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| Lawrence S. Berman,
M.D. |
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awrence S. Berman, M.D., is an anesthesiologist who
is giving back to his community. He has had a stellar
career as a pediatric anesthesiologist and pediatric
intensivist at the University of Florida-Gainesville,
and he has served as a mentor for the many residents
who have worked with him in the operating room and
the pediatric intensive care unit.
What many who work with him may not know is that when
Dr. Berman is not in the hospital, he is often busy
volunteering for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
and for the Rotary Club.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary began in 1939 as a volunteer
organization of private boat owners who helped the
Coast Guard aid boaters. Currently there are more
than 35,000 volunteers who work with this organization.
Dr. Berman has been with the Auxiliary since 1988.
As he has become more involved with the organization,
he has been given increased responsibility and has
served as vice-commander or commander for 11 of the
24 years that he has been a volunteer. Most recently
he was elected to serve as the Captain of Division
15 of the 7th Judicial District of the U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary, which includes a territory that stretches
from Hernando Beach to Florida’s Big Bend on
the Gulf of Mexico, near Steinhatchee, Florida. In
2003, he logged 1,300 hours of volunteer work in this
capacity.
Public education is an important function of the Coast
Guard Auxiliary, and Dr. Berman has been especially
active in promoting boating safety. He has participated
in numerous public education events, has taught in
courses offered through the local community college
and has worked with boating safety fairs offered jointly
with the Alachua County Sheriff’s office. He
also helps train Auxiliary members for on-the-water
safety patrols. The Auxiliary’s responsibilities
have been expanded recently, as the group is now part
of the Department of Homeland Security. In his capacity
as division captain, Dr. Berman has helped to train
members for their roles in this new capacity.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary continues to aid boaters
in distress and tows stranded boats into appropriate
launches or ramps; Dr. Berman has helped many boaters
over the years. On several occasions, he has left
his vehicle at the scene of a boating accident to
fly with a medical evacuation team taking trauma victims
to nearby hospitals.
Last year Dr. Berman’s volunteerism took him
on an adventure of a different sort. He completed
a trip to Huancho, Peru, with the Rotary Club, where
he provided anesthesia for children with cleft lip
and palate anomalies in three different operating
stations. The group operated on 40 patients in three
and one-half days. He has plans to return to Peru
with this group next year.
Most recently Dr. Berman was nominated for the Gainesville
Sun Community Service Award. In his letter of
recommendation, Mr. C. Kenneth Carriere stated that
“Larry is the rare leader who leads through
example, not expecting anything from others that he
would not do or has not done himself.” Larry
is truly an example of one anesthesiologist who is
making a difference in his practice and in his community.
Spotlight
On… Maybe You?
 he
“Spotlight On…” column is designed
to salute those who have developed an avocation
or extracurricular activity that focuses attention
on our specialty and serves as an inspiration to
all of us.
We are seeking accounts of individuals who have
enhanced the image of anesthesiology through an
unusual aspect of public service, hopefully but
not necessarily related to medicine.
This recognition is intended for the grassroots
level of our membership and is not meant to reward
academic achievement or component society leadership.
“Spotlight On…” will be reserved
for individuals who would not generally be otherwise
recognized for their unique efforts.
Candidates for “Spotlight On…”
should be nominated in writing to the NEWSLETTER
Editor with a 500- to 700-word summary of the person’s
achievements. A photograph also should be included
whenever possible. Submissions will be reviewed
by the Committee on Communications..
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Rebecca A. Welch, M.D., is Staff Anesthesiologist,
Nemours Children’s Clinic-Orlando, Arnold
Palmer Hospital for Children and Women, Orlando,
Florida. |
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