May 17, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program today announced three individuals and the Bloomington Fire Department as recipients of this year's Ron W. Lee, M.D., Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards.

The awards are given in recognition of excellence to those dedicated to pediatric emergency care and childhood injury prevention initiatives. Individuals or organizations can be nominated for one of the following three award categories -- Lifetime Achievement, Clinical Excellence and Community Services. A total of 41 nominations from throughout the state were received this year.

Those selected for this year's awards are --

• Lifetime Achievement -- Susan Fuchs, M.D., associate director, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago;
• Clinical Excellence -- Kimberly Joseph, M.D., trauma surgeon, Trauma Unit, Cook County Hospital, Chicago;
• Community Service -- Ronda Satkamp, Safety Village of Hinsdale; and
• Community Service -- Bloomington Fire Department.

Dr. Fuchs is a leader in clinical research in the field of pediatric emergency medicine and teaches physicians, nurses and paramedics the knowledge and skills needed in managing pediatric emergencies. She also has been active in defining national priorities for pediatric emergency care and in setting standards for pediatric emergency resuscitation education and emergency medicine fellowship training programs.

In an effort to prevent the injuries and violence she often sees in her work at Cook County Hospital, Dr. Joseph developed an interactive, age-appropriate injury/violence prevention program that has been taught in several public elementary schools in Chicago. The program reinforces problem solving skills and incorporates the concepts of dignity, respect, responsibility and consequences.

Ronda Satkamp founded and designed the Hinsdale Safety Village as a memorial to her daughter, Kate, who was killed in 1982 when she walked in front of bus she had just exited. The safety village has brought together community organizations and taught children 45 safety lessons, including crossing the street safely, wearing bicycle helmets and seat belts, recognizing poisons in the home and learning stop-drop-and-roll move to reduce burn injuries.

The Bloomington Fire Department developed a five-week junior cadet summer program for adolescents 8 to15 years of age to build character, confidence, discipline, respect, responsibility and teamwork. The program reaches out to youth faced with troubled homes lives, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, aggressiveness issues and the pressures of drugs, gangs, sex and school.

The Ron W. Lee, M.D., Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards, which were first presented in 1999, are to be given annually each May as part of Emergency Medical Services Week. Dr. Lee, who was director of emergency medicine at Loyola University Medical Center, was instrumental in establishing and fostering the EMSC program in Illinois. He passed away in 1998.

EMSC is a collaborative effort between the Department and Loyola University Medical Center.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments