These young surgeons followed the pioneering path blazed by Dr. R. Adams Cowley, the Maryland surgeon considered<\/a> the father of modern trauma medicine. Eastman and his colleagues were among the first to convince their local community that the most severe injuries \u2014 caused by traumatic events from car accidents to human-on-human violence \u2014 should be treated in a few specialized centers, with round-the-clock trauma surgeon staffing, rather than simply transported to the nearest hospital, as was the practice at the time.<\/p>\n It was an ambitious effort, not only for getting the local hospital association to participate, but also for launching a formal study of the results. Their paper<\/a>, \u201cThe impact of a regionalized trauma system on trauma care in San Diego County,\u201d published in the November 1989 edition of the Annals of Emergency Medicine, stated that preventable traumatic deaths fell from 11.4% in 1979 to just 1% in 1986, two years after the new trauma system began in \u201984.<\/p>\n Subsequent research led to the 21% in 1982 estimate that is now widely cited. The findings swept the nation, and eventually the world, inspiring communities to follow San Diego\u2019s exmple and set up trauma systems of their own. Eastman found himself not only pursuing a career as a trauma surgeon at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, but also traveling to preach the gospel of organized trauma treatment worldwide.<\/p>\n Eastman died on Wednesday, June 24, after a multi-year battle with a rare form of Parkinson\u2019s disease. He was 86.<\/p>\n His death prompted Chris Van Gorder, chief executive officer of Scripps Health, to send an all-hands staff memo, noting the passing of a local legend whom he personally came to call a friend. Eastman was known, the executive said, for being the last to speak at meetings and for his efforts to make sure that no one forgot what is supposed to drive every decision in health care.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of you will remember he was the catalyst for starting every systemwide management meeting with a patient story, so we all would be reminded of our mission before business,\u201d Van Gorder wrote.<\/p>\n In addition to establishing leadership structures at Scripps around quality and physician leadership, Eastman also worked with Van Gorder, a former police officer, to build the Scripps Medical Response Team.<\/p>\n \u201cWe traveled together on the team\u2019s first mission after Hurricane Katrina, and again to Haiti to provide medical care after that country\u2019s earthquake,\u201d Van Gorder wrote. \u201cOne of my biggest honors was assisting Dr. Eastman in a Haiti surgery when time of care was critical; it was a privilege to see him work.\u201d<\/p>\n This accomplished surgeon would certainly have been forgiven for having an outsized ego. But those who worked with him insist that he was as humble as they come.<\/p>\n Dr. Jay Doucet, former trauma chief at UC San Diego Health, said that Eastman was accessible to younger generations.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, he was a surgeon-leader of the highest stature, but he was always approachable, kind, and modest \u2014 even with someone who was early in their career like me,\u201d Doucet said. \u201cHe consistently put patients and systems of care first, without ego or fanfare.<\/p>\n \u201cHis legacy is something we see every day in San Diego, the life-saving strengths of America\u2019s finest trauma system, one that he helped build.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Doctors](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SUT-L-EASTMANS.jpeg\")
Doctors Brent and Sarita Eastman photographed at their home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. (Courtesy of Dr. Sarita Eastman.)<\/p>\n