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Trauma Research & Education Foundation (TREF)

TREF is on a Mission

The Trauma Research and Education Foundation (TREF) is dedicated to reducing the number of trauma related deaths and injuries in San Diego County through awareness, education, prevention programs, and associated research programs.

TREF is Committed

Through research, advocacy, community collaboration, fund development, and focusing efforts on research informed interventions and programs, TREF demonstrates stewardship to the San Diego County Regional Trauma System through our commitment to trauma, burn, and injury prevention and to state of the art trauma medicine. San Diego's Regional Trauma system consists of six trauma centers; Palomar Medical Center, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego (Regional Pediatric Center), Scripps Memorial Hospital-La Jolla, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Sharp Memorial Hospital, and UC San Diego Health System (Level 1 Trauma Center and Regional Burn Center). The trauma system serves the residents and visitors of San Diego County, and advances the field of Trauma Medicine locally, nationally and internationally.

TREF is dedicated and passionate about trauma and injury prevention, exemplary trauma response and treatment, and physical and emotional rehabilitation for victims of trauma and their families. TREF's core purpose is to educate, train, and inspire medical professionals, emergency response teams, community groups and schools, and the public in ways that help people lead healthy active lives and that save lives and reduce traumatic injuries due to preventable causes.

TREF is Accountable

TREF's volunteer board is made up of the Trauma Program Managers from each of our San Diego Trauma Centers, highlighting our collaborative trauma and injury prevention efforts. Our members and collaborative partners share our commitment to stewardship and to making a difference in the lives of those who live in San Diego County and beyond.

  • TREF trains trauma professionals, and encourages the active learning of the trauma community, including providing the ENA Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum (TNCC) to over 250 trauma nurses each year.
  • TREF raises funds to facilitate research and knowledge sharing between trauma professionals.
  • TREF enhances collaborative efforts between trauma centers and the community.
  • TREF fosters safety education and injury prevention activities to reduce preventable deaths and injuries.

Learn More

Visit the TREF website to learn more about ongoing Injury Prevention programs in San Diego County.