HJNO Mar/Apr 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS  I  MAR / APR 2026 39 David Yu, MD, FACS, FAAP Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Manning Family Children’s fatalities are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the state. 1 ALevel I Pediatric Trauma Centermeans that when that moment comes, everything and everyone that child needs is already here — the right doctors, the right nurses, the right equipment, and the highest level of expertise — 24 hours a day, every day. It means there is no waiting, no scram- bling, no transferring when time matters most. And that the best pediatric trauma team in the region is ready before the am- bulance doors even open. Being a Level I Trauma Center also means leading the way by training other hospitals, advancing research, preventing injuries before they happen, and making sure kids across the entire region have a fighting chance, no matter where they live. More children get to go home. More birthdays are celebrated. And more futures are saved. This is why Level I matters. One fami- ly at a time. And in a region that needs it the most. For more information about the Level I Trauma Center at Manning Family Children’s visit Manningchildrens.org. n REFERENCES 1 Morgan Brown, et al., “Pediatric Firearm Injuries in a Major Urban Louisiana City: A Deadly Pub- lic Health Issue,” Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association 5, no. 2 (2025): 54, https://doi. org/10.59020/09972. DavidYu,MD,serves as chief medical officer for Man- ning Family Children’s. A pediatric general surgeon, Yu also serves asmedical director for Manning Family Children’s Level I Trauma Center. Prior to assuming his role as CMO, he served as the associate chief medical officer of surgery. He attended medical school and completed his residency training at Tu- lane University School of Medicine and completed a fellowship in pediatric surgery at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham.He was a faculty member at LSU Health New Orleans, and has served as an associate professor of surgery and pediatrics and as program director for the general surgery residency atTulane University School of Med- icine.Yu is certified by theAmerican Board of Surgery. • actively participates in trauma re- search and performance improve- ment; and • plays a critical role in injury preven- tion and system-wide pediatric trau- ma readiness. The American College of Surgeons’ Trauma Verification, Review, and Consul- tation (VRC) Program is designed to assist hospitals in the evaluation and improve- ment of trauma care and provide objec- tive, external review of institutional capa- bility and performance. These functions are accomplished by an on-site review of the hospital by a peer review team experi- enced in the field of trauma care. The team assesses commitment, readiness, resourc- es, policies, patient care, performance im- provement, and other relevant features of the program. Why Level I Trauma Care Matters for Families Across Louisiana Level I Trauma Center verification isn’t about a designation or a plaque on the wall. It is about moments that change fam- ilies forever. When a child is badly hurt, everything happens fast. Fear takes over. Parents don’t think about levels or sys- tems, they think, “please save my child.” In Louisiana, pediatric trauma and in- jury-related fatalities are alarmingly high, with injury causing over one-third of all child deaths. Louisiana has ranked among the highest in the U.S. for child mortality, with key issues including high rates of fire- arm-related fatalities and significant men- tal health trauma. The state has one of the highest rates of pediatric firearm mortali- ty in the nation, with rates increasing 57% between 2012 and 2021. Firearm-related IN JANUARY, Manning Family Children’s was verified as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Sur- geons — the first of its kind in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama. Level I Trauma Centers differ not only in clinical capabil- ity, but in their leadership role within the larger trauma system. The Role of a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center In addition to delivering comprehen- sive, around-the-clock care for our most seriously injured children, Level I Trau- ma Centers are responsible for advancing pediatric trauma care across the state and region. As an expert resource and regional referral center, a Level I Pediatric Trau- ma Center offers comprehensive, highly specialized, multidisciplinary trauma care from prevention to rehabilitation. Level I Trauma Centers ensure imme- diate access to pediatric trauma surgeons, specialized equipment, and intensive care units, and often function as regional lead- ers in research and education. As a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, Manning Family Children’s: • Provides 24/7 in-house pediatric trauma expertise with immediate ac- cess to all required pediatric surgical subspecialties; • maintains a dedicated Pediatric In- tensive Care Unit (PICU); • serves as the primary referral center for the most complex pediatric trau- ma cases statewide and throughout the region; • leads trauma education, training, and outreach for healthcare professionals and communities across the state and region;