International

The ATLS Program office thanks all ATLS faculty 

for giving us the opportunity to contribute 

what we can for trauma issues worldwide. 

AtLs in Chile Remains strong

C L I C k   O N   I C O N S   T O   S E E   P H O T O S

by Carlos Carvajal, MD, FACS, and 

Froilan Fernandez, MD, FACS

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ATLS in Chile 

Remains Strong

ATLS–France Holds 

Inaugural Course

France Is Now Part 

of the ATLS Family!

ATLS–Nigeria Holds 

Inaugural Course

Site Visit Takes 

Place in Accra

ATLS Coordinator Meeting 

to Take Place in October

RetuRn to Map

About our orgAniz Ation And ContAC t inform Ation

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INTERNATIONAL

August 2010

Only a month after training in Switzerland, representatives 

of ATLS–France held their ATLS inaugural course in Lyon 

under the auspices of Société Française de Chirurgie 

d’Urgence July 5–9, 2010. Eric Voiglio, MD, FACS, provided 

outstanding leadership for the French team with support 

from the ATLS–Europe group. The instructor candidates, 

who demonstrated enthusiasm throughout the course, 

include Jean-Yves Maritano, MD; Frederic Rongieras, 

MD; Yoann Baudoin, MD; Vincent Dubuisson, MD; and 

Benoit Frattini, MD. As for international faculty, Dr. John 

kortbeek (Canada, ATLS International Course Director); 

Pedro Pereira, MD, FACS (Portugal, ATLS–Europe Chair); 

Patrick Schoettker, MD, FACS (Switzerland, ATLS Instructor); 

and Domenic Scharplatz, MD, FACS (Switzerland, ATLS 

Instructor), participated in the Student course. Pascale 

Lavieville (France), Frederic Lodier (France), Laura 

Bruna (Italy, ATLS–Europe), and Jasmine Alkhatib (U.S., 

ATLS International Coordinator) served as the course 

coordinators. Raphael Bonvin, MD (ATLS–Switzerland), 

led the Instructor course discussions as Educator.

The keen course participants carried a variety of 

prehospital, emergency medicine, and surgical 

specialties. As a result, the dialogue during the 

courses provided interesting insight into some 

unique aspects of the French system, including 

where ATLS could support current training and 

system development. Furthermore, ATLS faculty 

members were able to appreciate the strong system 

of medical education and prehospital care in France.

Lyon, France’s second city, was the center of Roman 

Gaul and served as a major cultural and communication 

hub. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, today it is well 

known as the center of French gastronomy. It is also 

famous for its two rivers, the Rhône and the Saone, 

and some quip that Beaujolais wine is Lyon’s third 

river. Additionally, Lyon has a tremendous history of 

contribution to the art and science of surgery and 

medicine. Famous citizens and graduates include:

•

Léopold Ollier (1830–1900), who has been 

called the father of orthopedic surgery.

•

Léon Bérard (1870–1956), a neck surgery specialist, 

who was the first to perform major thoracoplasties.

•

Alexis Carrel (1873–1944), who was awarded 

the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine.

Hosts treated the group to a memorable evening of 

dining in La Croix Rouse, a historic district of Lyon noted 

for its exceptional restaurants that was formerly the 

center of the silk industry in Europe. The evening was 

capped off by a visit to the historic Roman Theatre, 

where a performance of traditional flamenco guitar, 

song, and dance was presented to the Lyonnais. 

Lyon will serve as the administrative center of ATLS in 

France, with the next Student and Instructor courses 

planned for December 2010. Additional course sites 

are to be planned, with early interest from Bordeaux. 

Dr. Eric Voiglio and his team have set the stage for 

a strong beginning. The ATLS Subcommittee, the 

American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, 

and ATLS–Europe welcome France to the ATLS family!

AtLs–France Holds Inaugural Course

by John Kortbeek, MD, FACS 

ATLS International Course Director

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