CeaseFirePA, a statewide organization that works to reduce gun violence, will honor Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, George S. Peters, MD and Louise C. Peters Chair and Professor of Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and Surgeon-in-Chief of Temple University Health System, and Scott Charles, MAPP, Trauma Outreach Coordinator at Temple University Hospital, at its annual Keystone Courage event on Sunday, April 7. The two will receive this year’s Lighting the Way Forward award in recognition of their advocacy.
“We’re proud that our mission to raise awareness about gun violence as a public health issue coincides with CeaseFirePA’s,” Dr. Goldberg said. “As a trauma surgeon, I unfortunately see first-hand what gun violence does to a human body as well as the toll it takes on communities. Even the loss of one life, one future, is one too many, which is why Scott and I continue to advocate for change. We’re honored that CeaseFirePA has chosen to recognize our efforts.”
“It is a privilege to receive this award from CeaseFirePA,” said Charles, who meets nearly every gunshot victim who enters the emergency room at Temple University Hospital. “Until the day comes when the number of gunshot victims is zero, we’ll continue to spread the message that gun violence is a public health crisis, and to try to address that in any way we can.”
Dr. Goldberg and Scott Charles co-created the Cradle to Grave and Turning Point programs at Temple University Hospital with those aims in mind.
Cradle to Grave, which began in 2006, is one of the few hospital-based violence prevention initiatives in the country. During each two-hour-long session, which starts in the trauma bay and ends in the morgue, attendees witness the realities of gun violence through the story of 16-year-old Lamont Adams. Every year, more than 1,000 individuals take part, and the program has completed presentations to more than 13,000 people overall.
Turning Point is an inpatient intervention initiative that seeks to reach survivors of gun violence while they are in recovery and dissuade them from retaliation and re-injury.
The Keystone Courage event will take place on April 7 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the R2L Restaurant on the 37th Floor of Two Liberty Place in Center City, Philadelphia. This year’s main honoree is Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA, will attend as a special guest and deliver remarks.