Prairie State Wire

Illinois Department of Public Health issued the following announcement on May 16.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program are honoring Steven Krug, MD, FAAP, with a special pediatric Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to pediatric emergency medical care.  The Ron W. Lee, M.D. - Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards are given annually by IDPH and EMSC to recognize those dedicated to pediatric emergency care and childhood injury prevention initiatives.  Individuals or organizations can be nominated in one of three award categories - Lifetime Achievement, Clinical Excellence, and Community Service.

Dr. Krug currently serves as the chairperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Disaster Preparedness Council and is the past chairperson of the AAP Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine.  Dr. Krug is also the former head of the Division of Emergency Medicine at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago (formerly known as Children's Memorial Hospital) and has held many positions including Associate Chair for Quality and Safety, Associate Chair for Clinical Operations, and Associate Chair for Clinical Affairs to name a few.

"As a pediatrician, I know the importance of recognizing the specific needs of children in emergency situations and that medical care for children may look different from the care for adults," said IDPH Acting Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.  "With a 37-page resume that includes an extensive list of specialty certifications, faculty appointments, professional appointments, committees, awards, memberships in national professional and scientific organizations, and dozens upon dozens of journal and abstract publications, it is easy to see Dr. Krug's dedication to the field of pediatric medicine.  I am proud to award Dr. Steven Krug the Ron W. Lee, M.D. Excellence in Pediatric Care Lifetime Achievement Award."

Many former and current colleagues submitted statements of support.

"Dr. Krug has demonstrated lifetime achievement in PEM (Pediatric Emergency Medicine) and has been one of the greatest advocates for improving pediatric emergency care in day-to-day emergencies as well as in disasters," said Los Angeles County EMS Agency Medical Director Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD, FACEP, FAAP, FAEMS.  "On a personal note, he is a capable clinician, a kind and humble academician, and truly one of the finest people I know.  Nationally, Dr. Krug is one of the most respected pediatric emergency physicians in the United States."

"Simply stated, through the expenditure of a great deal of sweat equity, Steve has carved an advocacy agenda for pediatric preparedness in the acute care and emergency response space where it had not previously existed," said AAP Committee Chair on Pediatric Emergency Medicine Joseph L. Wright, MD, MPH.  "His leadership influence has been realized at national, state and municipal levels, and, recently, helped stave off elimination of appropriation for the federal Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program through a series of Hill visits during the summer of 2017 in a very difficult legislative environment."

Members of the AAP Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council offered widespread support.

"Though an accomplished emergency medicine specialist, he has always championed the well-being of children in all health care settings, and all communities," said Scott Needle, MD, FAAP.  "Steve is such an effective leader because he is inclusive, always supporting a fellow pediatrician (both professionally and personally) or reaching out beyond the field to open new partnerships, yet never afraid to speak truth to power."

 

"Dr. Krug has become not only a national/international expert on anticipating and addressing the unique needs of children in the context of a disaster or crisis, but he has in many ways become the leading expert in the United States with a broad area of expertise and influence in this field," said David Schonfeld, MD, FAAP.

"Most importantly, Steve Krug continues to shape, guide, and lead the field of pediatric emergency medicine in his role as a teacher," said Sarita Chung, MD, FAAP.  "As the former division chief at Lurie Children's Hospital, he has supervised the training of countless residents and fellows and mentored the careers of many grateful younger colleagues including myself."

The Ron W. Lee, M.D. Excellence in Pediatric Care awards are presented each May.  Dr. Lee was the medical director for the Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety at IDPH, as well as the director of emergency medicine at Loyola University Medical Center and was instrumental in establishing and fostering the EMSC program in Illinois.  He passed away in 1998.

The Illinois EMSC program is currently a collaborative effort between IDPH and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.  It was established in 1994 to ensure the emergency medical care needs of children are adequately addressed.

Original source can be found here.