Carmen Hinojosa-Laborde, PhD, FAPS

Early pain management is critical to patient care, and can also limit the later development of chronic pain. However, in patients with trauma and hemorrhage, early pain management must not compromise compensatory cardiovascular and respiratory responses which are acting to optimize oxygen delivery to vital organs.

My research explores how analgesics affect the compensatory responses to hemorrhage and trauma. Some analgesics can depress cardiovascular and respiratory function. If these analgesics are given to a trauma patient shortly after injury or during transport to a hospital, the patient’s ability to survive the injury may be compromised.

My work will primarily impact the care of U.S. military service members who are wounded on the battlefield where most injuries include trauma and hemorrhage. Early pain management starts on the battlefield and continues during transport to treatment facilities. This pre-hospital period can last several hours or longer. My research goal is to identify novel analgesics, or novel combinations of analgesics, that will provide effective analgesia during the pre-hospital period and support survival of the injured soldier.

My passion is the education of girls and women to empower them to make knowledgeable choices that will affect their future health and careers. I am an advocate for single gender education. I volunteer at an all-girls school (grades 6-12), supporting its mission to prepare girls from diverse backgrounds to be strong, independent and intelligent young women. I also volunteer with a local health organization to organize an annual health fair event that teaches Hispanic women about healthy lifestyles for themselves and their families. If I were not a scientist, I would be teaching at an all-girls school.