VRC Site Reviewer Criteria and Application

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Verification, Review, and Consultation (VRC) site reviewer. Listed below is the required criterion for each reviewer role. Reviewer prospects are approved on an “as need” basis.

Please note: We are accepting reviewer applications at this time and will keep them on file for the next call for more reviewers in Summer/Fall 2024.

Applicants who meet all of the below qualifications will be vetted by the Committee on Trauma (COT)-VRC and/or respective specialty reviewers at the Spring Annual COT-VRC meeting or the Clinical Congress COT-VRC meeting in October. Prospects must be approved by at least 75 percent of those voting.

If you are interested and meet all of the criteria, please download the VRC reviewer application form and submit it along with your most updated curriculum vitae and the required letters of nomination to cotvrc@facs.org. Please address letters to Scott Sagraves, MD FACS, VRC Chair.

Trauma Surgeon Reviewer

• Be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in good standing
• Be in active practice and have expertise in the areas of trauma care, trauma center operations, and trauma systems
• Display excellent integrity and communication skills
• Be a current or former trauma medical director (TMD) or a current assistant/associate TMD, trauma PI leadership position, or hold some other leadership position in acute care surgery within your facility (for example, division chief)
• Be an active medical staff in good standing at an ACS-verified trauma center
• Be a current or past member of the national COT, Regional COT, or local state committee
• Obtain two letters of nomination:
  • One from a current VRC reviewer
  • One from a chief of surgery or medical officer from your facility

Pediatric Trauma Surgeon Reviewer

• Be a Fellow of the ACS in good standing
• Be boarded in Pediatric Surgery
• Be in active practice and have expertise in the areas of pediatric trauma care, pediatric trauma center operations, and trauma systems
• Display excellent integrity and communication skills
• Be an active medical staff in good standing at an ACS-verified trauma center
• Be a current or former pediatric TMD or a current pediatric assistant/associate TMD, Trauma PI leadership position, or hold some other pediatric leadership position in acute care surgery within your facility (for example, as division chief in an ACS-verified trauma center)
• Be a current or past member of the national COT, Regional COT, or local state committee
• Obtain two letters of nomination/support:

  • One from a current VRC reviewer

  • One from a chief of pediatric surgery or chief medical officer of pediatrics, or equivalent, from your facility

Emergency Medicine Reviewer

• Be board-certified in emergency medicine.
• Be in active practice and have expertise in the areas of trauma care, trauma center operations and trauma systems.
• Display excellent integrity and communication skills.
• Be an active medical staff in good standing at an ACS verified trauma center.
• Obtain two letters of nomination:
  • One from a current VRC reviewer
  • One from a chief of surgery or chief medical officer from your facility

Orthopaedic Surgeon Reviewer

• Be a Fellow of the ACS in good standing and an active member of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association
• Be an orthopaedic trauma surgeon with active privileges in good standing at a level I or II center
• Be certified with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery with ongoing Maintenance of Certification
• Be a current or prior national COT member
• An orthopaedic trauma surgeon with interest and experience who meets the general criteria for a site reviewer may serve in that capacity, if desired by the ACS
• Obtain two letters of nomination:
  • One from a current VRC reviewer
  • One from a chief of surgery or chief medical officer from your facility

Neurosurgeon Reviewer

• Be a Fellow of the ACS in good standing
• Be in active practice and have expertise in the areas of trauma care, trauma center operations and trauma systems
• Display excellent integrity and communication skills
• Be an active medical staff in good standing
• Be a current or former neurotrauma neurosurgery director, liaison to the trauma program, or hold or have held another leadership position locally or nationally in the field of neurotrauma
• Be a current or past member of the national COT, Regional COT, or local state Committee
• Obtain two letters of nomination:
  • One from a current VRC reviewer
  • One from a chief of surgery or chief medical officer from your facility

Nurse Reviewer

• Be a registered nurse or otherwise clinically, academically, or experientially qualified to be a trauma program manager
• Be in active practice and have expertise in the areas of trauma care, trauma center operations, and trauma systems
• Display excellent integrity and communication skills
• Be an active medical staff in good standing at an ACS-verified trauma center.
• Obtain two letters of nomination:
  • One from a current VRC reviewer
  • One from the chief nursing officer, or equivalent, from your facility