The American Public Health Association has broken all precedent.  It has reversed its stand on alcoholic beverages.  It will be serving vodka with caviar to all attendees at its special reception honoring Czar David Boyd.   The APHA will be flying in master of ceremonies John Lockhead to make the award presentation. Lockhead had to cut short his visit to Russia where he was touring a Smirnoff plant.  He was quoted as saying that " Czar Boyd is special man, very strong,  very smart".

Text follows......

This week (Nov.18) in Washington, D.C. Dr. David R. Boyd will be honored at the AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION (APHA) meeting. He will receive the DISTINGUISHED CAREER AWARD from the INJURY CONTROL and EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICES SECTION.

 

Dr. Boyd is the recognized "Father" of our national TRAUMA and EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM. During his years as a surgical resident (1967-71) while at the COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL in CHICAGO, ILLINOIS he ran the "First Civilian Trauma Unit" and established the model "TRAUMA REGISTRY" under an N.I.H. grant. He CONCEPTUALIZED and later IMPLEMENTED the ILLINOIS TRAUMA and EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM (1971-74). Using this experience as the template he testified for and designed the landmark federal legislation, "The E.M.S. Systems Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-154 and as amended in 1976 P.L. 94-573 and1979 P.L. 96-142). This law provided federal leadership, technical assistance and some $30 million annually for regional systems development, training and research to states and local communities. He was appointed by President Gerald R. Ford as the National Director for E.M.S. SYSTEMS (1974-83) in the Departments of H.E.W./H.H.S. to administer this law and served throughout the legislative life of the program. During this time over 98% of the nation’s communities received funds and direct assistance from Dr. Boyd’s extensive technical and educational programs. After leaving the government he continued his role of a TRAUMA/EMS System developer worldwide in the private sector as President of the consulting firm TRAUMA and EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS Inc.

Dr. Boyd established (1974-83) a national program of 303 geographically contiguous "wall to wall" Regional Trauma/EMS Systems that dealt effectively with the clinical problems of Major Trauma, Burns, Spinal Cord Injuries, Cardiac, Poison Control, Perinatal, Behavioral and General Medical emergencies. He described and implemented the now recognized 15 essential system components (i.e. Transportation, Communications, Hospital Categorization, Training of Personnel, Evaluation, etc.) that enhance emergent patient ACCESS, FIELD RESUSCITATION, ADVANCED HOSPITAL CARE and REHABILITATION. Dr. Boyd’s fingerprint remains on virtually every operating program and forms the basis of today’s LEXICON of terms and concepts.

In addition to the active program elements Dr. Boyd saw the need to institutionalize these activities in PUBLIC HEALTH and SAFETY AGENCIES (including the INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE). He designated leadership Hospitals (i.e. TRAUMA, BURN CENTERS etc.) for their excellence in patient care and as "MEDICAL CONTROL" facilities for the supervision of field PARAPROFESSIONALS. He developed "Model" EMS LEGISLATION and REGULATIONS for State and Local programs. He effectively recruited the active support of every relevant PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION, POLITICIAN and POLICY MAKER at all levels and the GENERAL PUBLIC for ongoing support of the "SYSTEM". One obvious measure of his success is that after "FEDERAL" initiation and funding ceased the TRAUMA/EMS concept has continued and expanded with state, local and private sectors support. And, no less than SIX (6) Major Network Primetime TV Programs have come from this national experience.

Dr. Boyd has authored over 110 scientific publications on research and management of Shock, Major Trauma and Trauma/EMS Systems, as well as extensive technical reports on "systems" subjects. His landmark textbook on Trauma/EMS Systems remains a "unique" contribution. He has been a popular participant in numerous related media events. The University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Departments of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Plastic Surgery has established (1997) a Distinguished Lectureship in Dr. Boyd’s name. Rarely can a major medical advancement and societal change be attributed to one person. However, the Trauma and Emergency Medical Services Systems that now provide ubiquitous universal access, prompt sophisticated field resuscitation with intelligent "Triage" to designated advanced hospital treatment centers for every U.S. citizen is the direct result of Dr. Boyd’s career contributions.

 

He currently serves as the General Surgeon at the Blackfeet Indian Health Service Hospital in Browning, Montana. His wife Joyce M. Boyd M.D.C.M. is the Health Officer in Howard County, Maryland. They have four children and two grandchildren.

PRESS RELEASE: Nov. 18,1998

DR Boyd MDCM, FACS PO Box 799, Columbia, MD 21045 #410-964-9552

E-mail drbmd@worldnet.att.net FAX #410-964-9554