On April 25, more than 700 leaders, clinicians, faculty, staff, and philanthropists gathered in Baltimore for the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Celebration. The signature event, now in its 35th year and themed One Maryland, One Shock Trauma, was held in Weinman Hall, the M&T Bank Exchange, and the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. This year’s celebration honored 51 trauma professionals and first responders whose coordinated efforts saved the life of Chase Lancaster, then a 16-year-old who was critically injured when gunfire broke out at a party in 2024 that was attended by approximately 150 high school students.
As Maryland’s designated trauma hospital for the most severely injured and critically ill patients, the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center has long stood at the forefront of emergency and trauma care. It was here that the concept of the “golden hour” was first developed, and where many of the innovations in modern trauma medicine originated. For decades, Shock Trauma has provided life-saving treatment in the most urgent moments, giving countless patients a second chance at life. Behind this work is an exceptional multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and specialists whose dedication changes lives every day.
Each year, this event provides a special opportunity to commemorate extraordinary medical achievements and honor the professionals behind them. The celebration shines a spotlight on the extraordinary coordination that defines Maryland’s emergency medical system, which serves as an internationally recognized model for trauma care. From 911 dispatchers and EMS crews, to pilots and Maryland State Police medevac teams, and the multidisciplinary team at Shock Trauma, these professionals show up in life’s most critical moments, bringing both compassion and skill when it matters most. This highly coordinated statewide network ensures that patients receive the right care at the right time, with each part of the system playing a critical role in seamless delivery.
At the center of the evening was an inspiring story of survival. Chase Lancaster, now an 18-year-old senior at Northwest High School, was critically injured while attending a party in Urbana in August 2024. The bullet pierced the right side of his chest, nicking the largest vein in the human body and affecting multiple other critical organs, including his diaphragm, liver, stomach, kidney, and heart. Chase lost 70 liters of blood (approximately 14 times the total blood volume in the human body) and required more than 150 units of blood products to survive. Thanks to the rapid actions of first responders, Chase received an emergency whole blood transfusion while aboard a Maryland State Police helicopter, part of a statewide initiative credited with saving lives. He underwent 20 surgeries and spent four months recovering at Shock Trauma and Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital before returning home in December 2024.
In the featured videos, Thomas Scalea, the Honorable Francis X. Kelly Distinguished Professor of Trauma Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Shock Trauma’s Physician-in-Chief, reflected on the severity of Chase’s injuries: “If Chase was not the most badly injured patient we saw that year, he was very close. He was really on the brink of not surviving.” Yet through extraordinary teamwork, innovation, and determination, Chase’s story became one of resilience, hope, and survival.
Watch Chase Lancaster’s Story below
Beyond honoring patient stories and clinical achievements, the celebration also provided a meaningful platform to express deep appreciation for Shock Trauma’s legislative supporters. In 2024, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill 1439 and Senate Bill 1092, which provided long-term stability for trauma center operations and outreach efforts. This landmark legislation represented a pivotal moment for trauma care in Maryland and also directly benefitted Shock Trauma’s 600 team members, strengthening their ability to support the thousands of individuals affected by traumatic injury each year. With several state legislators in the audience, the evening program featured a heartfelt display of gratitude and highlighted how the funding has been used to date, including greater staffing support, enhanced violence prevention programming, increased operating room capacity, significantly augmented fall prevention efforts, and expanded Stop the Bleed trainings statewide.
This year’s event was historic. For the first time in its history, the celebration generated more than $1.8 million in philanthropic support, setting a new benchmark for years to come. These funds will support major renovations to the Trauma Resuscitation Unit – the very hub of Shock Trauma’s life-saving work. Known as the TRU, this unit serves as the initial entry point into Shock Trauma, where thousands of patients each year are first assessed, triaged, and treated with what is already known to be world-class care. Proceeds from the event will help equip the renovated space with state-of-the-art technology and the most advanced tools available, ensuring faster, safer, and more effective treatment while advancing the future of trauma care.
Marylanders are incredibly fortunate to have access to some of the finest trauma care in the world, right here in Baltimore. The celebration exemplifies the extraordinary care and collaboration that define Maryland’s emergency medical system, with Shock Trauma at the heart of an integrated statewide network that serves as a world-class model for trauma care.
Together, we are One Maryland, One Shock Trauma.
Dr. Kristin Barron has been with Shock Trauma 2015. She first found her passion for supporting traumatically injured individuals while working as a physical therapist on the hospital’s critical care units. She now serves as the supervisor for the Shock Trauma Injury Prevention Program, where she leads and coordinates trauma prevention outreach programs throughout the state.
To learn how the Shock Trauma Center for Injury Prevention and Policy can support your community with customized programming, visit umm.edu/prevention and request a Shock Trauma expert come to your community today.
