Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/138456
photoS CourteSy of aKroN geNeraL meDiCaL CeNter +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +++ + HoSPITAL SPoTLIGHT +++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nicholas DiNicola, mD, gregory vrabec, mD, and William Kurtz, mD Orthopaedic Traumatology @ akron General A by robert Janek at home, at work, at play and in between. When it comes to traumatic injuries, Akron General is equipped and staffed to provide the highest level of care. That's part of its verification as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). "Being a verified Level I Trauma Center means Akron General offers the technology, staffing and expertise to treat all injuries — even the most severe," says Gregory Vrabec, MD, Program Director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program. "Our Trauma Center is an example of a number of highly specialized emergency centers of care at Akron General, including stroke and chest pain centers, so we can handle anything." CCIDENTS HAPPEN — 22 | Cleveland/Akron/Canton MD News Almost 70% of trauma cases require orthopaedic surger y. To meet the demand, Akron General has three fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons — reportedly more than any other hospital in the Akron/Canton area. In addition to Dr. Vrabec, they include Nicholas DiNicola, MD, and William Kurtz, MD. Together, these three specialists treat a broad range of musculoskeletal injuries, from simple isolated fractures to complex broken bones and life-threatening fractures of the pelvis. Subspecialized Surgeons Dr. Vrabec is a graduate of University of Alberta (Canada) Medical School. After orthopaedic residency training at Akron General, he received fellowship training in orthopaedic trauma at ■ MDNEWS.COM ■ JULY-AUGUST 2013 St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and in adult and trauma reconstruction at Sunnybrook Medical Center, also in Toronto. Since 1994, he has been a member of Akron General's medica l sta ff and a clinica l professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). Like Dr. Vrabec, both Dr. Kurtz and Dr. DiNicola received their residency training at Akron General. In fact, they were classmates, and Dr. Vrabec was one of their teachers. "Dr. Vrabec was a pretty big influence on what we chose to do and what we now do," says Dr. DiNicola. Dr. DiNicola is a graduate of The Ohio State Universit y College of Medicine and completed his fellowship training in orthopaedic trauma at