Funded by PCORI | In partnership with the CTSI Core CCET

How do we improve trauma care for rural communities? A University of Utah-led project is finding out—by listening directly to survivors and caregivers.

Co-led by Dr. Marta McCrum (General Surgery) and Dr. Amy Cizik (Orthopaedics), with Dr. Alexandra (Ali) Flis (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) as a Co-Investigator, the project—Building Capacity for PCOR/CER by Engaging Rural Trauma Survivors and Their Recovery Communities—is amplifying the voices of those most impacted.

In Summer and Fall 2025, the team will continue to host virtual engagement and feedback sessions with patients and caregivers from across the country, including rural Utah, Montana, Texas, and Maryland. These 1–2-hour online sessions are designed to identify what matters most during recovery after traumatic injury. Participants receive compensation and the chance to shape future care.

Only at the U: This work is grounded in the mountain west’s unique needs—while influencing national best practices. The project is already supported by the CCET, a core service of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), ensuring a direct line from community engagement to real-world impact.

The result? A stronger, more patient-informed path to recovery, one that understands rural challenges and centers lived experience.

Upcoming: A cross-sector stakeholder session with surgeons, clinicians, OTs, PTs, social workers, adaptive recreation groups, policy experts, and more—plus a dedicated Spanish-speaking patient session this summer.

📢 Get Involved or view flyer
🔗 PCORI Project Link
 📩 Judy Carle
 📩 Heather Williamson