List Archives

Sun Aug 22 22:19:27 BST 2010

We have learned from Will Chapleau that Doctor Steve Parks died  yesterday. 
  Below Dr. Ronald Gross has begun his  eulogy.     Steve was one of the 
band of brothers that made  up an important movement which although begun by 
visionaries of the 1960s,  firmed up in the 1970s and became reality in the 
1980s.    Steve  was a real part of that movement known as trauma systems.   
He  was part of the initial thought process, the refinement, and the 
EDUCATION of  this movement.    He was part of the group that insisted on the  
unity and consistency of the ATLS course.   

Steve Parks was also an entertainer.   He loved the  theater.   We acted in 
plays and was good at this  avocation.    He taught all of us to laugh and 
to entertain and  we often entertained ourselves.    We learned "The Bull 
Frog"  song from Steve.   This was a bit of nonsense that we would sing the  
same verse over and over again leaving out words of the song as it was re  
sung,  yelling out a few choice words after moments of mouthing  silence.    
Although sung hundreds of times, we would plead with  him to lead us in it 
again and again.      And he  would.   

I remember when diabetes took its toll on Steve's peripheral nerves and he  
first wore special shoes, and then got a special motorized  scooter.    He 
told a bunch of us one time that he could not feel  his feet and his 
propreioception was gone.     That was 20  years ago, but he kept going.    

The fact that ATLS is standardized is a credit to Steve Parks.    He was a 
conscious that held this early movement together.    

Steve, you are one of the early one of this "band of brothers" that have  
left the world with its best example of integrated collaborative medical  
networks.    This trauma system is one of the very few integrated  health 
systems in the world that extends all over the world and is the best  example of 
accountable care organizations that politicians only dream  of.      Others 
of this band of brothers are also  upping in years like you and before long 
will join in the extend band of  brothers gatherings.    We will then ask 
you again to lead us in  the Bull Frog Song and laugh and laugh as we belt out 
the long worn out phrases  which brought us such relaxation and joy.    

Kenneth L. Mattox, MD

In a message dated 8/22/2010 11:52:54 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
Ronald.Gross at baystatehealth.org writes:

Dr.  Parks was one of those indomitable forces in medicine, and we were 
lucky  enough to have him in the trauma family.  To me he was the epitome of  
what I would call a progressive traditionalist; he believed that once we  
accepted responsibility for a patient, that patient was our responsibility and  
no one else's - and that was the traditionalist.  He also believed that  
our care was and must always be the most up to date care available, and as  
such he was a progressive educator.  He was, as I recall, one of the  founding 
fathers of ATLS, he was, for years, the conscience of ATLS, and he  was a 
fixture in the COT.  He has been responsible for the training of  hundreds of 
residents and trauma surgeons.  All of those who trained with  him that I 
have talked to (including one of my partners) loved the man and  always 
speak/spoke of him with reverence and profound respect.  He will  be dearly 
missed.

August has not been a great month for the trauma  world.....we have lost 
Steve Parks and David Burris, two wonderful colleagues,  and two surgeons that 
many future surgeons will hear of in only glowing terms,  and will wish 
they could have known.

Ron

-----Original  Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org  
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Will Chapleau
Sent:  Sunday, August 22, 2010 12:09 PM
To: trauma-list at trauma.org
Subject: RE:  trauma-list Digest, Vol 86, Issue 27

Dr. Steven Parks, renowned  surgeon, teacher and friend, died yesterday at 
home in Fresno,  California

Will Chapleau EMT-P, RN, TNS
Manager ATLS  Program
American College of Surgeons
633 N. Saint Claire  Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611-3211
Ph 312-202-5355
Fax  312-202-5013
e-mail wchapleau at facs.org 

-----Original  Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org  
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of  trauma-list-request at trauma.org
Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 6:00 AM
To:  trauma-list at trauma.org
Subject: trauma-list Digest, Vol 86, Issue  27

Send trauma-list mailing list submissions to
trauma-list at trauma.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide  Web, visit
http://list.mistral.net/mailman/listinfo/trauma-list
or, via email, send a  message with subject or body 'help' to
trauma-list-request at trauma.org

You can reach the person managing the  list at
trauma-list-owner at trauma.org

When replying,  please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than 
"Re: Contents of  trauma-list digest..."
--
trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
To change your  settings or unsubscribe  visit:
http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please  view our annual report at  http://baystatehealth.org/annualreport

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This  e-mail communication and any attachments may 
contain confidential and  privileged information for the use of the 
designated recipients named above.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are 
hereby notified that you have  received this communication in error and that 
any review, disclosure,  dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its 
contents is prohibited. If  you have received this communication in error, 
please reply to the sender  immediately or by telephone at 413-794-0000 and 
destroy all copies of this  communication and any attachments. For further 
information regarding Baystate  Health's privacy policy, please visit our 
Internet site at  http://baystatehealth.org.
--
trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
To change your  settings or unsubscribe  visit:
http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/

List Archives

For your convenience, find the Trauma List Archive Below

Doctor Steven Parks