News and Events

2010 News

RENOWNED UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND TRAUMA SURGEON RECEIVES AWARD AT D.C. GALA

See Dr. Scalea's Acceptance Speech

Dr. Thomas M. Scalea, physician-in-chief at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, was honored at the National Italian American Foundation's (NIAF) 35th Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. on October 23, 2010. Dr. Scalea received the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Science and Medicine at the black-tie event with 2,000 people in attendance

Giuliana DePandi Rancic, anchor and managing editor of E! News and star of the Style Network show "Giuliana & Bill," served as the evening's emcee. Danny DeVito, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor, presented honoree Aurelio De Laurentiis, Italian film producer and soccer entrepreneur, with the NIAF United States-Italy Friendship Award. DeVito is also a recipient of the Foundation's 1993 Special Achievement Award in Arts and Entertainment.

Honorees joining Dr. Scalea included Dott. Fulvio Conti, CEO of ENEL; Tom Izzo, head coach of men's basketball at Michigan State University; Christopher J. Nassetta, president & CEO of Hilton Worldwide; and Joe Uva, president and CEO of Univision Communications, Inc.

Dr. Scalea joined the UM Shock Trauma Center in 1997. As Physician-in-Chief, he is responsible for all clinical care and medical administration. In addition, he is the Francis X. Kelly Professor of Trauma Surgery and Director of the School of Medicine's Program in Trauma.

Under Dr. Scalea's guidance, Shock Trauma has become a national and now international resource for injury care. After the earthquake in Sichuan in 2008, Dr. Scalea took the only non-Chinese team invited by the Chinese government to provide medical care to the earthquake victims. Dr. Scalea spearheaded Shock Trauma's efforts after the earthquake in Haiti and his teams were present there from the end of January to July. Dr. Scalea is a prolific researcher contributing to more than 300 scholarly publications and serves on many editorial boards.

Shock Trauma cares for more than 8,000 patients a year. The demand for trauma services has been growing exponentially. As a result, a new, $160 million, 9-story Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower is being constructed. A $35 million fundraising community campaign has been launched to support the new building.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent.

This page was last updated on: May 10, 2012.

For assistance in covering stories about the Shock Trauma Center and to set up interviews with our experts, please contact Cindy Rivers at 410-328-8919 or email media@umm.edu.