Neurosurgical Public Health: What the heck is that?

This session will focus on the critical role of public health in society as well as specific to the field of pediatric neurosurgery. Firearm injury represents the #1 means of death for our nation’s children. The effect on survivors is lifelong. The experience of waiting in the pediatric emergency department after a school shooting only to find that none of the victims survived has had an indelible effect on the speaker. The lecture will focus on his journey from pediatric neurosurgeon of 30 years, to narrative medicine writer, to firearm safety and public health advocate, including his steps and missteps along the way. Comments and questions are welcome from the audience.