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Special Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Maurice A. Ramirez, DO, PhD

Jul 28, 2017

Tampa, FL-The American Academy of Disaster Medicine presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award to Maurice A. Ramirez, DO, PhD, BCDM, BCEM, CNS, CMRO, one of the first physicians to receive certification as a Disaster Medicine Specialist. The award was presented recently at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.® held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

“Dr. Ramirez was recognized for his vast contributions to the discipline of disaster medicine,” said AADM Immediate Past President Heidi Cordi, MD, FAADM. Dr. Ramirez, who resides in Lake Wales, FL, was a founding board member of the American Board of Disaster Medicine®, a Member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties®.

Dr. Ramirez is a former Senior Physician/Federal Medical Officer, Emergency Room Doctor, and Bioterrorism/Hazmat expert with clinical and field response experience spanning over 2 decades. He has served on expert panels for pandemic flu preparedness, healthcare surge capacity planning, disaster healthcare and disaster behavioral health with Congressional and Cabinet Members as well as scientific review committees for federal disaster healthcare research.

Dr. Ramirez was among the first physicians to complete the National Disaster Life Support (NDLS®) Instructor Training and Train the Trainer programs, FEMA/VA Mass Decon for Healthcare First Receiver Train the Trainer program, FEMA Mass Fatality Management Train the Trainer program, NYIT Psychological Impact of Disaster Train the Trainer program.

As an internationally recognized author and professional speaker, Dr. Ramirez has published numerous articles in professional and scientific journals. He has been citied in over 24 textbooks and authored chapters in three business books. He is the creator of the Rinse, Lather, Repeat kindergarten preparedness curriculum and the Continuous Integrated Triage™ framework used at the Louis Armstrong International Airport following Hurricane Katrina. In addition, Dr. Ramirez co-authored The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Disaster Preparedness (Alpha Books, 2009), Making Sense of Disaster Medicine (Oxford Univ. Press, 2010) and was the Technical Advisor for Spike TV’s Surviving Disaster and 1,000 Ways to Die.

Dr. Ramirez is the Emeritus Medical Director for High Alert Institute, Inc. The Institute is nation’s first and only 501c(3) public charity dedicated to empowering individuals, families, communities, businesses and organizations to be disaster ready.

The American Academy of Disaster Medicine promotes the practice of disaster health care, ensuring that all physicians are aware and prepared to effectively respond to future disasters – either natural or man-made. AADM is an affiliate academy of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. (AAPS), the governing body of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). ABPS is a nationally recognized multi-specialty physician certifying organizations in the United States, headquartered in Tampa, FL.

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Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine
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