Dr. Ashley Williams-Hogue, a trauma surgeon at USA Health University Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, is pleased that the U.S. Surgeon General has declared gun violence a public health crisis. In her work, she witnesses how gun violence destroys lives on a daily basis. She views gun violence as a disease and is concerned about the impact it has on her patients.
Out of the thousands of patients she treats each year, about a quarter of them are victims of gunshot wounds. Dr. Williams-Hogue shared that patients who come in with gunshot wounds have a 40% chance of returning to the hospital with another gunshot wound, and 20% of those subsequent injuries are fatal. She has been advocating for solutions to the issue, which is why she recently met with medical professionals at the White House.
During the meeting, the conversation revolved around the role of the trauma system in fighting gun violence and what the medical community can do to make a difference. Dr. Williams-Hogue emphasized the importance of community involvement in addressing the problem. She believes that both national and local efforts are needed to combat gun violence effectively.
There is a collective responsibility to take action to address gun violence, and Dr. Williams-Hogue is committed to working towards solutions in her community of Mobile. She believes that sustainable change requires collaborative efforts at both the national and local levels.