Simi Valley’s Top ER Doctor Talks Trauma, Teamwork, and Timing
Simi Valley Community Contributor 
Adventist Health Simi Valley Hosts Insightful “Lunch and Learn” with Dr. Tilles
(CLAIR | Moorpark, CA) — When you walk into an emergency room, every second counts—but few people know what really happens behind those doors. That changed today for a group of local leaders, who gathered at The M on High Restaurant in Moorpark for a “Lunch and Learn” hosted by Adventist Health Simi Valley.
Dr. Ira H. Tilles, the hospital’s vice chair of emergency medicine, offered an inside look at the high-stakes work of emergency care and how local hospitals are adapting to rising demands.
Dr. Tilles graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1993. He has over 30 years of experience in emergency medicine and has served as Chief of Staff at Adventist Health Simi Valley. He currently serves as vice chair of the hospital’s emergency medicine department.
The session ran from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and included lunch. It was organized by the Adventist Health Simi Valley Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation.
Emergency Departments Under Pressure
Dr. Tilles provided an overview of the challenges facing emergency departments. According to the CDC, emergency rooms in the U.S. had over 155 million visits in 2022, which equates to about 47 visits per 100 people. In Ventura County, EMS agencies responded to over 78,000 calls in the same year.
Dr. Tilles discussed how Adventist Health Simi Valley is managing these demands. Topics included patient flow, resource allocation, and how hospital staff respond to critical cases involving trauma, cardiac arrest, or drug overdoses.
Local Participation
Several members of local Rotary Clubs and hospital board members attended the event. Attendees included Monica Berlin, Elaine Freeman, Dr. Jonathan Kurohara, and Anil Garg.
One focus of the session was educating the public on how and when to use emergency services. Dr. Tilles reviewed situations best suited for emergency rooms, versus those that can be handled by urgent care or primary care clinics.
Organizers of the event said more educational sessions are expected in the future. The goal is to provide information about hospital operations and create dialogue between healthcare providers and local residents.
Events like today’s “Lunch and Learn” help bridge the gap between the medical community and the public. As demand for emergency care increases across Ventura County, these conversations offer timely insight into how local hospitals respond to medical crises every day.
For future event updates, community members are encouraged to contact Adventist Health Simi Valley Foundation.
