ORLEANS PARISH MEDICAL SOCIETY RECOGNIZES AREA PHYSICIANS WITH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

New Orleans–Recently, Orleans Parish Medical Society, a professional association for physicians practicing in metropolitan New Orleans, recognized three area physicians with the organization’s annual achievement awards.

The awards are presented in three categories: 1) Academia/Research; 2) Private Practice; and 3) Public Service/Public Education. The Public Service/Public Education category is open to non-physicians and OPMS members as well, while the Academia/Research and Private Practice awards are reserved for recognizing only members of Orleans Parish Medical Society.

This year’s recipients are: George Lyons, M.D., (Academia/Research); Richard P. Dickey, M.D., (Private Practice); and Charles V. Sanders, M.D., (Public Service/Public Education).

Nominations may be submitted by any member of Orleans Parish Medical Society to an Awards Selection Committee, chaired this year by Louis Trachtman, M.D. Members of the Medical Society’s Council of Governors representing many diverse medical and surgical specialties and a representative of the Orleans Medical Alliance comprise the Awards Selection Committee.

George Lyons, M.D. - Outstanding Physician Award for Academia/Research

The 2004 recipient of the Outstanding Physician Award for Academia and Research is Dr. George D. Lyons. Dr. Lyons received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical School in 1954, and completed residencies at Veterans Hospital and at the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans (Charity). In the words of his nominator, Dr. Roger D. Smith, Dr. Lyons “is a pioneer in laser surgery, cochlear implant, and laryngeal reconstruction.” Dr. Lyons’ numerous community involvement projects include cleft palate work at Children’s Hospital and the foundation of the Voice Clinic and Cochlear Impact Project through the EENT Foundation. In recognition of his work in academia and research, Dr. Lyons was recently selected as LSUHSC’s Alumnus of the Year for 2003 and the George D. Lyons, M.D. Chair of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery has been funded in his honor. During his 23 years as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at LSUHSC, Dr. Lyons has participated in the training of 114 residents.

Richard P. Dickey, M.D. - Outstanding Physician Award for Private Practice

Dr. Dickey, who is a native of Ohio, first came to New Orleans in 1972 when he became the Section Head for the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the Louisiana State University school of Medicine. After serving for many years with the distinction, he left and began the Fertility Institute of New Orleans as one of the first infertility specialists in the New Orleans area. In over 25 years of private practice, he has been a distinguished leader in the community for reproductive services for women. His institute is noted to be one of the best in the United States. He has worked tirelessly with the Louisiana State Medical Society in women’s issues, and he continues to actively publish in peer review journals. While still maintaining an active private practice, he has become the Section Head for the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at LSU. He has been an inspiration to the students and residents at LSU through his association with the institution.

Charles V. Sanders, M.D. - Excellbence in Public Service/Public Education

We are proud to honor Charles V. Sanders, Jr., M.D., our 2004 Recipient of the OPMS Award for Excellence in Public Service and Education. “Bo” Sanders, as he is known to all, is an internist and specialist in infectious diseases. As Chair of the Department of Medicine at LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine since 1988, Dr. Sanders is truly the “public’s servant” - serving patients, teaching new doctors, and tirelessly committing himself to the missions of LSU School of Medicine and the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans. One such example of his service came as the nation was coming to grips with the realities of bioterrorism and the sweeping concerns related to anthrax. Dr. Sanders, in his usual selfless and dedicated way, became a resource and leader sharing his expertise in infectious diseases with OPMS members, his colleagues - locally and nationally, and the public. As you will recall, most of our medical textbooks contained only a page on anthrax, but we knew where and to whom to turn. Dr. Sanders’ public service has also come through his numerous leadership roles at OPMS as president, Governor of the Louisiana ACP/ASIM, and more than 35 professional associations.