A native of New Brunswick and 20-year veteran of trauma care in Nova Scotia, Dr. Robert Green has trained in emergency medicine through the University of Manitoba, followed by a two- year trauma and critical care fellowship. At the time he took on the directorship of the NSH Trauma Program nearly 10 years ago, he was working full-time in critical care and .5 FTE in the emergency department. Today, Dr. Green splits his time between the trauma program administration, the new trauma care consult service and critical care with an occasional check-in with his old colleagues in the emergency department.
A particular passion of Dr. Green’s is raising public awareness, through direct exchanges, of primary and secondary preventive measures that can be taken by ordinary citizens, young and old, to save lives. “It has always intrigued me being forward facing with the public and a lot of this job has taught me the importance of that. People really appreciate when someone from health care speaks directly to them and takes the time to answer their questions.”
Furthermore, says Dr. Green, “Many trauma patients–as many as 70% – die before they get to us. We can't save them if they don't get to us.” A recent project of Dr. Green’s involved drama students from Citadel High who, with the assistance of their teacher and recorded by a hired videographer, performed “before and after” skits about on-site trauma care by ordinary people. Dr. Green hopes to take the video and turn it into a TED-talk style of public presentation, starting perhaps at one of his favourite places in Halifax, the Central Library. In addition to his newest plunge into the world of theatre, Dr. Green has conducted research on scooter and bike safety, distracted driving, and resuscitation in the field.
The trauma care program’s involvement with Heal Nova Scotia which began in response to the tragedy currently involves partnership with Dalhousie University researchers investigating intimate partner violence and how that work intersects with trauma. “I think I can help open doors for those researchers”, says Dr. Green. “The whole reason we started Heal Nova Scotia is to bring a new perspective to research work–to what’s important to (Nova Scotians) and not necessarily as important to the researchers.”
