Mark R. Sochor

Mark R. Sochor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Virginia. He serves as Vice Chair for Research in Emergency Medicine and Medical Director of the Center for Applied Biomechanics, as well as Director of the Center for Engineering-in-Medicine. His dual expertise in mechanical engineering and emergency medicine enables a unique interdisciplinary approach to trauma and safety research.

Education:

• MD, Doctor of Medicine – Wayne State University School of Medicine
• MS, Mechanical Engineering – Wayne State University
• BS, Mechanical Engineering – Michigan State University

Dr. Sochor's research focuses on injury biomechanics, covering head, cervical spine, chest, abdomen (including pregnancy), pelvis, and extremities. His work includes occupant kinematics, pedestrian injury, post-mortem human subject (PMHS) testing, real-world crash investigations, and the development of experimental embalming and surgical training techniques. He is particularly interested in anatomical injury scaling and the characterization of biological materials under impact conditions.

His recent publications reflect a strong trend in both clinical emergency medicine and engineering-focused trauma research. Articles span from optimizing cervical spine protocols and reducing unnecessary CT scans in trauma, to developing tools like BioTab for crash injury analysis and using postmortem CT to enhance autopsy findings. This dual focus illustrates his commitment to bridging engineering precision with clinical outcomes.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• President, Virginia College of Emergency Physicians
• Chair, Training and Certification Committee – Association for Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)
• Young Achiever Award – AAAM
• AJ Merkin Service Award – AAAM
• American College of Emergency Physicians – Hero of Emergency Medicine
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Medical Advisory Board

Dr. Sochor has been Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on multiple grants related to motor vehicle safety and blunt trauma response. He advises emerging researchers through his leadership roles and training initiatives, having trained industry engineers in anatomy and injury causation during his fellowship. His administrative leadership includes editorial roles, such as former co-editor of the Journal of Traffic Injury and Prevention, and current reviewer for American Journal of Emergency Medicine and Society of Automotive Engineers.

He leads the Center for Applied Biomechanics and the Center for Engineering-in-Medicine, both at UVA, which focus on experimental testing, crash simulation, and translational applications of biomechanics to medical education and trauma care. These labs integrate engineering methodologies with clinical insights to improve safety and treatment outcomes.