AAPM&R Announces Dr. David Crandell As 2015 Distinguished Public Service Award Recipient
(Boston, MA)- At the recent 2015 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Academy Meeting, Dr. David Crandell, Medical Director of the Amputee Program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Instructor at Harvard Medical School, was honored with the 2015 Distinguished Public Service Award in recognition of his work with Boston Marathon Bombing survivors. The award presentation at the national conference was located at the Hynes Convention Center, mere feet from the site of the Boston Marathon Bombings in April of 2013.
Thirty-two of the most catastrophically injured survivors were treated at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, including fifteen of the seventeen people who suffered limb loss. Dr. Crandell has provided ongoing care for this group from their initial inpatient care and many continuing on an outpatient basis in his prosthetic clinic, assisting them in their transitions back to their lives. Dr. Crandell also used his extensive experience and connections within the amputee community as the Chair of the Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee of the National Amputee Coalition to ensure these patients had the opportunities to connect and thrive with peers and organizations that could support them long-term. Through a myriad of media appearances, presentations and publications, Dr. Crandell has advanced the awareness of the needs and challenges for the limb loss population.
“It was an honor to be in a position to be on the team that helped treat these patients when they needed us most. To have the ability to be part of the healing for these patients and our city and now to see some thrive is incredibly gratifying for all of us. I accept this award on behalf of the entire care team at Spaulding,” said Dr. David Crandell. He concluded, “For all of us in rehabilitation medicine, we must accept the challenge to support and advocate for individuals suffering limb loss as these are lifetime injuries.”
Also receiving a 2015 Distinguished Public Service Award was ALS advocate and creator of the Ice Bucket Challenge, Pete Frates. Past recipients have included First Lady Michelle Obama, Congressman Tammy Duckworth, Lynn and Bob Woodruff and Senator Ted Kennedy. The award has been given at the AAPMR Annual Conference each year since 1981.
“All of us at Spaulding and the Harvard Medical School Department of PM&R are immensely proud of Dr. Crandell. At a unique time in our hospital’s and city’s history, he was a leader to our team and an unwavering supporter of our patients. His skill, compassion and fortitude enabled these survivors to have immeasurably better outcomes and advance awareness globally for the limb loss community. We are proud to call him a colleague and a friend,” said Dr. Ross Zafonte, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Research and Education at Spaulding and Chair of the Harvard Medical School Department of PM&R.
The AAPM&R has an awards program to recognize members who deserve the applause of their peers. Each year, Academy members are asked to submit awards nominations to recognize lifetime achievement, distinguished membership, unique public service, and pioneering physiatrists, clinicians, and researchers who have made significant contributions to both the specialty and to people with disabilities.
The Distinguished Public Service Award was established to honor individuals who, in the course of public service activities, have significantly contributed to the growth and development of services that directly impact the specialty of PM&R.
About Spaulding Rehabilitation
A member of Partners HealthCare, Spaulding Rehabilitation includes Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, its main campus the new 132-bed facility in Charlestown, which is a national model for environmental and inclusive design as well as Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, two long term care facilities Spaulding Hospital Cambridge and Spaulding Hospital North Shore in Salem and two skilled nursing facilities, as well as twenty-three outpatient sites throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Spaulding strives to continually update and improve its programs to offer patients the latest, high-quality care through its leading, expert providers. Spaulding has been awarded a Model Systems designation in three specialty areas- Brain Injury, Burn Injury Rehabilitation, and Spinal Cord Injury - by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Spaulding is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School as well as the official rehabilitation hospital of the New England Patriots. Spaulding is the only rehabilitation hospital in New England continually ranked since 1995 by U.S. News and World Report in its Best Hospitals survey with a #6 ranking in 2015-2016. For more information, please visit www.spauldingrehab.org.
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