During the COVID-19 pandemic, LJ Punch, MD, FACS, has collaborated with their team at The T STL with PrepareSTL to educate the community about the pandemic and prevention measures. They reported that there were three times as many COVID cases in historically black neighborhoods of St Louis compared to historically white areas. Their tireless efforts on improving the impact of trauma, not just related to COVID19 but several other public health concerns, has been a powerful force in the St. Louis region. Dr. Punch shares their experiences and insights and educates attendees how we can be involved and make a difference.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how to make an impact and be influential in your own community during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Elaborate on how to work more closely with local government officials to make changes
- Learn about opportunities to secure financial support for community projects and endeavors
More about LJ Punch
Dr. Punch is a surgeon, educator, and activist in the St. Louis community. They are a trauma and critical care surgeon who most recently was an associate professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Punch graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 2002 and went on to train at the University of Maryland in general surgery and pursued a critical care fellowship at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. At Washington University, they immediately made a huge impact. They received the 2019 Humanism in Medicine award, 2019 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award, and the 2018–2020 Jerome T. Loeb Teaching Fellowship award. Dr. Punch was chosen by medical students and residents to receive multiple teaching awards.
Dr. Punch started the not-for-profit organization StopTheBleedSTL to promote collaboration between professionals, students, and community members to raise awareness about and address trauma, injury, and violence in the community. Most recently they started "The T," which is an anti-violence center in St. Louis. Dr. Punch shares the knowledge and skills to save lives when victims of violence are severely injured. They have been featured in TEDx, podcasts, and multiple news broadcasts and have brought their message to Washington, DC, and testified before the House Ways and Means Oversight subcommittee on gun violence.
