Medical team preparing medication

In a Life-Threatening Emergency, Call 911.

Inova’s Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (TACS) departments provide comprehensive, around-the-clock care for trauma, surgical critical care and emergency general surgery patients. Our teams are comprised of highly trained, expert providers including physicians board certified by the American Board of Surgery in general surgery and surgical critical care.

Inova Fairfax Hospital is Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, and Inova Loudoun Hospital is Loudoun County’s first and only designated trauma center.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Trauma and Acute Care

What is a Trauma Surgeon / Trauma Acute Care Surgeon?

Trauma surgeons / Trauma acute care surgeons are fellowship trained and board certified in both general surgery and surgical critical care. Inova’s trauma surgeons have vast experience in the management of serious traumatic injuries and focus on customized care for each patient.

What Does It Mean to Be a Trauma Patient?

A trauma patient has had sudden and severe physical injuries, “traumatic injuries”, requiring immediate medical attention.

What is Acute Care Surgery?

Acute Care Surgery takes the fundamentals of trauma care with its team-based approach and continuous quality improvement and applies them to patients with urgent surgical conditions.

Patient Care

We provide around-the-clock intensive care unit management of patients with critical illness. In addition, we routinely treat patients with general surgery needs such as:

  • Biliary disease
  • Appendix disease
  • Hernia
  • Endocrine conditions
  • Upper and lower endoscopy needs

Rather than being treated by a single practitioner, patients are treated by a team of experienced surgeons, providing multidisciplinary care in both in-patient and out-patient settings. We work with surgeons throughout Inova’s surgical specialties to provide our expertise in critical care situations.

Research and Affiliations

The Trauma Acute Care Surgery team participates in clinical research and multi-institutional trials to improve patient outcomes regionally and nationally. Our surgeons participate as committee members of national organizations including the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American Trauma Society, Panamerican Trauma Society, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Surgical Critical Care Program Directors Society, and Western Trauma Association.

Locations

Ambulatory Clinics for Follow-Up Appointments and Outpatient Surgeries

Division and System Chief, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Paula Ferrada, MD
Paula Ferrada, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
22

Trauma Medical Director – Fairfax

Stephen Varga, MD
Stephen Varga, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
17

Inova Trauma Acute Care Surgery Team - Fairfax

David P. Blake, MD
David Blake, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
33
Elizabeth Franco Cadavid, MD
Elizabeth Franco Cadavid, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Clinical Interests
Colorectal Surgery, Gallbladder Surgery, Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer, Hernia Problems/Surgery and Treatments, Minimally Invasive Surgery
Years of Experience
29
George Kasotakis, MD
George Kasotakis, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
23
Stefan Leichtle, MD
Stefan Leichtle, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
15
Edmond Ng, MD
Edmond Ng, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine
Clinical Interests
Gallbladder Surgery, Hernia Problems/Surgery and Treatments, Stomach Disorders and Treatment
Years of Experience
27
Jennifer Schwartz, MD
Jennifer Schwartz, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
15
Hani Seoudi, MD
Hani Seoudi, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
39
Dina Tabello, DO
Dina Tabello, DO
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
11
Erik Teicher, MD
Erik Teicher, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Neurocritical Care
Clinical Interests
Gallbladder Surgery, Hernia Problems/Surgery and Treatments, Stomach Disorders and Treatment
Years of Experience
19
Stephen Varga, MD
Stephen Varga, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
17
Abdullah Wafa, MD
Abdullah Wafa, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
9
Mohamad Zanbrakji, MD
Mohamad Zanbrakji, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
11
Cara Caputy, FNP
Cara Caputy, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Sun Cho, NP
Sun Cho, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Ellen Cordova, PA
Ellen Cordova, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Wayne Johnson, PA
Wayne Johnson, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Lindsey Knight, FNP
Lindsey Knight, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Jonathan Messing, NP
Jonathan Messing, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Melanie Morell, FNP
Melanie Morell, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Jennifer Sherman, NP
Jennifer Sherman, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner

Trauma Medical Director – Loudoun

Rahil Dharia, DO
Rahil Dharia, DO
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
9

Inova Trauma Acute Care Surgery Team - Loudoun

Charles Harris, MD
Charles Harris, MD
Specialty
Surgery, Surgical Critical Care
Years of Experience
13
Jennifer Lobb, MD
Jennifer Lobb, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
8
Benjamin Palachick, MD
Benjamin Palachick, MD
Specialty
Surgical Critical Care, Surgery
Years of Experience
11
Kathryn Cameron, PA
Kathryn Cameron, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Alexis Doherty, NP
Alexis Doherty, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Alison MacDonald, PA
Alison Goedeck, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Darren Hunt, NP
Darren Hunt, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Elizabeth Kurt, FNP
Elizabeth Kurt, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Hinda Mezaache, PA
Hinda Mezaache, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant
Ruben Perez, FNP
Ruben Perez, FNP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Megan Pirowski, NP
Megan Pirowski, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Christopher Rankin, NP
Christopher Rankin, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Catherine Staats, NP
Catherine Staats, NP
Specialty
Nurse Practitioner
Laura Sykes, NP
Laura Sykes, NP
Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner
Lilly Zenor, PA
Lilly Zenor, PA
Specialty
Physician Assistant