September 2025

Global Symposium Call for Posters Closes in 2 Weeks

The Call for Posters for the upcoming Global Symposium will close October 15. This is an opportunity for educators, clinicians, administrators, and changemakers to share how trauma education—especially the Advanced Trauma Life Support^® (ATLS^®) program—is adapted, scaled, and sustained across diverse settings, whether through rigorous investigation (Scientific Category) or pragmatic, high-impact solutions (Best Practices Category). Prizes will be awarded for top posters, and winning authors will present as part of the Global Symposium Opening Session. Click here for more information and a survey link to submit.

Lead Change and Innovate Through ATLS

By incorporating updated tools and teaching strategies, you can tailor your ATLS course offerings to better meet the needs of today’s trauma care providers. These approaches can elevate the learner experience and strengthen skill retention:

1. Combine an ATLS Course with an Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) Course

This model brings healthcare team members together for a shared learning experience. On Day 1, all participants join for didactic sessions relevant to every trauma care provider, fostering collaboration, team training, and a common language grounded in ATLS principles. On Day 2, learners participate in skills-based sessions tailored to their specific roles and scope of practice. This approach ensures all participants leave fully prepared to work together effectively in delivering optimal trauma care.

The ACS and Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) are strong collaborators and promote this format for training. Plans also are underway for all ATCN courses to be registered in the Content Management System (CMS). Importantly, these combined courses are only available with ATLS 10 and ATCN 8 until STN completes the 9th edition of ATCN (expected January 2026).

For additional information and guidance, reach out to traumaeducation@facs.org. We also can connect you with sites that are experienced with combined courses.

2. Overlap a traditional ATLS Course with a Refresher Course

One effective best practice for ATLS sites is to overlap a traditional provider course with a refresher course. With thoughtful planning, this model maximizes efficiency while maintaining educational quality. By running both courses in parallel, sites can share key resources, streamline scheduling, and make the most of limited classroom and clinical space. It also allows sites to leverage their most skilled instructors across both groups, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality content.

This approach not only reduces the logistical burden of running multiple separate courses but also fosters a dynamic learning environment where experienced participants and new learners benefit from the expertise and enthusiasm of the instructional team. When carefully coordinated, overlapping courses represent an efficient, resource-conscious, and highly effective strategy for advancing trauma education.

Make Smooth Transition to ATLS 11

The transition to ATLS 11 likely feels both exciting and overwhelming. Consider these tips:

1. Update Course: Provide guidance and a deadline for coordinators, educators, and instructors to complete the Update Course. See directions below.

2. Equipment: No new or different equipment is required for ATLS 11.

3. Course Material: Purchase ATLS registrations or manuals (via the CMS) to share with your faculty. It will allow for instructors to prepare and will get the ATLS team excited for what’s to come.

4. Lessons Learned: Reach out to colleagues who have already taught or taken ATLS 11. This will be encouraging and reassuring. The Trauma Ed staff can share names and contact information, if that would be helpful.

Maximize ATLS 10 Resources Before Moving Forward

Sites that have transitioned to ATLS 11 have been sharing great feedback; others in the US and Canada are encouraged to transition by the end of this December. It is expected that the sites outside the US and Canada will make the change by June 2026. Sites are encouraged to use all 10th Edition Learning Management System (LMS) passes and manuals as soon as possible. ATLS 10 will be available until July 2026, and there will be no refunds or exchanges for unused ATLS 10 material. Contact traumaeducation@facs.org with any questions.

Update Courses Must Be Completed to Stay Eligible

All ATLS coordinators, instructors, course directors, and educators must complete their role-appropriate ATLS 11 Update Course in order to participate in ATLS 11. This guide provides access to the courses. Once completed, a tag will automatically be added to the individual’s CMS profile which will then allow them to take part in ATLS 11. Contact traumaeducation@facs.org with any questions.

LMS Pass Options Are Available for ATLS 11 Course

Two types of LMS passes are now available for the ATLS 11 Course. One is for medical students, residents, and graduate medical education (GME)/fellows, and they are discounted for those still in training programs. The other—a “student pass”—is for all attending physicians, advanced practice providers, and auditors. Plan ahead accordingly as the medical student/resident/GME-fellow pass cannot be assigned to a person who is not classified as such. For more information, contact traumaeducation@facs.org.

Disclosures Are Required for All ATLS Educators

Because ATLS courses offer Continuing Medical Education credit, a disclosure form must be submitted by all instructors, course directors, and educators prior to the start of the course. It is the responsibility of the Coordinators to ensure all required disclosures have been completed, and any potential conflicts of interest have been managed and signed off on. Once submitted, the form remains valid for 24 months (unless changes are made) and will apply to all courses listed in the CMS. Be sure to share the Online Disclosure Form Submission Guide. Contact traumaeducation@facs.org with any questions.

Trauma Ed Team Celebrates

The ACS Trauma Education team marked the launch of ATLS 11 with a lively outing featuring a ping pong tournament. While Jack Daly, Trauma Ed Business Manager, claimed the title of Ping Pong Champion, the true winners are this dedicated team—and the many ATLS Friends and Family around the world—whose contributions made this revision possible and whose enthusiasm is driving the successful transition to the new ATLS program.

Help Shape the Conversation at 2026 ATLS Global Symposium

Submit topics and questions to be covered during a Coordinator and/or Educator Session at the 2026 ATLS Global Symposium, March 13–15 in Birmingham, Alabama. These sessions will take place in various formats (e.g., roundtable, townhall, panel) and are currently being developed. Complete the short survey here to ensure that all sessions are relevant, impactful, and lead to better ATLS Course outcomes across the globe.

What You Can Expect Next Month

1. Description of the ATLS 11 app launch with refreshed content and new icon; includes 2 free months for all ATLS course participants and 6 free months for those with the current ATLS 10 app downloaded

2. Announcement of the new Education Program Chair for Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness

3. Launch plans for e-TEAM: online modules to combine with virtual synchronous application of new knowledge—reaching learners far and wide

4. Online ATLS post-test pilot

5. Highlights from Region 15 and Region 16 meetings

TELL US MORE

The Trauma Education team is here to support you in offering quality educational programs. Share ideas for future newsletter topics, and contact traumaeducation@facs.org with questions.