Physician recognized as "Hero of Emergency Medicine"

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LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Officials with the American College of Emergency Physicians announced Aug. 1 they have recognized Maj. (Dr.) James Eadie, vice chair of emergency medicine, medical director and flight commander at Wilford Hall Medical Center here, as a "Hero of Emergency Medicine."

The campaign, which is part of ACEP's 40th anniversary, recognizes emergency physicians who have made significant contributions to emergency medicine, their communities and their patients.

"Emergency physicians are on the front lines of America's health care system, providing the essential community service of emergency care," said Dr. Linda L. Lawrence, ACEP president. "The dedication, passion and commitment Major Eadie has shown embodies the vision of ACEP's founders and the ideals of our specialty."

Major Eadie is medical director of the Air Force's largest and only Level I trauma center emergency department, with more than 50,000 patient visits annually and 48 military emergency medicine residents. He has served twice in Iraq, logging 19 combat medical missions. He most recently served as medical director of the Air Force Theater Hospital Emergency Department in Joint Base Balad.

Passionate about improving medical care in the developing world, Major Eadie has volunteered extensively overseas. 

He served as director of the Guyana Cooperative Education Program in Guyana, where he collaborated with the Guyanese Ministry of Health and local physicians to design need-based educational programs. He also co-founded the Belize Cooperative Health Education Program in Belize. Working with Omni Med, he developed initial plans for the first continuing medical education program there. Major Eadie is president of Government Services ACEP and is co-chair of the ACEP Federal Government Affairs Committee.

"Tens of thousands of lives are saved each year by emergency physicians and 115 million patients are treated in the nation's emergency departments," said Dr. Lawrence. "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 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. 

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