James Vosswinkel, MD, Chief of the Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, was honored by the New York Jets on Dec. 5 for his lifesaving care of two Suffolk County Police Officers.
Dr. Vosswinkel took part in the Dec. 5 First Responder Appreciation Night at Met Life Stadium during the Jets’ game against the Indianapolis Colts. He was joined by two Suffolk County Police Officers who were critically injured and cared for at Stony Brook Trauma Center: Detective Nicholas Guerrero and Police Officer Mark Collins.
Guerrero was struck by a vehicle fleeing a traffic stop in 2014, and suffered a severe head injury. Collins was shot multiple times in the line of duty during a foot pursuit in 2015. Dr. Vosswinkel personally directed their care while they both were being treated for their injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital.
In announcing the surprise honor on Nov. 29, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy D. Sini and Suffolk County Police Chief of Department Stuart Cameron thanked Dr. Vosswinkel on behalf of the department.
“Our partnership with Stony Brook University Hospital runs deep, and it goes to the type of care we can rely on at Stony Brook,” said Commissioner Sini. “We are forever in your debt — you saved families from extreme tragedy; you saved this department from extreme tragedy.”
A lifelong Jets fan, Dr. Vosswinkel was completely overwhelmed with the surprise.
“This is not about me; this is about Stony Brook.” he said. “It is a true team that truly cares about patients — I may be the guy that’s most visible, but it’s about everybody else.”
As a team, 20 members of the Stony Brook Trauma Center joined Dr. Vosswinkel running out of the tunnel before the players as they entered the field. Dr. Vosswinkel also participated in the coin toss.
“We are very lucky to have a dedicated Level 1 Trauma Center right here at Stony Brook,” said L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, CEO, Stony Brook University Hospital. “And led by Dr. James Vosswinkel, we have a dedicated trauma team to take care of the most critical patients.”
“I am proud that Stony Brook University Hospital has such a great relationship with the Suffolk County Police Department,” Dr. Pasternak said. “Every day Stony Brook flight paramedics are on board Police Department helicopters — one example of how we work together to save the lives of thousands of Long Islanders.”
