Trauma Survivorship in Full Bloom at UPMC Williamsport
What started as a small event to recognize the resilience of survivors, has bloomed into an annual tradition for the survivors and Trauma Services team at UPMC Williamsport.
UPMC Williamsport became an accredited Level II Adult Trauma Center by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) in 2021, and again in 2024. As one of the few trauma centers in the area, UPMC Williamsport serves as a vital service for the region. The Trauma Services team includes EMS, surgeons, APPs, nurses, social workers, and therapists-who all work together to save the lives of those impacted by traumatic injuries.
In May 2024, Trauma Awareness Month, the team hosted their first Trauma Survivors’ Reception. At the event, survivors, their families, and care teams could reconnect. This event honored the strength of survivors and the teams that cared for them and spread the message of not just surviving but thriving, sharing updates and progress. With the generous support of the Susquehanna Health Foundation and the Trauma Services team, the event has now become an annual tradition.
The red tulip is the universal symbol of trauma survivors, representing that despite challenges and setbacks, there can be growth and beauty after trauma. The team wanted to take the tulip symbol a step further by putting their own twist on it. “[We personalized the tulip] in order to make it unique to our program at UPMC in North Central Pa. So, the purple tulip was born,” said Kristy Teisher, Expert Discharge Planning Manager.
The team reached out to Wildberry Studios, a local art studio in Williamsport that specializes in stained glass. They came together to create 14 purple, stained-glass tulips. While this may look like a fun team building activity, it meant so much more. It was a testament to the passion and dedication to the patients they serve and the lives they save.
At this year’s event, the survivors will receive their own purple stained-glass tulip, handmade by the team that cared for them. “We are excited to shine a spotlight on some of the survivors and their families who have received care in our hospital, and to celebrate their successes with the medical teams who played a role in their story,” said Kristy.
