Education

Surgical Critical Care/Trauma and Emergency Surgery Fellowship at UCLA

The Surgical Critical Care/Trauma and Emergency Surgery Fellowship at UCLA trains future surgical intensivists in the management of complex critically ill patients, supports trainees in surgical research with professional development aimed at eventual investigator independence, and prepares academic surgeons to take leadership roles in surgical critical care administration and training.  Our vision is to cultivate a cadre of advanced physician leaders who are prepared to provide uncompromising care to the most critically ill and injured and who are dedicated to the advancement of the field of surgical critical care.

Learn more about our fellowship program and how to apply >

UCLA Department of Surgery Henry “Gill” M. Cryer III, MD, PhD Lectureship in Trauma

Dr. Cryer served as the Trauma Director at UCLA for 30 years before he began his new role as the Vice-Chair of Administration in the Department of Surgery in July 2021. During his long and distinguished career, Dr. Cryer has held many leadership roles locally and nationally including serving on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Blood Products Advisory Committee and the editorial board of the Journal of Trauma, the lead publication in his field. He served on the LA County Trauma Hospital Advisory Committee for 30 years and was instrumental in the design and implementation of our exemplary countywide trauma system. He oversaw the establishment of multiple trauma centers in Southern California and offered his services as a consultant and mentor. With his devotion to exceptional quality of care, he played a key role in improving patient care and outcomes nationally.

Dr. Cryer obtained his undergraduate degree from Colorado College, his M.D. from the University of Nevada, and his Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics from the University of Louisville where he also completed his surgical training and trauma fellowship. He has dual board certification in surgery and surgical critical care. His first academic appointment was as an Assistant Professor at the University of Louisville and Director of Critical Care Services and the Burn Unit in Humana Hospital at the University of Louisville. He then moved to Los Angeles and joined UCLA as the Chief of Trauma and Emergency Surgery in 1990. During his tenure at UCLA, he served as the Executive Medical Director of Trauma Services, Director of Surgical ICUs, and Chief of Staff. He is a renowned scholar with an international reputation in trauma surgery, with expertise in complex abdominal reconstruction and the treatment of enterocutaneous fistulae. An exceptional surgeon and clinician, Dr. Cryer is often called upon to help other physicians in need of assistance with complex abdominal surgery. He also receives nationwide referrals for particularly challenging cases that most surgeons consider beyond their expertise.

Dr. Cryer is a member of numerous professional societies, most notably the elite American Surgical Association and the Society for Clinical Surgery. He held leadership positions in many professional societies including the American College of Surgeons where he served in the Committee on Trauma and as Governor-at-Large. The long list of his accomplishments includes serving as the President of an impressive list of prestigious professional organizations including the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the Southern California Chapter of the American Trauma Society, the Southern California Chapter of American College of Surgeons, the Bay Surgical Society, and the Hiram C. Polk, Jr. Surgical Society. He has significant scientific contributions exceeding 150 publications, numerous book chapters and is an active investigator with peer-review funding. He is truly an exceptional physician, revered by his patients and highly respected by his peers.              

As a surgeon-scientist, teacher, and leader, a compassionate caregiver, patient advocate, and colleague, Dr. Cryer represents someone that we all deeply respect and hope to emulate, a gold standard for all of us to be measured against. This is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of a towering figure in the field of trauma, acute care surgery, and surgical critical care.