Trauma Center at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center

PeaceHealth Southwest's Trauma Center is a Washington state verified Level II trauma center. It is one of three state-designated trauma centers in the Portland metropolitan area and is the only one in Southwest Washington. This trauma center oversees the quality of trauma care in six Southwest Washington counties and is equipped to handle any complex or severe traumas with a multi-disciplinary approach. Our team treats almost 3,000 trauma patients each year.

The team consists of 11 surgeons who are all board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care, and four physician assistants who assist the surgeon in taking care of patients in the ED, ICU, OR, and in clinic. Together, these 15 members are there when the injured patient arrives in the emergency department, round daily in the ICU and ward, arrange the discharge, and continue the care in clinic. We have two surgeons on at a time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. 

PeaceHealth Southwest Trauma Center is designated center equipped to handle any complexity and severity of a trauma.  The center has a multi-disciplinary team consisting of:

• Trauma surgeons with additional expertise in acute care surgery and surgical critical care
• Emergency Medicine Specialists with expertise in stabilization of acute, life-threatening illness.
• Orthopaedic surgeons with special expertise in complex orthopedic injuries including complex pelvic fractures.
• Neurosurgeons trained in all aspects of managing traumatic brain and spine injuries.
• ENT and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) with interest in complex facial fractures.
• Interventional Radiologists that are able to perform procedures such as embolization of a spleen, CT guided drainage of an intra-abdominal abscess, placement of cholecystostomy tube, etc. 

In addition, the trauma team works closely with the following professionals:

The trauma providers also work with these clinics to provide follow-up care for those who have been hospitalized for a traumatic injury at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.

Trauma Surgeons 

Michael J. Casey MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)

Dr. Michael J. Casey, is board certified physician who specializes in trauma and critical care. He belongs to numerous medical and specialty societies. He has also served as the Alaska State director for disaster management. His clinical interests include trauma and prevention, critical care medicine, complex abdominal closures and urology. Dr. Casey is also a biomedical design engineer and has served as the Alaska state director for disaster management. His philosophy of care is to care for people as if they were his own family and he says the best thing about his job is the people he gets to meet and his partners. A Nevada native, Dr. Casey and his wife have five children. In addition to time with his family, he enjoys gardening, playing with his dogs, off-roading and metal-sculpting.

Nicholas T. Duletzke MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)

Dr. Nicholas “Nick” Duletzke is a fellowship trained critical care surgeon. His focus is on trauma and emergency surgery. An Oregon native, he received both his M.D. and his fellowship training from Oregon Health & Sciences University and completed his surgery residency at University of Utah. “There is something about the rapid decision-making, triaging and evaluating with trauma; it pushes you to deliver your best at any given time,” shares Dr. Duletzke. “I always aim to provide the best possible care to ill and injured patients. Together we can help, heal and allow our patients to maximize their quality of life.” Away from work, Dr. Duletzke enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter and son. They enjoy taking advantage of the outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, whether that’s hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking or grilling with the family.

Loic J. Fabricant MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)

Loic Fabricant, MD, is a member of the PeaceHealth Southwest trauma team, providing emergency general surgery and surgical critical care. Trauma surgeons must be ready at all times to handle a wide variety of unplanned high-risk medical emergencies. “I chose my career in trauma care for the opportunity to help others during what are often the most stressful moments of their lives,” said Dr. Fabricant. “My goal is to treat patients as I would my own family – by listening, informing and assisting in decisions that will lead to the best possible outcomes.” Dr. Fabricant is a Pacific Northwest native, graduating from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, and from Oregon Health & Science University with a medical degree, residency in general surgery, and fellowship in surgical critical care. He is certified in general surgery and surgical critical care by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Fabricant has previously provided care in numerous medical facilities within Oregon. He also worked at The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont. During his time at the University of Vermont, Dr. Fabricant was an assistant professor at the Larner College of Medicine where he was honored for three consecutive years with the Howe Outstanding Teacher of Surgery Award. In his free time, Dr. Fabricant enjoys cooking , snowboarding, kiteboarding, and hiking with his wife and two standard poodles.

Andrew W. Jennings MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)

Dr. Jennings was born and raised in Texas. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center followed by completing his general surgery residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Jennings then completed a fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital. He practiced in Dallas for two years prior to relocating to the Pacific Northwest. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the local trails, traveling, cooking, reading and spending time with his family.

Andrea Jo King MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery (General Surgery)

Dr. King loves to travel which is represented by her training across the country. She received her undergraduate degree at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, her medical degree at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico and completed her training in Cleveland, Ohio at University Hospitals Case Medical Center for General Surgery Residency and MetroHealth Medical Center for Trauma & Surgical Critical Care Fellowship. Her Alaskan born roots have brought her back to the Pacific Northwest for the outdoor adventure. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to visit her family, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, and pretty much anything to do with water.

Tim H. Lee MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)

Dr. Lee was born in Taipei, Taiwan. His family immigrated to the United States and he spent his childhood in New Orleans, LA. His family eventually relocated to Texas where he then lived for 18 years. He obtained a Master of Science Degree at the University of Texas - Houston/MD Anderson Cancer Center before completing medical school at Texas Tech University - School of Medicine in Lubbock, TX. After medical school, Dr. Lee moved to Portland, OR to complete his general surgery residency at the Oregon Health & Science University. During residency, Dr. Lee dedicated two additional years to perform basic science research investigating hemostatic resuscitation in trauma under the mentorship of Martin Schreiber, MD at the Trauma Research Institute of Oregon (TRIO). During this period, Dr. Lee authored multiple scientific papers and achieved local, regional, and national recognition for his research endeavors. After residency, Dr. Lee completed a fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at the University of Southern California + Los Angeles County Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. He then became an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT. In addition to patient care, Dr. Lee was active in surgical education and research, mentoring several medical students and surgical residents. Having fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest and given to opportunity to work together with multiple former colleagues, Dr. Lee jumped at the opportunity to returned to the area and joined the Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care group here at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Dr. Lee is currently the Medical Director for the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. He is a member of the Mackenzie Society, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. When not practicing, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs, exploring all the benefits of living in the Pacific Northwest, and playing the drum set.

Khaled Pharaon MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Originally from Louisiana, Dr. Pharaon received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, where he also began his General Surgery training. Hurricane Katrina struck during his intern year and he was stranded for six days in the hospital. While stranded, Dr. Pharaon helped organize the triage, care, and evacuation of patients. He then relocated to Little Rock and completed his General Surgery training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. At Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Dr. Pharaon completed a fellowship in Trauma and Critical Care. Dr. Pharaon is a member of The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, The Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Portland Surgical Society. He is also a member of the Fellow of American College of Surgeons (FACS). He has written several book chapters in various surgical texts over the last few years. When he is not practicing medicine, he enjoys international travel, photography, and spending time with his wife and four children.

Stephanie A. Sea MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)

Dr. Sea was born and raised in central Illinois. After completing medical school at Southern Illinois University, she moved to Philadelphia where she completed her training in General Surgery at Einstein Medical Center in 2015. She pursued and completed a fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California in 2016. She worked in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a Trauma and Critical Care Surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, also serving as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Sea relocated to the Pacific Northwest in spring of 2018 joining the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Team at PeaceHealth Southwest. She enjoys mountain biking, hiking and all water sports.

Tracy A. Timmons MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Dr. Timmons is board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care. Her specialty is trauma. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Eastern Association for Surgery in Trauma and the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

Yuxuan Jerry Wang MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)

Jerry Wang, MD, grew up in a small town in New Mexico and attended the University of New Mexico for undergrad as well as medical school. He went to University of California – Riverside for general surgery residency and completed his trauma surgery fellowship at Oregon Health and Sciences University. He enjoys spending time with his family outdoors, playing soccer, and playing music.

Brian J. Zeithaml MD

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Surgery, Trauma Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)

Dr. Zeithaml was raised in North Carolina, where he received his undergraduate and medical degrees from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a medical student, he directed the oldest and largest student-run free clinic in the United States, the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC). Inspired by the privilege of serving populations in need and his calling to surgery, he completed his general surgery residency, surgical critical care fellowship, and acute care surgery fellowship at East Carolina University under the mentorship of Dr. Eric Toschlog. Dr. Zeithaml is a member of The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and The Society of Critical Care Medicine. He is an aspiring member of the Fellow of American College of Surgeons (FACS). When he is not practicing medicine, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, hiking, and playing hockey and lacrosse.

Physician Assistants

Alexandria C. Russi PA

Physician Assistant, Surgical

Alexandria Russi is a Physician Associate with the Trauma & Acute Care surgery team. She graduated from Pacific University for PA school and completed the global health care track. She started with the PeaceHealth trauma team in January 2020. In 2022, she completed her Doctorate of Medical Science. In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing, spending time with family and friends, and traveling to warmer weather.

Cassandra L. Sappington PA

Physician Assistant, Surgical

Cassandra Sappington is a certified Physician Assistant on the Trauma Team and PeaceHealth Southwest. She has been at Southwest since 1991 working in various capacities. She was an Emergency Department RN for 12 years prior to return to school to obtain her Bachelor’s in Physician Assistant studies in 2008. She has since obtained her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant studies. She enjoys working with trauma patients, especially with the aspect of seeing patients get better allowing them to return to their prior activities. She enjoys working with such a great team who are all supportive and focused on creating an environment to enhance outcomes. In her spare time, she enjoys her animals which include dogs, ducks, goats, emus and llamas. She also enjoys camping, hiking, scrapbooking as well as time with her family and friends.

Olivia M. Tullier PA

Physician Assistant, Surgical

Olivia is a board-certified physician assistant on the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Service. Originally from California, Olivia obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of California Berkeley. She proceeded to work as an EMT in the Los Angeles area for several years until moving to North Carolina where she pursued her Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Duke University. Olivia then went on to complete a postgraduate surgical residency program at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore MD. Since completing her training, Olivia has specialized in trauma and acute care surgery where she enjoys the dynamic work environment and supporting her patients through their journey to recovery. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, adventuring around the PNW, and live music.

Erin A. Whitehall PA

Physician Assistant, Surgical

Erin A. Whitehall is a Physician Assistant in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery who began working at PeaceHealth Southwest in 2014. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Albany Medical College in Albany, NY in 2012. Prior to starting at PeaceHealth Southwest, she worked in General Surgery in the Seattle area for 2 years. She enjoys working with patients with complex medical and surgical issues, assisting in the operating room, and coordinating recovery treatments and therapies for trauma patients while they are in the hospital and outpatient clinic setting. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her growing family, running, cheering on the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazers, exploring new restaurants in the Portland area, and traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Rapid Admit/Transfer Line

360-514-1000

The PeaceHealth trauma and acute care surgery team strives to meet the needs of the community.  Our services are accessible and responsive.  We want your patients to receive the best care and get back to living life. 

Trauma staff provide education and support to reduce trauma risk through programs such as:

• Trauma Nurses Talk Tough, straight talk to children about bicycle and road safety and to teens about driving responsibility.
• Tread To Safety, a fall prevention program presenting simple steps that can be taken to reduce or prevent the risk of falls among seniors.
• Stop the Bleed, a course that gives participants the training to recognize life-threatening bleeding and intervene effectively.
• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), a medical training program, for the medical providers to teach a systematic, concise approach to the care of a trauma patient.

To schedule trauma staff for a talk to your group, call 360-514-1675.