About Dr. Brodie Nolan:Today’s guest is Dr. Nolan — an emergency physician and trauma team leader at St. Michael’s Hospital, a transport medicine physician with Ornge, and an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. With a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research, Dr. Nolan’s work zeroes in on improving trauma systems, reducing delays in interfacility transfers, and advancing patient safety in both prehospital and in-hospital settings.He is also the principal investigator of the Trauma Black Box project — an innovative data platform designed to identify safety threats and resilience factors in real time during trauma resuscitations. In this episode, we explore his research, frontline experiences, and how data, systems thinking, and human factors are shaping the future of trauma care in Ontario and beyond.Support Dr. Nolan and learn more about his work:Unity Health Research ProfileUniversity of Toronto Faculty ProfileFirst 60 Trauma Research GroupIn this powerful episode, we explore the real-world complexities of managing traumatic cardiac arrest—a condition often misunderstood and poorly survived. Dr. Brodie Nolan, trauma team leader and transport physician, breaks down how trauma arrests differ fundamentally from medical arrests and why intervention timing, not compressions, often matters most.We discuss critical procedures like thoracotomy, finger thoracostomy, and early blood administration, as well as the challenges of field decision-making and provider risk during high-stakes resuscitations. Dr. Nolan also sheds light on how structured trauma handovers, rendezvous coordination, and early activation of air ambulance systems like Ornge can improve outcomes.The episode looks ahead to the future of trauma care in Ontario—including inclusive trauma systems, freeze-dried plasma, and equitable access to blood products—all through the lens of evidence, systems thinking, and frontline experience. Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction to Cardiac Arrest in Trauma00:26 – Prioritizing Interventions Over Compressions01:14 – Thoracotomy and Access Procedures01:58 – Reversible Causes and Field Interventions02:31 – Time-Sensitive Decisions & Blood Administration03:13 – Thoracotomy Guidelines & Provider Risk05:26 – Global Pre-Hospital Care Models & Physician Roles07:07 – Challenges in Trauma Care Across Systems11:54 – Standardizing Care: Handover & Field Triage14:03 – Research Gaps, Registry Data & Future Possibilities19:05 – Final Thoughts & The Road Ahead Legal Disclaimer:The content on this channel is intended for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not replace local medical directives, and is not a substitute for accredited paramedic training programs or formal continuing education. Viewers are responsible for practicing within their scope and adhering to the clinical standards set by their regulatory body and medical oversight authority.VIDEO PRODUCTION NOTES • Edited in Wondershare Filmora 14 and DESCRIPT AI• Script, transcription & voice cleanup with Descript AI (Studio Sound, Remove Filler Words, Overdub)• AI pictures generated with ChatGPT and Google Gemini Synthetic‑media disclosurePortions of this video ( B‑roll & voice de‑noise) were generated or enhanced with AI tools listed above. All transformations are purely illustrative and used with full consent.