G. Tom Shires, 81, Trauma Expert, Dies )Texas connection)

[Guest guest]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/nyregion/22shires.html

October 22, 2007

G. Tom Shires, 81, Trauma Expert, Dies

By WILLIAM DICKE

Dr. G. Tom Shires, a leading surgeon and expert on trauma who carried

out path-breaking research, helped create the largest burn center in

New York City and trained two generations of surgical leaders, died on

Thursday in , Nev. He was 81.

The cause was gastrointestinal cancer, said his son,

Shires III.

At his death, Dr. Shires was director of the Trauma Institute of the

University of Nevada School of Medicine, in Las Vegas. Previously, he

was the chief surgeon or chairman of the surgery department at several

institutions, and was dean at Weill Cornell Medical College in New

York.

Earlier in his career, he was chief of surgery at Parkland Memorial

Hospital in Dallas, when President F. Kennedy was taken there

after being shot by Lee Harvey Oswald on Nov. 22, 1963. Although

efforts to save Kennedy were futile, Dr. Shires successfully operated

on Gov. B. Connally Jr. of Texas, who was wounded in the

shooting.

It was Dr. Shires who issued a statement that evening saying,

Medically, it was apparent the president was not alive when he was

brought in, adding, I am absolutely sure he never knew what hit him.

In the late 1950s and 60s, Dr. Shires carried out research on the

cellular physiology of shock that led to the recognition that trauma

and surgical patients needed to be given intravenous salt water

solution, a practice that is still followed today.

In New York, he helped establish the burn center at what is now known

as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in 1976.

It is one of the nations busiest burn centers, and treated victims of

the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Dr. W. Yurt, its director, said

the burn center had treated more than 30,000 patients and now admits

1,000 a year and treats another 4,000 as outpatients.

Dr. Shires also played an important role in the 1970s in organizing

the Emergency Medical Services in New York City to replace a system of

independent ambulances that was not coordinated.

Shires was born in Waco, Tex., on Nov. 22, 1925, and

grew up in Dallas. He attended the University of Texas, and graduated

from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in

1948. He served his residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

In 1957, he joined the faculty at the Southwestern Medical School and

became chairman of the surgery department in 1961 at age 35. He was

chairman of the surgery department at the University of Washington

School of Medicine in 1974 and 1975 before joining Cornell University

Medical College as chairman of the department of surgery, a post he

held from 1975 to 1991; from 1987 to 1991 he was dean and provost for

medical affairs. He was chairman of the department of surgery at Texas

Tech University from 1991 to 1995.

Over the years, Dr. Shires trained more than 200 surgeons, and a

number became chief surgeons or chairmen of surgery departments, said

Dr. Philip S. Barie, professor of surgery at Cornell. He also

published extensively and wrote books on surgery and trauma.

In addition to his son, of Dallas, Dr. Shires is survived by his wife

of 58 years, Robbie Jo, of , Nev.; two daughters, Donna

Jacquelyn Blain of Portland, Ore., and Jo Ellen Shires, also of

Portland; and three grandchildren.

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Owner and President of LNM Emergency Services Consulting Services (LNMECS)

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

(Cell Phone)

(IFW/TFW/FSS Office)

(IFW/TFW/FSS Fax)

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless

I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only for

its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the

original author.

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/24/2007 11:19:29 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

cblack@... writes:

He would take time to talk to anyone.

And that alone makes a man or woman great to me.

Some of the most noted folks I've had the pleasure of working with and

meeting during my tenure on this rock have also been the most open with their

peers.

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Owner and President of LNM Emergency Services Consulting Services (LNMECS)

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

(Cell Phone)

(IFW/TFW/FSS Office)

(IFW/TFW/FSS Fax)

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless

I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only for

its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the

original author.

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[Guest guest]

As you can see from the article, Dr. Shires accomplished a great deal in

his life. The thing that most impressed me was his humility. He never

acted superior to anyone. He would take time to talk to anyone. He truly

enjoyed people.

I met Tom Shires when he was at Texas Tech University Health Sciences

Center. I was asked to write a one paragraph " mini-bio " about him for a

conference brochure. I called his office and asked for a copy of his

curriculum vitae from which I would produce the one paragraph. His office

delivered a two-inch thick CV. I have never met a man who did that much

research or wrote that many books and articles or achieved so much in

life. When I told him how impressed I was with his accomplishments, his

response was, " If you live as long as I have, you'll accomplish just as

much. "

There are few who will ever accomplish as much as he.

Chris

lnmolino@...

Sent by: texasems-l

10/23/2007 12:20 AM

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G. Tom Shires, 81, Trauma Expert, Dies )Texas connection)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/nyregion/22shires.html

October 22, 2007

G. Tom Shires, 81, Trauma Expert, Dies

By WILLIAM DICKE

Dr. G. Tom Shires, a leading surgeon and expert on trauma who carried

out path-breaking research, helped create the largest burn center in

New York City and trained two generations of surgical leaders, died on

Thursday in , Nev. He was 81.

The cause was gastrointestinal cancer, said his son,

Shires III.

At his death, Dr. Shires was director of the Trauma Institute of the

University of Nevada School of Medicine, in Las Vegas. Previously, he

was the chief surgeon or chairman of the surgery department at several

institutions, and was dean at Weill Cornell Medical College in New

York.

Earlier in his career, he was chief of surgery at Parkland Memorial

Hospital in Dallas, when President F. Kennedy was taken there

after being shot by Lee Harvey Oswald on Nov. 22, 1963. Although

efforts to save Kennedy were futile, Dr. Shires successfully operated

on Gov. B. Connally Jr. of Texas, who was wounded in the

shooting.

It was Dr. Shires who issued a statement that evening saying,

Medically, it was apparent the president was not alive when he was

brought in, adding, I am absolutely sure he never knew what hit him.

In the late 1950s and 60s, Dr. Shires carried out research on the

cellular physiology of shock that led to the recognition that trauma

and surgical patients needed to be given intravenous salt water

solution, a practice that is still followed today.

In New York, he helped establish the burn center at what is now known

as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in 1976.

It is one of the nations busiest burn centers, and treated victims of

the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Dr. W. Yurt, its director, said

the burn center had treated more than 30,000 patients and now admits

1,000 a year and treats another 4,000 as outpatients.

Dr. Shires also played an important role in the 1970s in organizing

the Emergency Medical Services in New York City to replace a system of

independent ambulances that was not coordinated.

Shires was born in Waco, Tex., on Nov. 22, 1925, and

grew up in Dallas. He attended the University of Texas, and graduated

from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in

1948. He served his residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

In 1957, he joined the faculty at the Southwestern Medical School and

became chairman of the surgery department in 1961 at age 35. He was

chairman of the surgery department at the University of Washington

School of Medicine in 1974 and 1975 before joining Cornell University

Medical College as chairman of the department of surgery, a post he

held from 1975 to 1991; from 1987 to 1991 he was dean and provost for

medical affairs. He was chairman of the department of surgery at Texas

Tech University from 1991 to 1995.

Over the years, Dr. Shires trained more than 200 surgeons, and a

number became chief surgeons or chairmen of surgery departments, said

Dr. Philip S. Barie, professor of surgery at Cornell. He also

published extensively and wrote books on surgery and trauma.

In addition to his son, of Dallas, Dr. Shires is survived by his wife

of 58 years, Robbie Jo, of , Nev.; two daughters, Donna

Jacquelyn Blain of Portland, Ore., and Jo Ellen Shires, also of

Portland; and three grandchildren.

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Owner and President of LNM Emergency Services Consulting Services (LNMECS)

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

(Cell Phone)

(IFW/TFW/FSS Office)

(IFW/TFW/FSS Fax)

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and

the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with

unless I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended

only for its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain

by the

original author.

************************************** See what's new at

http://www.aol.com