CHAPTER 27: CONFERENCE ROOM I

Devon glided to the front of the conference room with the effortless swagger of a man who owned every inch of the space, flipping on the projector with a flick of his wrist that carried the nonchalance of a seasoned showman.

The screen flickered to life, bathing the room in a soft sapphire glow that illuminated the faces of the hospital’s elite, each one etched with a mix of anticipation, irritation, and something deeper, an unspoken acknowledgment of the chasm between their accomplishments and his. The slides snapped into focus, meticulous diagrams of trauma triage workflows, bar charts bursting with statistical rigor, and protocols so streamlined they promised to cut mortality rates by a staggering 18%, all grounded in real world case studies, no futuristic tech required.

He launched into his presentation with a voice like aged whiskey, smooth, rich, and commanding attention without effort. "Colleagues, trauma is a beast that doesn’t wait for bureaucracy. These protocols optimize triage, prioritize interventions, and integrate seamlessly with existing systems. They don’t just save time, they save lives."

The room stirred, a ripple of reactions spreading like wildfire.

Elias Thorne, the grizzled Chief of Emergency Medicine, leaned forward, his hawkish eyes narrowing with grudging interest. Miriam Voss, the ever-precise Chief of Anesthesiology, tilted her head, her lips pursed as if weighing the slides against her own expertise. Nadia Ruiz, the Research Director, set her pen down, her analytical gaze locked on the data with a hunger that betrayed her respect, even if her expression remained cool. Leonard Hayes, Chief of Radiology, adjusted his glasses, muttering something about "practicality under pressure."

Even Professor Julian Croft, the Academic Affairs Lead, paused his cufflink fiddling to scribble a note, while Dr. Serena Locke, the Education Coordinator, leaned in, her earlier hesitance replaced by curiosity.

They all acknowledged Devon’s talent, how could they not? The man had claimed the International Rising Star in Medicine award at nine, a feat that still stung for those who’d chased it in their thirties. By twelve, his report on rural sanitation had governments rewriting policy. At sixteen, a prototype he’d sketched between exams cut surgical deaths in half. By twenty, a seat at the Global Medical Alliance table was his by invitation, not application. But admiration didn’t equal affection. His brilliance was a spotlight that exposed their own limits, and his casual disregard for their time, evident in his late arrival, only deepened the rift. They respected him, but they weren’t his friends.

Elias broke the silence first, his voice gruff but laced with a challenge he couldn’t resist. "Solid numbers, Devon. But ERs are chaos, trauma cases pile up like a multi-car wreck. How do these protocols hold up when the board’s flooded and staff are stretched thin?"

Devon flashed a disarming grin, pointing to a slide with a flourish that made the laser pointer dance like a stage prop. "Great question, Elias. These protocols were forged in the crucible of chaos. We’ve stress-tested them across 4,000 case scenarios, real data from urban trauma centers. Prioritization matrices kick in at 90% capacity, rerouting patients and resources faster than you can say ’code blue.’ Results? 45% fewer delays in critical interventions. It’s not just theory, it’s battlefield-ready."

Elias grunted, a reluctant nod escaping him. "Fair enough. Might keep my team from drowning."

Miriam Voss was next, her tone sharp, probing for cracks. "Anesthesia’s a tightrope in trauma. Split-second dosing changes can make or break a case. Your integration claims seem... ambitious. How do you ensure compatibility with our protocols?"

"Ambitious? I’d say surgical," Devon replied, his voice smooth as he pulled up a sub-slide packed with flowcharts that moved like a well-rehearsed dance. "We’ve mapped 250 real world cases, aligning dosing schedules with your department’s standards. It’s plug and play your team’s feedback from last year’s trials shaped it. The system doesn’t just match your protocols; it makes them sing."

Miriam’s lips twitched, a flicker of approval breaking through her reserve. "Clever. You’ve done your homework."

Nadia Ruiz leaned in, her researcher’s skepticism tempered by intrigue. "The data’s tight, almost too tight. How’d you validate those outcomes? Long term impacts don’t show up in a single study."

Devon clicked to a dense table of longitudinal results, his eyes glinting with quiet confidence. "Ten years of data, Nadia, drawn from six trauma centers worldwide. Peer-reviewed, cross-checked, and bulletproof. The stats don’t just hold—they dominate. Your own research rigor inspired the approach."

She raised an eyebrow, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "Flatterer. But I’ll take it."

The room’s frost began to thaw, but not everyone was won over. Leonard Hayes, ever the skeptic, piped up with a dry chuckle. "Looks pretty, Devon, but radiology’s where the rubber meets the road. Scans can’t wait when patients are bleeding out. How do you speed up imaging without sacrificing quality?"

Devon’s grin widened, a touch of mischief in his eyes as he flicked to a slide of imaging workflows. "Leonard, I’d never skimp on your domain. We’ve streamlined scan prioritization, critical cases jump the queue without compromising resolution. Pilots cut imaging wait times by 55%. Quality? Untouched. Speed? Lightning."

Leonard chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, kid. You’ve got my attention."

Serena Locke, emboldened by the shift in mood, ventured a question, her voice soft but earnest. "What about training? New protocols can overwhelm residents. How do you ensure they stick?"

Devon’s tone warmed, his nod respectful. "Serena, you’re right, residents are the heartbeat. We’ve built step by step guides and hands-on drills, simple enough for a first-year to nail. Think of it as trauma 101, but with a master’s degree baked in. Your education programs will love the clarity."

She beamed, scribbling furiously. "That’s... actually brilliant."

The room was buzzing now, a mix of admiration and begrudging respect, until Gregory, who’d been simmering like a kettle about to scream, seized his moment. His face a blotchy red, he leaned forward with a sneer that was almost cartoonish in its venom, fueled by Devon’s earlier hallway jab that had dismissed his cherished efficiency policy as a relic better suited for a museum than a hospital.

"This is all glitter and no substance, Devon!" he barked, his voice echoing off the walls. "Your fancy charts ignore the real world administrative costs will choke us, retraining will grind staff to dust. It’s a pipe dream from a hotshot who’s never rolled up his sleeves like the rest of us!"