Bio

Fellowship – Trauma Research; University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VAMD – University of Virginia; Charlottesville, VAMS – Computer Engineering; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VABS – Computer Engineering; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Thomas Hartka, MD, MS is an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Dr. Hartka studied Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, earning his Bachelors and Masters Degrees. He investigated structural optimization using cellular automata on reconfigurable hardware during his graduate work. After leaving Virginia Tech, he completed a premedical post-baccalaureate program at Johns Hopkins. He then worked as a research assistant in pediatric neurology at DC Children’s Hospital, specifically assisting on work to phenotype Alexander Disease. He attended the University of Virginia School of Medicine, then remained at the University of Virginia to complete his residency in Emergency Medicine. Dr. Hartka then took a position as the Trauma Research Fellow at the Center for Applied Biomechanics. After completing his fellowship, he joined the faculty at the University of Virginia. Dr. Hartka is currently board certified in Emergency Medicine and works clinically in the Emergency Department. He is also involved in medical student education, resident education, biomechanical instrumentation, and motor vehicle collision analysis.

Research Interests

  • Blunt Force Thoracic Trauma
  • Radiographic Interpretation of Injury and Accident Reconstruction
  • Motor Vehicle Crash Occupant Kinematics during Collisions
  • Pre-hospital Patient Care and Triage
  • Pre-hospital provider education
  • Mobile computing for medical education
  • High-fidelity simulation

Selected Publications

  • Comparison of visual and CT 3D reconstructed abdominal seatbelt sign locations. Short communication. Association of the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Munich, Germany. October 2014.
  • Comparison of AIS 1990 update 98 versus AIS 2005 for describing living subject injuries from rollover collisions in the CIREN database. Short communication. Association of the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Munich, Germany. October 2014.
  • Effectiveness and Perception of an Intensive Emergency Procedures Elective for Fourth-Year Medical Students. XXVII Panamerican Trauma Congress. Panama City, Panama. November 13, 2014.
  • Analysis of Injury Severity Associated With Pattern And Location Of Seatbelt Induced External Injury. Society of Academy Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting. Lightning Abstract Presentation. May 17, 2014.
  • GFAP mutations, age at onset, and clinical subtypes in Alexander disease. 2011. Sep 27; 77(13):1287-94.