by Daniel Johnson
June 16, 2025
Howard University hosted its 5th Annual Victors Over Violence Award Ceremony at Howard University Hospital.
On May 30, Howard University hosted its 5th Annual Victors Over Violence Award Ceremony at Howard University Hospital, an event that honors survivors of traumatic violence as well as the healthcare teams that support them.
Howard University’s hospital has been designated a Level I Trauma Center and treats approximately 40,000 patients a year through its emergency department. It also holds space for trauma surgeons, nurses, mental health advocates, and a violence intervention and prevention unit that provides wraparound care extending from the community to the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Howard University’s Hospital Trauma Services’ Annual Victors Over Violence Award Ceremony offers a space for reflection, recognition, and healing for the community.
Among those honored this year was Derrick Scott, who has spent years recovering from the emotional and physical… pic.twitter.com/SOglpe0pzf
— Howard University (@HowardU) June 14, 2025
According to a press release from Howard University, some of the scars survivors carry don’t ever heal. “The pain doesn’t leave—you just learn to live with it,” honoree Derrick Scott said in the ceremony. “I lost my best friend. Every day I carry that pain. But I’m still here. And I’m still fighting.”
Kenyatta Hazlewood, BSN, MPH, RN, and the operational officer of the Trauma Program who hosted the ceremony, said in the press release that Scott’s story is central to why the hospital is committed to honoring all of the victims of traumatic violence, including, but not limited to, gun violence.
“The first goal is always to save a life,” said Dr. Alexander Evans. “But what comes after—the emotional, psychological, and spiritual healing—that’s where the real recovery begins. Every patient carries their injury differently. Some need surgeries. Some need silence. All of them need support.”
Scott opened up about the wounds that those who live carry inside of them.
“Not everybody walks away from it,” Scott said. “I lost my friend that night. I think about it every day. Some of us are still in it. Some of us are trying to run from it. But the best way through is to face it, to talk about it, and to find people who won’t let you give up.”
According to Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, the president of Howard University Hospital, Scott’s story emphasizes the need for traumatic violence to be seen and treated as a public health crisis.
“When we talk about trauma, we’re not just talking about gunshot wounds or car accidents—we’re talking about the chronic, layered impact of violence on entire communities. That means showing up for survivors not only when they arrive in crisis, but long after they’ve been discharged.”
He concluded, “Healing doesn’t happen in a single surgery. It’s a process, and it requires community. Events like this luncheon remind us that the people we care for are more than cases. When you see someone like Derrick come back stronger, it’s a reminder of the impact we can have when trauma care is continuous, compassionate, and community-based.”
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