Q & A with Laura Haines

Laura Haines, M.D., is an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, the Trauma Medical Director, Medical Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Program Director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship. Laura Haines recently oversaw UC San Diego’s Level One Trauma Center verification, a process that ensures trauma centers are providing quality patient care.

March 20, 2025 | Interview by Samantha Phan

Why did you choose to pursue trauma surgery?

I chose to pursue trauma surgery for two main reasons. First, I have a personality that thrives on the unexpected, which there is plenty of in trauma surgery. Second, I take great pride in being part of a team that is always standing at the ready to care for patients who suffer unexpected, life-changing injuries. It is truly the team approach and complexity of care that I enjoy.

Since you started your trauma career at UC San Diego, how have you seen the division change over time?

When I started as faculty in 2014, we were a division of six people with three service lines. We have grown since then — we have expanded our services, increased our faculty and now have a dedicated emergency general surgery service. Even more, how we function together continues to develop, ensuring we are taking great care of patients in all phases of care and providing excellent outcomes. To me, the biggest testament to the success and growth of our division has been the number of trainees seeking opportunities to do research with us and the number of residents seeking fellowship training in our specialty.  

What do you think makes the UC San Diego trauma program unique?

What makes us stand out is how our trauma team is integrated with the hospital. Our trauma center sits within our surgical intensive care unit and our faculty and staff work in both. That continuity of care truly allows us to have a high-functioning and extremely cohesive team.

I feel incredibly lucky to work in a trauma center with other providers who are equally committed to the mission of trauma care. The San Diego County trauma system, at 40 years old, is one of the oldest and most mature trauma systems in the country. Being a part of this system allows us to get injured patients to the hospital quickly and give them the absolute best care possible. 

In my humble opinion, we are also the quadruple threat — our multidisciplinary team and division are incredibly productive in providing high-quality patient-centered care, academic research, educational excellence and leadership contributions to our respective specialties nationally and internationally.

UC San Diego is renewing its Level One Trauma Center verification. Can you tell us about this process?

To be verified by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma as a Level One Trauma Center requires a significant amount of support from our teams and the hospital system. Every three years our center has a verification visit to evaluate how we work as a system to ensure quality care to injured patients. They review our policies, procedures, clinical cases and improvement processes, as well as how we all work together to ensure optimal care. To receive a verification means we meet and exceed all the criteria required to be a Level One Trauma Center. The preparation for this visit started three years ago, immediately following our last visit.

Why is it essential that UC San Diego goes through this process?

When UC San Diego took over this hospital in the late sixties and early seventies, we promised to continue taking care of the people of San Diego County. So, it aligns with our vision, mission and promise as an academic medical center to go through this verification process. Being a Level One Trauma Center means we provide the absolute best care to our community at a moment’s notice.

As a longtime surgeon in the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, what are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the work we do as a team to take care of patients, educate the next generation of physicians and contribute to the body of research that allows us to improve patient care. The Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery has an incredible breadth and depth of talented people who I am honored to have the opportunity to work with. This trauma system and trauma center existed long before my time in San Diego, I am proud to have the opportunity to maintain the tradition of outstanding care and carry on the academic work of those who came before me.