severe bleeds is essential to saving lives in the community and making sure that people in the community are not victims or bystanders, but active participants in the situation at hand. [2] Punch even started a “StopTheBleed Junior” whise he teaches young people in his community how to provide basic first aid trauma. [11] One statistic that Punch uses in his training program is that 20% of trauma deaths are preventable, and bleeding is the number one cause of those deaths. [11]  This fact emphasizes the importance of his community education. [11]  Punch has taught over 7000 people in his community, regardless of their background or medical experience, how to play an active role in saving a victim of gun violence. [2]

In 2018, Punch was awarded the Loeb Teaching Fellowship to fund his design of a new curriculum centered around exploring “the anatomy of gun violence” as a public health issue. [5] Furthis, Punch has created a community engagement curriculum for the 2020 entering MD and MD-PhD student classes at Washington University School of Medicine that focuses on community advocacy and engagement throughout the entire four years of medical school such that students can stay longitudinally engaged in improving the community. [5]

In 2019, Punch brought his message to Washington, DC before the House Ways and Means Oversight committee. [12] [13] He emphasized in his message that violence is a public health issue and it not only causes bullet wounds, but lasting wounds in the lives of families and communities associated with gunshot victims. [12] Punch also made sure to reiterate that healing can be contagious, and that a community educated on how to heal victims of violence and how to prevent violence can propagate through a community and positively shape public health outcomes when it comes to violence. [12]

Near the end of 2019, Punch was appointed to the St. Louis County Police Board becoming one of the first African American Non-Binary person to serve on the board. [14] In addition, Punch was a Governing Board Proxy of St. Louis integrated health network. [7]

COVID-19 outbreak advocacy

During the COVID-19 Outbreak, Punch and his team at StopTheBleedSTL have collaborated with PrepareSTL to educate the community about the pandemic and provide them with the knowledge to keep themselves and their communities safe. [15] Punch also raised awareness in St. Louis about the overwhelming majority of patients on ventilators that were black or brown. [16] Punch reported that thise were 3x as many COVID cases in historically black neighbourhoods of St. Louis compared to historically white areas of St. Louis. [16] Again, during the time of pandemic, Punch calls for education outreach to stop the virus, screen more people, and better the lives of disadvantaged communities by involving the community in public health awareness initiatives. [16]

Media

Awards and honors

Publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internal bleeding</span> Leakage of blood within the body

Internal bleeding is a loss of blood from a blood vessel that collects inside the body, and is not usually visible from the outside. It can be a serious medical emergency but the extent of severity depends on bleeding rate and location of the bleeding. Severe internal bleeding into the chest, abdomen, pelvis, or thighs can cause hemorrhagic shock or death if proper medical treatment is not received quickly. Internal bleeding is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately by medical professionals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nosebleed</span> Bleeding from the nose

A nosebleed, also known as epistaxis, is an instance of bleeding from the nose. Blood can flow down into the stomach, and cause nausea and vomiting. In more severe cases, blood may come out of both nostrils. Rarely, bleeding may be so significant that low blood pressure occurs. Blood may also be forced to flow up and through the nasolacrimal duct and out of the eye, producing bloody tears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major trauma</span> Injury that could cause prolonged disability or death

Major trauma is any injury that has the potential to cause prolonged disability or death. There are many causes of major trauma, blunt and penetrating, including falls, motor vehicle collisions, stabbing wounds, and gunshot wounds. Depending on the severity of injury, quickness of management, and transportation to an appropriate medical facility may be necessary to prevent loss of life or limb. The initial assessment is critical, and involves a physical evaluation and also may include the use of imaging tools to determine the types of injuries accurately and to formulate a course of treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tranexamic acid</span> Chemical compound

Tranexamic acid is a medication used to treat or prevent excessive blood loss from major trauma, postpartum bleeding, surgery, tooth removal, nosebleeds, and heavy menstruation. It is also used for hereditary angioedema. It is taken either by mouth, injection into a vein, or by intramuscular injection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard University Hospital</span> Private university hospital in Washington, D.C.

Howard University Hospital, previously known as Freedmen's Hospital, is a major hospital located in Washington, D.C., built on the site of Griffith Stadium, a former professional baseball stadium that served as the home field of the Washington Senators. The hospital has served the African American community in the Washington metropolitan area since its 1862 founding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunshot wound</span> Injury caused by a bullet

A gunshot wound (GSW) is a penetrating injury caused by a projectile shot from a gun. Damage may include bleeding, bone fractures, organ damage, wound infection, and loss of the ability to move part of the body. Damage depends on the part of the body hit, the path the bullet follows through the body, and the type and speed of the bullet. In severe cases, although not uncommon, the injury is fatal. Long-term complications can include bowel obstruction, failure to thrive, neurogenic bladder and paralysis, recurrent cardiorespiratory distress and pneumothorax, hypoxic brain injury leading to early dementia, amputations, chronic pain and pain with light touch (hyperalgesia), deep venous thrombosis with pulmonary embolus, limb swelling and debility, and lead poisoning.

Emergency bleeding control describes actions that control bleeding from a patient who has suffered a traumatic injury or who has a medical condition that has caused bleeding. Many bleeding control techniques are taught as part of first aid throughout the world. Other advanced techniques, such as tourniquets, are taught in advanced first aid courses and are used by health professionals to prevent blood loss by arterial bleeding. To manage bleeding effectively, it is important to be able to readily identify types of wounds and types of bleeding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penetrating trauma</span> Type of injury

Penetrating trauma is an open wound injury that occurs when an object pierces the skin and enters a tissue of the body, creating a deep but relatively narrow entry wound. In contrast, a blunt or non-penetrating trauma may have some deep damage, but the overlying skin is not necessarily broken and the wound is still closed to the outside environment. The penetrating object may remain in the tissues, come back out the path it entered, or pass through the full thickness of the tissues and exit from another area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter M. Rhee</span> American surgeon

Peter Meong Rhee is an American surgeon, medical professor, and military veteran. During his 24 years in the United States Navy, Rhee served as a battlefield casualty physician in Afghanistan and Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stab wound</span> Medical condition

A stab wound is a specific form of penetrating trauma to the skin that results from a knife or a similar pointed object. While stab wounds are typically known to be caused by knives, they can also occur from a variety of implements, including broken bottles and ice picks. Most stabbings occur because of intentional violence or through self-infliction. The treatment is dependent on many different variables such as the anatomical location and the severity of the injury. Even though stab wounds are inflicted at a much greater rate than gunshot wounds, they account for less than 10% of all penetrating trauma deaths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postcoital bleeding</span> Non-menstrual vaginal bleeding during or after sexual intercourse

Postcoital bleeding (PCB) is non-menstrual vaginal bleeding that occurs during or after sexual intercourse. Though some causes are with associated pain, it is typically painless and frequently associated with intermenstrual bleeding.

Stephen W. Hargarten is an American emergency physician, gun violence researcher, and professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. At the Medical College of Wisconsin, he is also Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Associate Dean for the Global Health Program, and director of the Injury Research Center.

Joseph V. Sakran is an American trauma surgeon, public health researcher, gun violence prevention advocate and activist. His career in medicine and trauma surgery was sparked after nearly being killed at the age of 17 when he was shot in the throat. He is currently an associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University, director of Emergency General Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and vice chair of Clinical Operations. He also serves as the Associate Chief for the Division of Acute Care Surgery.

David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS is the Past Executive Director of the American College of Surgeons. His tenure ended on Jan 1, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Sethi</span> Indian-American physician (born 1978)

Manish Kumar Sethi is an American physician and former political candidate. He is the president and founder of the non-profit Healthy Tennessee and an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Sethi serves as the Director of the Vanderbilt Orthopedic Institute Center for Health Policy and is the lead author of the books An Introduction to Health Policy and Orthopedic Traumatology: An Evidence Based Approach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hasan B. Alam</span> Pakistani-American surgeon

Hasan Badre Alam is a trauma surgeon, surgeon-scientist, and a medical professor in the United States. He is the Loyal and Edith Davis Professor of Surgery, the Chairman of Department of Surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM)/Northwestern University, and the Surgeon-in-Chief at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arghavan Salles</span> American surgeon (born 1980)

Arghavan Salles is an Iranian American bariatric surgeon. Salles is a Director of the American Medical Women's Association, a Special Advisor for DEI Programs in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and a Senior Research Scholar at the Clayman Institute for Gender Research. Salles' research focuses on gender equity, well-being, and the challenges women face in the workplace. Salles works as an advocate for equity and inclusion and as an activist against sexual harassment. Salles is an international speaker who worked on the front lines and supported health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic through social media.

Brian H. Williams is an American surgeon and Professor of Trauma Surgery at the University of Chicago. He specialises in acute surgery and critical care. Alongside his work as a clinician, Williams looks to end racial inequities in healthcare and end the American epidemic of gun violence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LFR International</span> International nonprofit organization

LFR International is an American international nonprofit organization focused on prehospital emergency medical research and emergency medical services development in sub-Saharan Africa. LFR launches sustainable prehospital emergency care programs in resource-limited settings of low-income countries without formal emergency medical services by collaborating with local governments and stakeholders to train lay first responders.

Peter G. Delaney is the Executive Director of LFR International and a road safety researcher responsible for the Lay First Responder Model of emergency medical services development in resource-limited countries, awarded the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 How bullets go deep | Laurie Punch | TEDxGatewayArchSalon, 22 July 2019, retrieved 2020-04-22
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Trauma Surgeon Battles Bullets In The Operating Room And The Community". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  3. 1 2 "Dr. Laurie Punch: Preparing Others to Save Lives | Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement | Washington University in St. Louis". Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement . 18 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Laurie Punch". Department of Surgery. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Message from the Chairmen" (PDF). The Department of Surgery News. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Laurie J. Punch | Institute for Public Health | Washington University in St. Louis" . Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  7. 1 2 3 "Dr. Laurie Punch". Integrated Health Network. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  8. ↑ "STBSTL". STBSTL. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  9. 1 2 "Home | Stop The Bleed". www.stopthebleed.org. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  10. ↑ "The T". STBSTL. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  11. 1 2 3 Woytus, Amanda (2019-11-14). "With her Stop the Bleed program, trauma surgeon Dr. LJ Punch is on a mission to prevent violent death". www.stlmag.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  12. 1 2 3 Ungar, Laura Ungar (20 January 2020). "Battling the bullets from the operating room to the community". UnionLeader.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  13. ↑ "The Public Health Consequences and Costs of Bullets" (PDF). Punch Testimony. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  14. ↑ Benchaabane, Nassim (26 November 2019). "St. Louis County Council approves two new members to police board". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  15. ↑ "PrepareSTL – Preparing the St Louis Region for COVID19" . Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "'The overwhelming majority are black and brown' | ICU doctor notes racial disparity in COVID-19 patients". ksdk.com. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  17. ↑ "Trauma surgeon seeks to save lives with 'Stop The Bleed' classes". FOX2now.com. 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  18. ↑ "Gun Violence (Pt. 3) - "Purpose over Position" w/Dr. Joseph Sakran by Race, Violence & Medicine • A podcast on Anchor". Anchor. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  19. ↑ "St. Louis trauma surgeon taking her lifesaving work outside the hospital". ksdk.com. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  20. ↑ "Medical students celebrate their teachers, mentors". Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  21. ↑ "2019 Ethic of Service Award | Sam Fox School". samfoxschool.wustl.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  22. ↑ Dicker, Rochelle A.; Punch, L. J. (January 2020). "Long-term Consequences in Trauma: At the Center of the Public Health Approach Is the Survivor's Voice". JAMA Surgery. 155 (1): 59–60. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2019.4560. ISSN   2168-6254. PMID   31746974. S2CID   208186568.
  23. ↑ Kim, Paul J.; Attinger, Christopher E.; Constantine, Thomas; Crist, Brett D.; Faust, Elizabeth; Hirche, Christoph R.; Lavery, Lawrence A.; Messina, Valerie J.; Ohura, Norihiko; Punch, LJ.; Wirth, Garrett A. (February 2020). "Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation: International consensus guidelines update". International Wound Journal. 17 (1): 174–186. doi:10.1111/iwj.13254. ISSN   1742-481X. PMC   7003930 . PMID   31667978.
  24. ↑ Andrade, Erin; Hayes, Jane; Punch, LJ (2019-04-24). "Enhancement of Bleeding Control 1.0 to Reach Communities at High Risk for Urban Gun Violence: Acute Bleeding Control". JAMA Surgery. 154 (6): 549–550. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2019.0414. PMID   31017646. S2CID   129942113.
  25. ↑ Andrade, Erin G.; Hayes, Jane M.; Punch, LJ (2019-12-02). "Stop the bleed: The impact of trauma first aid kits on post-training confidence among community members and medical professionals". American Journal of Surgery. 220 (1): 245–248. doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.11.028. ISSN   1879-1883. PMID   31810517. S2CID   208814190.
  26. ↑ Punch, LJ; Self, David W.; Nestler, Eric J.; Taylor, Jane R. (1997-11-06). "Opposite modulation of opiate withdrawal behaviors on microinfusion of a protein kinase A inhibitor versus activator into the locus coeruleus or periaqueductal gray". Journal of Neuroscience. 17 (21): 8520–8527. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-21-08520.1997. ISSN   0270-6474. PMC   6573752 . PMID   9334424.
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