BCH's 4th Annual Trauma Symposium

In a full-day event held on April 9, the Boulder Community Health (BCH) Trauma Services Department presented lectures and discussions on a variety of topics related to trauma medicine, patient care and best practices.

The 4th Annual Trauma Symposium – made possible through generous support from the Boulder Community Health Foundation – featured inspirational and educational topics related to critical care in neuro and vascular trauma, resuscitation, catastrophic falls, breast care and creative solutions for reconstruction after trauma.

This year's agenda featured a keynote address from BCH trauma patient Craig Towler, who shared his inspirational story of advocacy both for himself and for others after traumatic injury.

On July 4, 2016, Craig Towler was standing behind his car in front of his home in Boulder, Colorado when an intoxicated, distracted driver hit the car parked behind him, crushing him between the two vehicles and severing his legs at the knee.

Bystanders reacted immediately and followed Craig’s instructions to tie tourniquets around his legs above each wound. “I remember telling them, ‘I’m going to scream, but you have to keep making them tighter,’” Craig recalls.

An ambulance arrived quickly transporting Craig to the Boulder Community Health (BCH) Emergency Department (ED), but his wounds were too severe for the staff to care for in 2016, and he was taken to Denver Health by Flight for Life.

Craig was determined a “Life or Limb” patient, meaning his damaged limbs must be amputated in order to save his life. “The only reason I am alive today is because of those tourniquets,” Craig says. “They left them tied the whole flight and didn’t take them off until surgery.”

After the amputation of both his legs at the knee, after Craig was released from the ICU at Denver Health, he was sent to BCH for inpatient rehab, where he was visited by Angela Montgomery, a local Prosthetist, who told him he might be a good candidate for prosthetics once his legs healed enough. “I remember telling her, ‘Thank you for the information, I look forward to talking to you when the time comes,” Craig recalls.

“He was so different from anyone else I had worked with,” says Angela, “he was so in the moment, and not focusing on the past or too far in the future.” When he was ready, Craig met with Angela and they began a journey together not just to help Craig walk again, but to improve access to recovery resources for trauma survivors across the state of Colorado.

Since Craig and Angela met as patient and provider, they learned about the many challenges faced by trauma survivors after leaving the hospital. “I was in a wheelchair now in a house without ramps, where I couldn’t reach the top of the fridge anymore,” says Craig. “I didn’t know who to call or even find out who to call to help me build a ramp or set my house up so I could get around.” Navigating the complexity of the health care system and the lack of direct support for patients once they returned home was startling.

As Craig learned how to advocate for his needs after his injury, his friendship with Angela grew into a partnership focused on advocating for trauma survivors at the systems level. Dedicating his future and career to helping others face the challenges he experienced, Craig is now the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Center for People With Disabilities, also serving on the Trauma Survivors Network (TSN) Advisory Board, Boulder Chapter. He and Angela have taken on numerous legislative projects and even passed a bill in Colorado to require insurance coverage for a secondary prosthetic for recreational activities to ensure a return to the activities that bring survivors joy and purpose.

Craig recently married his wife, Ligia, in the spring of 2025 and proudly walked and danced with family and friends, including Angela and her wife and son. Today, he and Angela continue their work to help others in our community get the services and resources they need after trauma. This summer on July 4, 2026 – the turn of a decade since his injury – Craig says he is looking forward to celebrating “10 years of being alive.”

See Craig and Angela’s full presentation here:

National Trauma Survivors' Day on May 20

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized with traumatic injuries. family, friends and loved ones are also affected by the trauma of an injury. It can be a challenging journey, but the Trauma Survivors' Network (TSN) has offered assistance for over a decade. We believe that nothing heals people like the support of their peers. Learn more about the Trauma Survivor’s Network and how to get involved in your community.

Boulder Community Health, a Level II Trauma Center

Foothills Hospital provides 24-hour access to high-level emergency medical care from board-certified emergency medicine physicians and specially-trained nurses. We care for patients requiring treatment for everything from broken bones to strokes to life-and limb-threatening injuries. In the event you suffer a serious injury, our expert team of medical professionals are ready to deliver outstanding evaluation, treatment, compassion and care close to home.

As the first Level II Trauma Center in Boulder County, BCH has the sophisticated resources and expertise readily available to treat seriously injured patients.

• Level II Trauma Center, the highest level in Boulder County
• Nationally-certified Primary Stroke Center
• Most comprehensive treatment for heart conditions in Boulder County

We work closely with our local Emergency Medical Services partners -- paramedics and first responders -- to provide the high-quality, prompt care you need.