The authors present the main issues facing health care practitioners in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks in Virginia and New York. Prior to these attacks, practitioners were only beginning to understand how to treat patients exposed to major disasters such as those that occurred at Columbine High School and Oklahoma City. The events of September 11th exposed the entire Nation to scenes and reports of major disasters that resulted in thousands of deaths. The authors grapple with the challenges presented by the potential of treating widespread posttraumatic stress disorder. The authors begin to address these challenges by summarizing and disseminating information to trauma practitioners concerning how to best respond to patients suffering trauma as a result of terrorist activities. The authors also discuss the opportunities that are present to study aspects of trauma and recovery that have not previously been researched. For instance, the authors wonder how trauma recovery is affected by the increased level of national social cohesion, such as widespread displays of American flags. The September 11th attacks present many such opportunities to better understand the implications of mass trauma. Finally, the authors discuss how the September 11th attacks have created international cooperation among trauma workers, leading to greater understanding of how culture impacts the treatment of trauma. References