The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) announced the recognition of Patrick Connell, MD, FACEP, an emergency physician working at Clínica Esperanza, Roatán, Honduras, & Kendall Shane Allred, a medical student at the University of Arizona, as “Heroes of Emergency Medicine.” The campaign, which is part of ACEP’s 40th anniversary, recognizes those who have made significant contributions to emergency medicine, their communities & their patients.
“Emergency physicians are on the front lines of America’s health care system, providing the essential community service of emergency care,” says ACEP President Linda L. Lawrence, MD. “The dedication, passion and commitment Dr. Connell and Kendall have shown embody the vision of ACEP’s founders and the ideals of our specialty.”
Dr. Connell was born in Arizona & currently spends approx. 6 months per year in Roatán, one of the Bay Islands of Honduras, serving as the clinic’s volunteer administrative & medical advisor. The clinic currently sees more than 800 patients per month. With adequate funding, Dr. Connell hopes to open an inpatient birthing center & pediatric inpatient ward in 2009. When not in Roatán, Dr. Connell works at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. Dr. Connell has been part of Arizona ACEP since 1989 & has served many years as a board member, is a past president & has served as an ACEP councillor for 10 years. In addition to being a hard-working emergency physician, Dr. Connell served on the Arizona Medical Board & was the first president to represent the specialty of emergency medicine.
When Kendall started medical school, he decided to take an active role in shaping the future of medicine by joining & being actively involved in ACEP & the AMA. These organizations have exposed him to important issues & viewpoints crucial to his future & have also allowed him opportunities to develop leadership skills & unite with colleagues who are dedicated to the profession & to their patients. Kendall is on the AMA’s Board of Trustees & has served in several AMA leadership positions on the local, state, regional, & national levels. While dedicating so many hours to these organizations during medical school hasn’t always been easy, Kendall feels privileged to make these sacrifices to ensure a better future for emergency medicine & America’s health care system. He hopes that his example of leadership, passion & advocacy will encourage other medical students to become involved in organized medicine.
“The American College of Emergency Physicians is celebrating 40 years of advancing emergency care, & the nation’s emergency physicians are dedicated to saving even more lives & to improving emergency care for the next 40 years,” said Dr. Lawrence. “Tens of thousands of lives are saved each year by emergency physicians & 115 million patients are treated in the nation’s emergency departments. Emergency physicians are medical specialists who are experts in their field.”
ACEP is a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 26,000 members. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research & public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico & the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches & other government agencies. ACEP’s 40th Anniversary is sponsored by Ultrasonix Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of high quality diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems & OnStar by General Motors, the world’s most comprehensive in-vehicle safety, security, navigation, communications & diagnostics system.