TORRANCE (May 21, 2008) — The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) today announced it has recognized Marianne Gausche-Hill, M.D., FACEP, and Robert Hockberger, M.D., FACEP, as Heroes of Emergency Medicine, an honor the organization bestows upon emergency physicians who have made significant contributions to emergency medicine, their communities and their patients.
The honor is part of ACEP’s 40th anniversary celebration. Dr. Gausche-Hill is the Emergency Medical Services director and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship director at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Hockberger is the chair of the department of emergency medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Both are investigators at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed).
“Emergency physicians are on the front lines of America’s health care system, providing the essential community service of emergency care,” said ACEP President Linda L. Lawrence, M.D.
She said the “dedication, passion and commitment” of Drs. Gausche-Hill and Hockberger embody “the vision of ACEP’s founders and the ideals of our specialty.”
Dr. Gausche-Hill is the first emergency physician to complete a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine in the U.S. and is a recognized leader in the field. As a LA BioMed investigator, she has published important research that has set the standard for pediatric airway management in the pre-hospital setting. In addition, Dr. Gausche-Hill has served as the editor for APLS: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Resource, as well as seven other textbooks in emergency medicine and pre-hospital care.
Dr. Gausche-Hill has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including the “ACEP Outstanding Contributions to Education Award” in 2004, the “Martha Bushore-Fallis APLS Award” from the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2005 and the “Emergency Medical Services for Children Heroes Award for Lifetime Achievement” in 2007.
Dr. Hockberger is a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His greatest accomplishment has been attracting outstanding faculty, fellows and residents committed to providing high-quality health care to the underserved public hospital population while contributing to the development of emergency medicine as an academic discipline. He is an active ACEP member, serving on the Public Relations and Academic Affairs Committees, as well as being a member of the National Spokespersons’ Bureau.
Dr. Hockberger is a past president of the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He served as chair of the task force that developed the Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine and is a senior editor for the textbook Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to emergency medicine, including the “Outstanding Contributions to Education Award” from California ACEP in 1992 and from National ACEP in 1995. He also received the “Political Leadership Award” from California ACEP in 2004.
“The American College of Emergency Physicians is celebrating 40 years of advancing emergency care, and the nation’s emergency physicians are dedicated to saving even more lives and to improving emergency care for the next 40 years,” said Dr. Lawrence. “Tens of thousands of lives are saved each year by emergency physicians and 115 million patients are treated in the nation’s emergency departments. Emergency physicians are medical specialists who are experts in their field.”
About ACEP
ACEP is a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 25,000 members. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.
About LA BioMed
Founded 56 years ago, LA BioMed is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit independent biomedical research institutes. It conducts biomedical research, trains young scientists and provides community services, including childhood immunization, nutrition assistance and anti-gang violence programs. The institute’s researchers conduct studies in such areas as cardio-vascular disease, emerging infections, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, dermatology, reproductive health, vaccine development, respiratory disorders, inherited illnesses and neonatology.
LA BioMed is an independent institute that is academically affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The institute is located on the campus of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance.
It contributes to Los Angeles County’s economic viability while inventing the future of health care through its ground-breaking research, its training of the scientists of tomorrow and its service to the local community. Please visit our website at www.LABioMed.org