Gary Hecker

Gary Hecker

RN, CCRN, EMT-CC
Injury Prevention, Education Coordinator
Jacobi Medical Center
Bronx, NY

Clinician. Educator. Leader. Gary brings almost 40 years of EMS experience to the profession. He began his EMS career in college with the Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SBVAC) and has since held both paid and volunteer positions within the NYC 911 system and in other regions of the United States. He currently serves as an ALS provider with the Baldwin Fire Department on Long Island, New York. An EMS educator for more than 30 years, Gary is a New York State Certified EMS Instructor. His 33-year career as a Registered Nurse includes extensive clinical experience in emergency and critical care. After more than 20 years in hospital-based nursing education, he now serves as the Injury Prevention, Education, and Outreach Coordinator at a major Level I Trauma Center in New York City. In his not-so-spare time, Gary recently concluded 21 years of service as a member of a Federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT).

M-A-R-C-H into the Warm Zone. Trauma Care for the Severely Injured (Thursday, October 22, 2026 - 8:00-9:15am)

Response to mass-casualty events has demonstrated that a gap exists between the capabilities of prehospital trauma care and the needs of patients during these complex incidents. The military medical community has focused on tactical combat casualty care for many years, and there is a growing need to apply lessons learned from combat environments to the civilian setting. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified multi-casualty incident (MCI) preparedness as a national priority. This session provides a brief introduction to the principles of civilian tactical casualty care, including the concepts and strategies needed to improve response during large-scale emergencies. Additional opportunities for more detailed training and advanced application of these principles will be identified throughout the presentation.

It Takes a System to Save a Trauma Patient (Thursday, October 22, 2026 - 11:30-12:45pm)

Trauma remains the leading cause of death for individuals ages 1–44 years. Traumatic injuries are often sudden, life-threatening events that can result in severe injury or death. A systematic approach to the assessment and management of these patients has been shown to improve trauma outcomes and increase survival.

This session will explore the different components of a “Trauma System” and how each element contributes to patient care, recovery, and successful reintegration back into society. Participants will learn to recognize trauma as a leading cause of death and understand the importance of identifying patients who may benefit from care at a trauma center.

The presentation will discuss how comprehensive, systematic trauma care—from the initial response through definitive treatment—can reduce morbidity and mortality. Attendees will gain insight into trauma triage decisions, the role of trauma centers, and how coordinated care across the entire trauma system contributes to improved patient outcomes.

Gravity, friend or foe? - Trauma from Falls (Friday, October 23, 2026 - 1:30-2:45pm)

Trauma centers across the country report falls as one of the most frequent mechanisms of injury encountered. According to National Safety Council data for preventable injuries in 2022, falls were the third leading cause of preventable injury-related death (21%) and the leading cause of nonfatal injuries (33%). Fall-related injuries affect individuals across all age groups and can result in significant morbidity and mortality. This presentation will discuss the impact of falls on the population, with a focus on injury patterns, kinematics, and mechanisms of injury. Participants will explore both common and often-overlooked injuries associated with falls and learn how subtle findings can indicate significant trauma. The session will conclude with a review of real-world fall patient case studies, highlighting assessment considerations, clinical decision-making, and the importance of recognizing injury risk in fall patients.