EVMS alum leading Washington state’s COVID-19 response
A trauma surgeon needs to be prepared to handle any crisis in the operating room. That high-pressure experience is one of many reasons why an EVMS alumna, retired Navy Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, MD (Trauma and Critical Care Fellowship ’89), was named Washington state’s Director for COVID-19 Health System Response Management.
In this role, Dr. Bono will advise the governor, his staff and state agencies on actions needed to address the capacity and strain across the health care system.
“I am honored and delighted to join Gov. Inslee and the Washington state healthcare community, Dr. Bono says. “I look forward to being a part of their collective leadership and expertise to develop a model of care for all Washingtonians and others during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dr. Bono will work closely with acute care facilities, long-term care facilities, clinics, tribal facilities and the federal government to assess and address the greatest needs. Her role will include work to ensure medical staffing needs are met, as well as develop standard protocols across facilities and coordinate with the state Emergency Operations Center to operationalize statewide efforts.
Dr. Bono completed a surgical internship and a General Surgery Residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and a Trauma and Critical Care Fellowship at EVMS.
“I can’t think of a better person for the job,” says L.D. Britt, MD, MPH, the Edward J. Brickhouse Chair in Surgery, the Henry Ford Professor of Surgery and Professor and Chair of Surgery at EVMS. “She is battle tested and comes from a legacy of military leaders. This is a job she is meant to do.”
Dr. Bono is currently a senior fellow with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. As the former Chief Executive Officer and Director for the Defense Health Agency, Dr. Bono led a joint, integrated support agency that enabled all branches of the U.S. military medical services to provide healthcare services to those engaged in combat.