Hurricane Katrina Hero, Trauma Surgeon Inspire Awards 2006 Honoree For... Advocacy

Norman McSwain M D Hurricane Hero

When fate swept Hurricane Katrina into New Orleans, Norman McSwain, M.D., was waiting. The Alabama-born surgeon and director of trauma for the Tulane University School of Medicine is a legendary figure in emergency-medicine circles—he founded the revolutionary prehospital protocol for care of trauma victims now used by EMTs nationally. In Katrina's aftermath McSwain, 57, found he needed all of his creative energy just to keep his patients alive. Rising waters had trapped hundreds of patients and more than a thousand staff members at Tulane and its larger, public neighbor, Charity Hospital. As generators failed and food ran low, McSwain rallied staff and patients, wading through the fetid floodwaters between hospitals to attend to patients. When the helicopters finally began to arrive, he helped coordinate a harrowing amphibious evacuation. Now back home on Bourbon Street, McSwain is busy picking up the pieces of the city's shattered public health system. "As a trauma surgeon, you never think things are hopeless," he says. "Maybe other people did. But my thought process was always, 'How am I going to solve this?'"
*The name of this award was originally the Impact Award. In 2008, the awards were renamed as the Inspire Awards. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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