Our ATLS Course Directors are American College of Surgeons (ACS)-approved instructor-eligible physicians who provide the clinical leadership for every course we conduct. Drawn from active surgical and emergency medicine practice, they represent the specialties most directly involved in the initial assessment and management of injured patients, including trauma surgery, general surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and board-certified emergency medicine.
Their training spans major academic medical centers across the United States, with additional fellowship experience internationally. Collectively, they have instructed ATLS courses at numerous regional, national, and international sites, bringing broad teaching experience to every program.
Because our Course Directors continue to care for trauma patients in busy clinical practice, every lecture, skills station, and simulation reflects current evidence-based trauma care and the real-world decision making required during the critical first hours after injury.
David Gochnour
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Corey Jones
MD (ATLS Course Director)
Jordi Puente Espel
MD (ATLS Course Director)
Our ATLS Course Coordinators bring more than six decades of combined experience in emergency medical services, flight medicine, critical care transport, emergency nursing, and clinical education. Both have served in senior leadership roles within high-volume Level I trauma centers, where precision, preparation, and teamwork are essential to patient care.
That experience shapes every aspect of course operations—from candidate eligibility verification and ACS pre-course requirements to faculty coordination, equipment readiness, simulation setup, and day-of-course logistics. Their attention to detail ensures that every course meets ACS standards while allowing faculty and participants to focus on what matters most: developing the knowledge, skills, and confidence to care for injured patients.
Samuel Rodriguez
BS, LP (ATLS Course Coordinator)
Will David
RN, BSN (ATLS Course Coordinator)
