Clinical Programs and Practice
Our Mission
The clinical programs and practice team was formed in the fall of 2022 to connect clinicians, researchers, and educators across the Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Nursing to help translate evidence-based strategies for violence and injury prevention into clinical practice and clinical training. Since that time, a diverse group of faculty and staff have joined efforts to advance the tripartite mission of Johns Hopkins Medicine as it relates to violence and injury prevention: improving education for all clinicians, supporting research and strengthening collaboration, and building evidence-based clinical programs to serve our patients.
Teaching
Members of the team have partnered with educators and program leaders across the institution to provide violence prevention education in more than ten graduate medical education programs and in graduate nursing education programs, leading efforts to develop curricula and training programs.
Patient Care
Team faculty are leaders in the Johns Hopkins Break the Cycle Violence Intervention Program, the multi-school Suicide Prevention Center, and injury prevention programs. Members work not only to provide the highest quality care to their own patients but also to ensure access to evidence-based, trauma-informed services by patients and families impacted by violence.
Research
Team members lead practice-changing research funded by NIH and CDC as well as numerous foundations on secure firearm storage, ERPO implementation, intimate partner violence, trauma-informed care, and community-based and hospital-based violence prevention.
Our Clinical Programs and Practice Team
Katherine Hoops, MD, JD, MPH
Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Associate Professor
Katherine Hoops is investigating how clinicians and health systems can prevent youth violence and injury while promoting healing and resilience through community-engaged, trauma-sensitive care.
Nate Irvin, MD
Department of Emergency Medicine,
Nathan Irvin is an emergency physician whose research focuses on hospital based violence prevention programs and trauma informed care.
Paul Nestadt, MD
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Associate Professor
Paul Nestadt is a psychiatrist whose research focuses on the epidemiology of suicide with particular attention on downstream factors such as lethal means/ firearm access and opioid use.
Joanna S Cohen, MD
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine,
Joanna S Cohen is a pediatric emergency medicine physician whose research focuses on safe firearm storage intervenions in the Emergency Department.
Rebecca Fix, PhD, MS
BSPH - Department of Mental Health, Assistant Professor
Rebecca Fix is a clinical psychologist whose research focuses on secondary and tertiary prevention of adolescent violence among survivors of violence.
Isam Nasr, MD
Division of Pediatric Surgery,
Isam Nasr is the Pediatric Trauma Medical Director and Surgeon within the Department of Surgery and Johns Hopkins Children's Center, who specializes in the advanced treatment treatment of trauma and critical care injuries among children.
Michelle Patch, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN
School of Nursing,
Michelle Patch is an advanced practice clinical nurse specialist and nurse-scientist whose research focuses on health care responses to intimate partner violence and assault-related mechanisms including strangulation, head trauma, and firearm use.
Joseph Sakran MD, MPH, MPA
Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery,
Joseph V. Sakran is Director of Emergency General Surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Sakran is widely known for building diverse coalitions and advocacy efforts within public health and policy communities. He is dedicated to reducing health disparities among marginalized populations, and advancing public policy that alleviates structural violence in low-income communities.
Barry Solomon, MD, MPH
Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics,
Barry Solomon is a general pediatrician whose research focuses on innovations in pediatric primary care to prevent childhood injuries and address the social determinants of health.
Madhu Subramanian, MD
Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery,
Madhu Subramanian is a trauma surgeon whose work focuses on translating evidence into policy at the hospital-level, aimed at reducing subsequent injury and improving patient outcomes.
Carol Vidal MD, PhD, MPH
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
Carol Vidal is a child and adolescent psychiatrist whose research focuses on behavioral and substance use addictions, and their associations with depression and injuries in adolescents.
Education
Core team members provide clinically-focused education and skills training on firearm safety and violence prevention.
Center for gun violence solutions academic courses
The 5 A's of Firearm Safety Counseling
Many clinicians report being uncomfortable counseling their patients on firearm safety. To help solve this challenge, our team has developed a simple educational tool to help guide doctors through the process called "The 5 A's."
Each "A" represents a step in the process of guiding patients through the best practices of safe gun storage.
Ask
Advise
Assess
Assist
Arrange
In a study researching the effectiveness of this technique, 60% of participants were uncomfortable counseling on firearm injury prior to learning about interventions. After receiving education and participating in simulated encounters, only 4% still reported being uncomfortable.
Learn more about the results:
Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs
Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) have proven to be an effective method at reducing gun violence in their communities. HVIPs are based on the premise that violence and re-injury are preventable. Clinicians can seize the opportunity for a teachable moment with those at highest risk of injury and violence. Hospital-based programs provide hope, healing, and access to support along a pathway to success.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital Break the Cycle Violence Intervention Program is made of a multidisciplinary team handling case management, social work, violence intervention specialists, physicians and credible messengers from the community. This team engages victims of shootings, stabbings, and violent assaults. The goal is to prevent recurrent injury and support healing and growth.
Learn more below:
Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Suicide Prevention
Research has shown Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), also known as red flag laws, are a promising tool in preventing firearm suicides. shows for every 17 to 23 ERPOs issued, one firearm suicide is prevented. Learn more about ERPOs and the important role clinicians play in the process in the recorded webinar below.
Our Research
The clinical practice and programs team has published a wide-variety of public health research.
News and Updates from the Team
