Jay L Grosfeld honoured by APSA

APSA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

(left to right) Dr. Keith Oldham, Dr. Jay Grosfeld, Margie Grosfeld ©2013 APSA Bestowed only a handful of times in the organization’s 44-year history, the American Pediatric Surgical Association Distinguished Service Award was given to Jay L. Grosfeld, MD, earlier this month at the APSA 44th Annual Meeting in Marco Island, Florida. Grosfeld was honored for his lifetime commitment to, and wide-reaching impact on, the field of pediatric surgery. "The APSA Board of Governors and I were delighted to recognize Dr. Grosfeld with this special award to highlight the depth and breadth of contributions he has made to our field," noted current APSA Past President Keith T. Oldham. "I was honored to personally present the APSA Distinguished Service Award to a man who is admired by the hundreds of students, trainees and colleagues with whom he's worked and by the countless patients and families whose lives he's changed." Grosfeld, Lafayette F. Page Professor and Chairman Emeritus, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, served as APSA President 1994-1995 and has been recognized as an outstanding clinician, master surgeon, inspiring teacher, talented administrator, innovative scientific investigator, surgical leader and a staunch advocate for children.  Reflecting on the award, Grosfeld said, "As physicians we are trained to be responsible and serve the public. As Pediatric Surgeons we have the additional privilege of providing highly specialized care for the most vulnerable and helpless group of patients, our children. By doing so, we serve as their advocates, the protector of the innocent, and in some instances, our interventions save entire lifetimes." Grosfeld was the first Surgeon-in-Chief of the Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis where he served for 33 years and developed one of the top pediatric surgery training programs in the country. He is best known for his expertise in neonatal surgery, pediatric surgical oncology and surgical education. He is a noted lecturer and has published 491 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, 139 book chapters and ten textbooks. He has served on the board of numerous prestigious medical associations, is an honorary member of 15 overseas surgical societies and received many awards including the William E. Ladd Medal from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Sagamore of the Wabash Award for outstanding service to the State of Indiana.  He is also the founder and chairman of the APSA Foundation, which has awarded more than 25 grants to support young pediatric surgical investigators and to promote pediatric surgical research and education. Given his dedication to assuring the future of pediatric surgery, it is not surprising that he urges his colleagues to get involved in health care policy at the regional and national levels and to participate as members and leaders in medical organizations and global medicine. "All pediatric surgeons should act responsibly and consider supporting the goals of the APSA Foundation and nurturing our young pediatric surgeon-scientists, recognizing that today's research will influence how we practice tomorrow," said Grosfeld.