A new chapter of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program, developed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), has launched in the Kurdistan Region and recently hosted its inaugural course in the capital city of Erbil.

Sadiq Aziz Khoshnaw, President of the ACS Kurdistan Region Chapter, has been appointed as the ATLS Country Chair for the Kurdistan Region. This announcement was made officially by the ACS Committee on Trauma.

Khoshnaw received the commendation in a letter that he shared with Kurdistan Chronicle. The official letter emphasized the importance of promoting and expanding the ATLS program, ensuring all courses align with the ACS Committee on Trauma’s requirements. Khoshnaw expressed his pride in this achievement, stating, “This is a significant step forward for trauma education and patient care in Kurdistan Region.”

The ATLS, first introduced in 1978, has trained over one million healthcare professionals in more than 80 countries. Its systematic approach to trauma patient care is set to transform the medical landscape in the Kurdistan Region. This appointment follows the establishment of the ACS Kurdistan Region - Iraq Chapter in 2023.

Khoshnaw highlighted the advantages of having the ATLS program locally available, “Having the Kurdistan Chapter allows our healthcare professionals to take courses here rather than traveling abroad,” he told Kurdistan Chronicle. “This ensures that all ATLS-certified doctors adhere to the same protocols, effectively reducing discrepancies among hospitals and expediting emergency care for patients throughout the Kurdistan Region.”