Nathan Polite joins trauma surgery team at USA Health

By Lindsay Fletcher
lfletcher@health.southalabama.edu

After shadowing a physician who performed surgery on his collapsed lung years earlier, Nathan Polite, D.O., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.O.S., was able to see the impact a surgeon can have by facilitating rapid improvements in someone's health. That experience pushed him toward a career in surgery and, subsequently, trauma.

Polite, also an assistant professor of surgery at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, said he has always been drawn to critical situations where someone was in real need.

“Not only does trauma surgery provide emergency care upon the arrival of the patient in the emergency department, we also are providing the surgical care in the operating room, critical care in the ICU, and routine medical care on the trauma ward,” Polite said.

Polite joins the Level I trauma team at the Fanny Meisler Trauma Center at USA Health University Hospital. Previously, he spent three years as the trauma medical director at a Level II trauma center near Atlanta where he learned about the business and management of a trauma program and gained an appreciation for quality improvement initiatives and community outreach.

A Level I trauma center offers the highest level of care for those with traumatic injuries.

“Dr. Polite’s previous leadership and clinical expertise perfectly complement our team as we continue to expand ICU services throughout USA Health and enhance our ability to provide meaningful injury prevention programs throughout our community,” said Jon Simmons, M.D., surgeon and trauma director for University Hospital. “We are certainly very fortunate to be able to recruit someone of his caliber.”

Polite was academically active through his appointment at the Georgia Osteopathic Medical School, PCOM, and assisted his prior healthcare system with the development of a surgical residency program.

“I always enjoyed teaching at all levels of the medical spectrum,” Polite said. “Trauma is a rare field where you can provide education to the community, EMS, RNs, students, and other attendings.”

Polite came to USA Health after meeting Simmons during a surgical mission trip in Niger, Africa, in 2019. The two learned they had similar personal missions for their medical practices.

“We share a passion for embracing our diverse community and using a collaborative approach to optimize patients' outcomes, while trying to remember that we are blessed and privileged to do so,” Polite said.

Polite and his family moved to Mobile from Marietta, Georgia. He and his wife Adrienne, who is a family practice physician, are from Indiana and met at medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, Missouri. He completed a residency at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and a surgical critical care fellowship at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.

Polite also credits his wife’s willingness to make the move to Mobile in faith with his taking the position here. Previously, she cared for underserved patients at Christian Federally Qualified Health Care Centers and now homeschools their two children.