The Lehman Center, located in the Ryder Trauma Center on the campus of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, is a national model for the study of automobile injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The Lehman Center was established in 1991 with funding from the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The center's research focuses on people who are injured or killed in frontal, side or rollover crashes and were also restrained by seatbelt, airbag or a combination. Jeffrey S. Augenstein, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., Professor of Surgery and Director of the William Lehman Injury Research Center, heads the study commonly referred to as the "Crash Study." The "Crash Study" helps identify injury patterns and causes in these specific types of crashes.

In 1998, crash survivor and undergraduate student, Adam Blomberg began volunteering at the Lehman Center. He focused on educational efforts to prevent loss of life and to reduce the number of injuries due to motor vehicle crashes. He developed a 35mm slide show presentation describing motor vehicle crashes and their effects on its victims.  This presentation, "Driving Responsibly" was different from other interventional programs in that it is based on his true experience. Adam's Personal Experience, as a survivor of a near-fatal crash allows him to speak from real life. During the presentation, graphic pictures of Adam in a coma through his rehabilitation process help D.R.I.V.E. the point home. This allows the audience to see how real car crashes are and their real effects on victims. 

Over the next 4 years, Adam and the Lehman Center continued to update and advance "Driving Responsibly" into a computerized comprehensive multimedia program.  During these 4 years, Adam, then as a medical student at the University of Miami School of Medicine, continued to present at high schools, colleges and community organizations.  The positive responses continued to pile up and the Lehman Center applied for funding to perform a one-year study on the efficacy of the program and to help expand the program.  At that time, D.R.I.V.E. was born. 

D.R.I.V.E. was formed to become an umbrella program of Injury Prevention initiatives.  The first program under the D.R.I.V.E. umbrella was "Adam - A Survivor's Story" which was now professionally redone by a multimedia corporation.

Currently, D.R.I.V.E. is looking to expand its Injury Prevention ideas.  The results from the one year study on the efficacy of "Adam - A Survivor's Story" were tremendous and helps support the idea that a survivor can have a positive impact on high school students.

This program will have far-reaching effects in any organization as a tool for injury prevention.

Dr. Blomberg has been delivering his presentation since 1998 to students at high schools and colleges and to community organizations around the country. In many markets, Dr. Blomberg's presentation is sponsored by Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers as part of the company's commitment to fight underage drinking and drunk driving. To schedule a presentation with Dr. Blomberg, please contact him directly at ablomberg@drivingresponsibly.com.