Pediatric trauma research team

Karla A Lawson, PhD, MPH

Director, Dell Children’s Trauma and Injury Research Center
Associate Professor of Surgery and Perioperative Care, The University of Texas Dell Medical School
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Dr. Karla A. Lawson is the Director of the Dell Children’s Trauma and Injury Research Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center and an Associate Professor of Surgery and Perioperative Care at the University of Texas-Austin Dell Medical School. She received her doctoral degree from the University of Texas in 2003 and was awarded the Cancer Prevention Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health for 2003-2006. She received a Master in Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2004, where she concentrated in epidemiology and biostatistics. Her current research interests include the prevention and clinical decision making of non-accidental trauma injury, screening and intervention for risky alcohol and drug use in adolescents, youth suicide, and best practice for pediatric trauma clinical care.

Holly Hughes Garza, DVM, MPH

Research Scientist
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Dr. Holly Hughes Garza is a Research Scientist with the Dell Children’s Trauma and Injury Research Center. She previously served as a Medical Research Specialist and Epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She completed her Master of Public Health degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in 2019, with a thesis focused on hospital-based detection of physical child abuse. She received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from North Carolina State University in 2004 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2000. As a veterinarian she worked in clinical and regulatory animal health settings for over 10 years. Her current research focuses on pediatric injury epidemiology, and she has special interests in health disparities and data visualization.

Molly B. Johnson, PhD, M.AmSAT

Research Scientist
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Dr. Molly Johnson is a Research Scientist for Dell Children’s Trauma and Injury Research Center and oversees research for the Drowning Prevention and Water Safety program. She completed her PhD in Neuroscience and Behavior in 2010 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and received a postdoctoral research fellowship to study behavioral and movement factors related to occupational injuries and back pain development with the Program in Physical Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine. She received her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Carleton College. Dr. Johnson is also an Adjunct Professor in the Kinesiology Department at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. She draws on her extensive experience as an Alexander Technique teacher and training director to inform her understanding of behavioral change and injury prevention and her background as a Shaw Method aquatics instructor to guide her research on drowning prevention.

Karen Piper, BS

Data Manager & Research Coordinator
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Karen Piper is a Data Manager and Research Coordinator with the Dell Children’s Trauma and Injury Research Center. She received her BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002 and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She is experienced in database design, querying and management for research and QI/PI purposes. She enjoys collaborating with investigators and clinical professionals on a diverse spectrum of pediatric injury and mental health research projects.

Catherine Wesson, MPH

Research Coordinator, Regulatory Specialist
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Catherine L. Wesson is a Research Coordinator and Regulatory Specialist for the Dell Children’s Trauma and Injury Research Center. She received her Bachelor of Science from The University of Texas at Austin in 2003 and her Master of Public Health from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2008. Catherine specializes in FDA regulations governing human subject’s research and trial coordination. With experience in coordinating industry sponsored clinical trials, NIH funded and investigator initiated research, Catherine guides researchers and clinicians through the internal, ethical and legal review process. Her current research areas of focus include screening and intervention for risky alcohol and drug use in adolescents, youth trauma and mental health outcomes, and best practice for pediatric trauma clinical care.

Dell Children’s Trauma and Injury Research Center publications

At Dell Children’s, our involvement in pediatric trauma research spans many clinical and psycho-social topics. This publication list is a highlight of recent peer-review research. For additional information, contact our research team.

2022
Gottschalk HP, Hughes Garza H, Barczyk AN, Duzinski SV, Lawson KA. Risk Factors for Upper Extremity Refractures in Children. J Pediatr Orthop. 2022;42(8):413-420. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000002211

Johnson, MB, Lawson KA. Evaluation of the WAVE™ Drowning Detection System for use with children’s summer camp groups in swimming pools: A prospective observational study. International Journal of Critical Illness and Injury Science. 2022; 12:184-9.

Johnson, MB, Boriack ED, McConnell CM, Lawson KA. Impact of caregiver swimming capability on perceptions of swimming pool supervision of toddlers. Injury Epidemiology. 2022; 9 (Suppl 1):40.

Johnson, MB, Lawson, KA, Magrum, A, Zane, D. One Texan dies from drowning every day! A report on fatal unintentional drownings, Texas, 2006-2020. Central Texas Drowning Prevention Action Team, Dell Children’s Trauma and Injury Research Center, and Colin’s Hope, Austin, Texas. 2022

Piper K, Young CC, V Jones K, Lawson KA, Wesson CL, Barczyk AN. A qualitative content analysis study using electronic medical records to understand youth suicide attempts. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs. 2022;35(1):76-82. doi:10.1111/jcap.12350

2021
Bhatia A, Garcia NM.  Early Vasopressor Administration in Pediatric Blunt Liver and Spleen Injury: An ATOMAC+ study. J Pediatr Surg. 2021 March; 56(3): 500-505.

Hughes Garza H, Perez A, Piper K, Barczyk AN, Lawson KA. Accuracy of ICD-10 coding for physical child abuse in a Pediatric Level I Trauma Center. Injury Prevention. 2021 March; 27(S1):i71-i74.

Johnson MB, Boriack ED, McConnell CM, Lawson KA. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Toddler Swimming Routines. Journal of Physical Activity Research. 2021; 6(2): 107-111.

Johnson MB, Boriack ED, McConnell CM, Williams SR, Naiditch JA, Lawson KA. Predictors of Swimming Pool Supervision for Caregivers of Toddlers. J Inj Violence Res. 2021 July; 13(2): 141-150.

Notrica DM, Sussman BL, Sayrs LW, St Peter SD, Maxson  RT, Alder AC, Eubanks 3rd JW, Johnson JJ, Ostlie DJ, Ponsky T, Naiditch JA, Leys CM, Lawson KA, Greenwell C, Bhatia A, Garcia NM, Early vasopressor administration in pediatric blunt liver and spleen injury: An ATOMAC+ study, J Pediatr Surg,. 2021 Mar;56(3):500-505.

Wilson AK, Ragsdale CE, Sehgal I, Vaughn M, Padilla-Tolentino E, Barczyk AN, Lawson KA. Exposure-based Methadone and Lorazepam Weaning Protocol Reduces Wean Length in Children. The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2021 January; 26(1): 42-49.

2020
Apelt N, Greenwell C, Tweed J, Notrica DM, Maxson RT, Garcia NM, Lawson K, Eubanks JW 3rd, Letton RW Jr, Scindel D. Air Guns: A Contemporary Review of Injuries at Six Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Centers. J Surg Res, 2020 Apr; 248:1-6.

Barczyk AN, Gillon JT, Piper K, Christie L, Lawson KA. Predictors of traumatic suicide attempts in youth presenting to hospitals with level I trauma centers, Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2020 Aug; 59(2): 178-185.

Barczyk AN, Jones K, Duzinski SV, Lawson KA. Predictors of childhood injury in children reported to child protective services. Journal of Trauma Nursing. 2020 Sept/Oct; 27(5):283-291.

Mello MJ, Becker SJ, Spirito A, et al. Screening Adolescent Trauma Patients for Substance Use at 10 Pediatric Trauma Centers. J Trauma Nurs. 2020;27(6):313-318. doi:10.1097/JTN.0000000000000537

2019
Barczyk AN, Piper K, Duzinski SV, Lawson KA. Suicide Attempt Trends in Central Texas Youth. Community Ment Health J. 2019;55(5):798-803. doi:10.1007/s10597-019-00386-9

Notrica DM, Sussman BL, Garcia NM, Leys CM, Maxson RT, Bhatia A, Letton RW, Ponsky T, Lawson KA, Eubanks JW, Alder AC, Greenwell C, Ostlie DJ, Tuggle DW, St Peter SD. Reimaging in pediatric blunt spleen and liver injury. J Pediatr Surg. 2019;54(2):340-344. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2018.08.060

Pollok, L.J., Barczyk, A.N., Piper, K., Burg, B., & Garcia, N.M. Evaluation of an after-hours child passenger safety resource guide. Journal of Trauma Nursing. J Trauma Nurs. 2019 Nov/Dec; 26(6):272-280