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IDPH Recognizes Dr. Stathis Poulakidas For Excellence In Pediatric Care

News – Monday, May 16, 2016

Ron E. Lee, M.D. Pediatric Care Award – Clinical Excellence

 
SPRINGFIELD– The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program are honoring Stathis Poulakidas, M.D., F.A.C.S., the Chair of Burn and Wound Services at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, with a special pediatric care Clinical Excellence Award for his contributions to childhood 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. Stathis Poulakidas has 13 years of experience in trauma and burn care and provides care for more than 100 children each year who have been burned.  Dr. Poulakidas has conducted extensive burn care research, including pediatric-specific research.  He trains pre-hospital providers in trauma life support techniques and field burn treatment, as well as U.S. military medical personnel in adult and pediatric burn care to prepare them for deployment overseas.
 
“Dr. Poulakidas medical research, training programs, care for burn victims, and his work to raise awareness about burn prevention show his dedication to children’s health,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D.  “I am honored to award Dr. Poulakidas the Ron W. Lee, M.D. Excellence in Pediatric Care Clinical Excellence Award.”

“This award is a testament to the clinical expertise, compassion, and dependability Dr. Poulakidas provides our pediatric patients,” said Cook County Health & Hospitals System CEO Jay Shannon, M.D.  “In addition to providing patients with superior burn care, he also enthusiastically shares his expertise with clinicians throughout our region, improving access to world-class pediatric burn care in communities across several states”

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 a collaborative effort between IDPH and Loyola University Chicago.  It was established in 1994 to ensure the emergency medical care needs of children are adequately addressed.

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