NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL PRESENTS DAVID R. BOYD, MDCM, FACS,
WITH SERVICE TO SAFETY AWARD

CHICAGO: The National Safety Council (NSC) presented David R. Boyd, MDCM, FACS, of New Market, MD, with the Surgeons’ Award for Service to Safety on October 9, 2006, at the Committee on Trauma (COT) dinner during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) 92nd annual Clinical Congress in Chicago. Dr. Boyd was honored for his visionary leadership in trauma systems development and trauma care and for his lifelong commitment to the care of trauma patients, prevention of injuries, and development of systems. The award was presented by John J. Fildes, MD, FACS, Chair, ACS Committee on Trauma, and David V. Feliciano, MD, FACS, President, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST).

To be eligible for the Surgeons’ Award for Service to Safety an individual surgeon or a surgical organization must make outstanding contributions to the prevention of accidents, establish or demonstrate methods and results adaptable to other individuals or groups, or stimulate others to undertake or take part in safety projects or programs.

Dr. Boyd is a general surgeon with 25 years experience in the US Public Health Service (PHS), Department of Health and Human Services, serving the Indian Health Service (IHS) for the last 12 years. He was a staff surgeon (1993-2005) and Clinical Director (2002-2003) at the Blackfeet Community Hospital, Browning, MT. Dr. Boyd is currently serving as Coordinator of Emergency Medical Services, Office of Emergency Services, IHS, to improve trauma care and emergency medical services for the American Indian community.

Dr. Boyd earned his medical and master of surgery degree (MDCM) from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (1963). After graduation, Dr. Boyd interned at Cook County Hospital (CCH), Chicago (1963-1964). He was drafted to serve in the US Army, where he was captain and chief medical officer in the medical corps (1964-66). He resumed his surgical training at the University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore, (1966-1967), where he also served as the first shock-trauma fellow at the developing Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (1967-1968). Dr. Boyd returned to CCH to complete his surgical residency training and serve as resident director of the nation’s first civilian trauma unit (1968-1971).

As Chair of the Committee on Planning for a Statewide System of Trauma Facilities, State Comprehensive Health Planning Agency in Illinois, Dr. Boyd planned and implemented a statewide trauma and emergency medical services (EMS) system (1970-72). As Director, Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety, Department of Public Health in Illinois (1970-1974), Dr. Boyd established the first computerized trauma registry. As National Director of Emergency Medical Services, PHS, (1975-1983), Dr. Boyd worked with every state and more than 300 regional trauma/EMS systems on a variety of policy, programmatic, and political issues. He also established a lead agency for trauma and EMS systems in every state and many local public health departments.

Additionally, he provided technical assistance and expert testimony to virtually every important executive and legislative body in the nation. He was also a consultant to numerous public and private hospitals on trauma and specialty care centers, helicopter and paramedic programs, and state and regional EMS systems. Moreover, Dr. Boyd has provided assistance to many foreign countries regarding trauma and EMS systems and related topics.

The Surgeons’ Award for Service to Safety is sponsored by the NSC, and nominations for the award are submitted by the AAST in odd-numbered years and by the ACS COT in even-numbered years. The nomination is approved by both organizations before it is forwarded to the NSC. In presenting this award, the NSC strengthens the work of surgeons or surgical organizations by identifying and enhancing their emphasis on the interlocking problems of the prevention and restoration of accidental injuries; strengthens the work of safety councils through the increased participation of surgeons in organized accident prevention activities; and continues progress in the development of criteria to ascertain the effectiveness of activities conducted for the prevention of accidents.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 70,000 members and it is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

Online November 7, 2006

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