Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Creighton Trauma Symposium.
Dr. Carmona served as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States from 2002 to 2006. The title of his address is “Prevention, Preparedness, Plagues and Politics: The Life of The Surgeon General.”
“Dr. Carmona is a Puerto Rican kid from the Bronx who dropped out of high school to join the Army,” said Juan Asensio, MD, FACS, trauma program director at CHI Creighton University Medical Center and a longtime friend. “He went to Vietnam in 1967 with the Special Forces and became a combat-decorated veteran.”
“He later trained in trauma, so he is a bona fide, card-carrying trauma surgeon,” Dr. Asensio said. “We are extremely grateful to him for his generous agreement to take part in our trauma symposium this year.”
Homeless to hero
As a child in New York City, Dr. Carmona experienced homelessness, hunger and health disparities. These experiences sensitized him to the relationships between culture, health, education and economic status.
Dr. Carmona completed his surgical residency at the University of California, San Francisco. He then went on to complete a fellowship in trauma, burns and critical care sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. He is also certified in correctional healthcare and in healthcare quality assurance.
Prior to being named U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona was the chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System; a professor of surgery, public health and family and community medicine at the University of Arizona; and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department surgeon and deputy sheriff.
Top cop
Dr. Carmona is one of the most highly decorated police officers in Arizona. His numerous awards include the National Top Cop Award, the National SWAT Officer of the Year, and the National Tactical EMS Award.
He is a nationally recognized SWAT expert and has published extensively on SWAT training and tactics, forensics and tactical emergency medical support.
Community service
Dr. Carmona has published extensively and received numerous awards, decorations, and local and national recognition for his achievements.
An accomplished executive in the business of health and wellness, Dr. Carmona is currently vice chair of Canyon Ranch and CEO of Canyon Ranch Health.
Dr. Carmona also serves on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’ MyVA Advisory Committee, and on work groups for the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.