Member in the News Charles F. Barbera, MD, MBA, MPH, FACEP

connected to the local hospitals and surrounding communities and providing academic-level care within a private practice setting, was the greatest draw for me.

What do you like best about practicing medicine?

The personal interaction with patients and their family members is certainly the greatest draw for me, and I do appreciate both the intense responsibility and joy inherent in curing disease and improving quality of life, and also the humbling inevitability that sometimes, despite our best efforts, our attempts to achieve those things fall short. I also find the challenging and technical aspects of surgical management to be invigorating and I enjoy the problem-solving aspect within that space.

If you could change one thing about the current practice environment, what would it be?

I am very happy with our personal practice environment. Within the general practice of medicine I feel that there is currently an ongoing struggle to continue to provide high levels of care despite issues with staffing shortages, which is likely due to both economic factors and impacts from the current pandemic environment. I would be happy to see healthcare systems doing more to retain high quality clinical staff, but I understand the current challenges they are facing.

Are you involved in any nonprofit/community groups at this time?

I am not, but would love to be! Do you have any suggestions? My wife has always worked within the non-profit sector and is actively exploring this space as well.

Please tell us a little about your family and the activities you enjoy outside of work.

My wife, Victoria, and our young son, Owen, live in Wyomissing with our beagle-terrier, Mamba. We continue to love exploring all that the region has to offer, although our initial few months here have been mostly spent getting settled and getting our house in order, which has been mostly enjoyable with a few “new homeowner surprises” sprinkled along the way. We enjoy most spending time outdoors and have tried hiking many of the local trails. In the spring we look forward to spending some days fishing on the local waterways and some nights camping under the stars. When not enjoying nature’s bounty, we love cooking or baking together at home and are certainly fond of movie nights on the couch or game nights around the table. Being close to both of our families means many visits to and from the grandparents, which is much easier since my parents have moved to Lititz. So far we are quite happy with our new home and look forward to building our life here.

m E mb E r in th E n E ws

Charles F. Barbera, MD, MBA, MPH, FACEP

Charles F. Barbera, MD, MBA, MPH, FACEP, has been named Chair of the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) Board of Directors for a one-year term that began on January 1. His service on the Board began in 2013, when he was nominated by the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians. For the past two years he has held the position of Vice Chair. Dr. Barbera is the first Emergency Medicine physician to be selected as Chair of this organization. A long-time member of the BCMS, Dr. Barbera served as the BCMS President in 2005.

The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation is the accrediting body for trauma centers throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Foundation was created through the combined efforts of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, along with the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

“The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation is an important organization for the health and safety of all individuals in the commonwealth,” said P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health CEO. “It is an honor to have Dr. Barbera, one of Tower Health’s physician leaders, be the first Emergency Medicine Physician to serve as Chair. I know he will work tirelessly for patients in every community.”

Dr. Barbera said, “It is a privilege to serve as Chair of the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation Board. During my tenure I am committed to promoting trauma center development, advocating for legislation to improve the trauma system in the state, and working with industry partners to improve trauma care in the areas of EMS, injury prevention, clinical care, and trauma system enhancement.”