Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about trauma and acute care

Trauma surgeons / Trauma acute care surgeons are fellowship trained and board certified in both general surgery and surgical critical care. Inova’s trauma surgeons have vast experience in the management of serious traumatic injuries and focus on customized care for each patient.
A trauma patient has had sudden and severe physical injuries, “traumatic injuries”, requiring immediate medical attention.

Acute Care Surgery takes the fundamentals of trauma care with its team-based approach and continuous quality improvement and applies them to patients with urgent surgical conditions.

Patient care

We provide around-the-clock intensive care unit management of patients with critical illness. In addition, we routinely treat patients with general surgery needs such as:

  • Biliary disease
  • Appendix disease
  • Hernia
  • Endocrine conditions
  • Upper and lower endoscopy needs

Rather than being treated by a single practitioner, patients are treated by a team of experienced surgeons, providing multidisciplinary care in both in-patient and out-patient settings. We work with surgeons throughout Inova’s surgical specialties to provide our expertise in critical care situations.

video thumbnail
How Inova's team rallied around taking care of one of their own
video thumbnail
Inova is home to the finest trauma surgeons and emergency medicine teams
video thumbnail
Cal's story: Lifesaving care after a devastating accident

Research and affiliations

The Trauma Acute Care Surgery team participates in clinical research and multi-institutional trials to improve patient outcomes regionally and nationally. Our surgeons participate as committee members of national organizations including the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American Trauma Society, Panamerican Trauma Society, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Surgical Critical Care Program Directors Society, and Western Trauma Association.

Locations

Ambulatory clinics for follow-up appointments

Division and System Chief, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Paula Ferrada, MD
Paula A. Ferrada, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
23

Trauma Medical Director – Fairfax

Stephen Varga, MD
Stephen E. Varga, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
18

Inova Trauma Acute Care Surgery Team - Fairfax

David P. Blake, MD
David P. Blake, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
34
Elizabeth Franco Cadavid, MD
Elizabeth Franco, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Clinical Interests
Colorectal Surgery, Gallbladder Surgery, Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer, Hernia Problems/Surgery and Treatments, Minimally Invasive Surgery
Years of Experience
30
George Kasotakis, MD
George Kasotakis, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
24
Stefan Leichtle, MD
Stefan W. Leichtle, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
16
Edmond Ng, MD
Edmond K. Ng, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine
Clinical Interests
Gallbladder Surgery, Hernia Problems/Surgery and Treatments, Stomach Disorders and Treatment
Years of Experience
28
Jennifer Schwartz, MD
Jennifer A. Schwartz, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
16
Hani Seoudi, MD
Hani M. Seoudi, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
40
Dina Tabello, DO
Dina Tabello, DO
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
12
Erik Teicher, MD
Erik J. Teicher, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Neurocritical Care
Clinical Interests
Gallbladder Surgery, Hernia Problems/Surgery and Treatments, Stomach Disorders and Treatment
Years of Experience
20
Abdullah Wafa, MD
Abdullah Wafa, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
10
Lauren Benz, NP
Lauren M. Benz, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Cara Caputy, FNP
Cara V. Caputy, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Sun Cho, NP
Sun M. Cho, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Ellen Cordova, PA
Ellen Cordova, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Adam DeMey, PA
Adam DeMey, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Lindsey Knight, FNP
Lindsey M. Knight, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Jonathan Messing, NP
Jonathan A. Messing, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Melanie Morell, FNP
Melanie S. Morell, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Jennifer Sherman, NP
Jennifer Z. Sherman, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner

Trauma Medical Director – Loudoun

Mohamad Zanbrakji, MD
Mohamad Zanbrakji, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
12

Inova Trauma Acute Care Surgery Team - Loudoun

Rahil Dharia, DO
Rahil Dharia, DO
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
10
Charles Harris, MD
Charles T. Harris, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
14
Benjamin Palachick, MD
Benjamin J. Palachick, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
12
Kathryn Cameron, PA
Kathryn E. Cameron, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Alexis Doherty, NP
Alexis L. Doherty, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Alison MacDonald, PA
Alison L. Goedeck, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Darren Hunt, NP
Darren J. Hunt, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Elizabeth Kurt, FNP
Elizabeth Kurt, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Hinda Mezaache, PA
Hinda Y. Mezaache, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Ruben Perez, FNP
Ruben A. Perez, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Megan Pirowski, NP
Megan F. Pirowski, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Christopher Rankin, NP
Christopher J. Rankin, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Catherine Staats, NP
Catherine M. Staats, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Laura Burke, FNP
Laura N. Burke, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Lilly Zenor, PA
Lilly M. Zenor, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant