Dr. Rachel Nygaard is a distinguished researcher dedicated to addressing health disparities and enhancing the quality of trauma care. Her research has notably improved the understanding and management of frostbite. She is the creator of the Hennepin Frostbite Score, a pivotal tool for measuring frostbite treatment efficacy, and her research was instrumental in highlighting the consequences of delayed treatment on limb preservation after frostbite injuries. Dr. Nygaard's expertise in frostbite injury is recognized internationally, as evidenced by her contributions to clinical practice guidelines, a comprehensive book chapter, and numerous peer-reviewed articles. Serving as the Research Director for the Department of Surgery at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA for over a decade, she is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota and a founding member of the International Frostbite Research Group.