September 2022
Sokkunthair "Tia"
Kem
,
MSN. RN, FNP
Trauma Service
UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento
,
CA
United States
Due to Tia’s early notification to her team, everyone was armed with the knowledge that they would likely be dealing with multiple victims with multiple gunshot wounds.
Tia was assigned as the swing shift Nurse Practitioner on Trauma Surgery in the Emergency Department at UC Davis Health one night. That evening would evolve into the deadliest mass shooting in Sacramento’s history. Tia received an alert from a friend close to where the shooting occurred telling her about the developing situation. Tia was then able to communicate this to her trauma team and prepare to be able to receive an MCI. Additional interns came down to assist, all trauma bays were prepped and ready to receive patients, and perhaps most key was that due to Tia’s early notification to her team, everyone was armed with the knowledge that they would likely be dealing with multiple victims with multiple gunshot wounds. Tia did not hesitate when she facilitated preparation for an MCI, staying well beyond her scheduled shift to ensure enough trauma-trained provider coverage for all victims of the MCI. I am grateful for Tia’s unwavering dedication to trauma surgery, victims of the mass shooting, and UC Davis Health.