SAVIR Member Spotlight: Colleen Trevino NP, PhD

As an Associate Professor of Surgery (Trauma and Acute Care Surgery) at the Medical College of Wisconsin I am a trauma outcomes researcher focused on optimizing recovery, care quality, and long-term health outcomes after traumatic injury and emergency general surgery. My research explores the biopsychosocial mechanisms involved in the transition from acute to chronic pain following trauma, including predictors, biomarkers, and the stress response relationship with pain. I have applied epidemiology, implementation science, and health systems innovation to advance multidisciplinary models of trauma survivorship, with particular emphasis on comprehensive care for firearm injury survivors. I contribute to evidence-based clinical guideline development, trauma-informed opioid stewardship strategies, and novel post-discharge care models designed to improve continuity, equity, and patient-centered outcomes. I do this work to shape and evolving standards of trauma care and national efforts to deliver more equitable, coordinated, and sustainable survivorship care.

How long have you been a member of SAVIR? What has been your favorite part about being involved with SAVIR?

I have been a member of SAVIR only since 2025. I have been to 2 annual conferences and really appreciate the diverse multidisciplinary group of researchers. These unique perspectives have enriched my understanding of injury and violence prevention through all levels and from a public health lens.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?

The most rewarding aspect of my career is definitely the Trauma Quality of Life clinic I have developed with my clinical partners at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. The clinic was developed to address the complex biopsychosocial challenges that often follow firearm injury, including chronic pain, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, housing instability, and concerns for personal safety. As southeastern Wisconsin’s only Level I trauma center, Froedtert Hospital treats the majority of firearm-related injuries in Milwaukee, positioning the TQoL Clinic as a critical resource for long-term trauma recovery and resilience. The clinic is recognized nationally for its holistic approach to firearm injury care, integrating medical, psychological, rehabilitative, and social support services into a single coordinated visit. But most importantly, we are able to provide comprehensive holistic trauma-informed care to our patients.

What do you like to do in your free time?