R Adams Cowley
Encyclopedia
R Adams Cowley was an American surgeon
considered a pioneer in emergency medicine
and the treatment of shock trauma
. He is also known for being one of the first to perform open-heart surgery and invented both a surgical clamp that bears his name and a prototype pacemaker
that was used by Dwight D. Eisenhower
.
system in the United States in his home state of Maryland, which included the first use of helicopters for civilian medical use, and founded the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services, which was renamed the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
after his death. He is also credited with conceiving the concept of the "golden hour
" and raising awareness of the opportunity for prevention of traumatic injury. In 1986, he was named director of the newly created National Study Center for Trauma and Emergency Medical Systems.
. He attended medical school at the University of Maryland
, graduating in 1944. In the late 1940's, while serving in the U.S. Army, he did extensive surgical training in Europe
.
on July 25, 1917. He was married to Roberta S. Cowley, with whom he had a son, R Adams Cowley II, and a daughter, Kay Cowley Pace. Outside of the practice of medicine, he was an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Cowley died of heart failure on October 27, 1991. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
in the 1982 made-for-TV film Shocktrauma.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
considered a pioneer in emergency medicine
Emergency medicine
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries which require immediate medical attention. While not usually providing long-term or continuing care, emergency medicine physicians diagnose a variety of illnesses and undertake acute...
and the treatment of shock trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
. He is also known for being one of the first to perform open-heart surgery and invented both a surgical clamp that bears his name and a prototype pacemaker
Pacemaker
An artificial pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses to regulate the beating of the heart.Pacemaker may also refer to:-Medicine:...
that was used by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
.
Career
He was instrumental in the creation of the first statewide EMSEmergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
system in the United States in his home state of Maryland, which included the first use of helicopters for civilian medical use, and founded the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services, which was renamed the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center is a free-standing trauma hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and is part of the University of Maryland Medical Center. It was the first facility in the world to treat shock...
after his death. He is also credited with conceiving the concept of the "golden hour
Golden hour (medicine)
In emergency medicine, the golden hour refers to a time period lasting from a few minutes to several hours following traumatic injury being sustained by a casualty, during which there is the highest likelihood that prompt medical treatment will prevent death...
" and raising awareness of the opportunity for prevention of traumatic injury. In 1986, he was named director of the newly created National Study Center for Trauma and Emergency Medical Systems.
Education
In 1940, Cowley graduated eighth in his class at the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. He attended medical school at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
, graduating in 1944. In the late 1940's, while serving in the U.S. Army, he did extensive surgical training in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Personal life
Cowley was born in Layton, UtahLayton, Utah
-External links:*...
on July 25, 1917. He was married to Roberta S. Cowley, with whom he had a son, R Adams Cowley II, and a daughter, Kay Cowley Pace. Outside of the practice of medicine, he was an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Cowley died of heart failure on October 27, 1991. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
First name
Cowley's grandfather had wanted him named "Rufus" after himself, but his mother disliked the name. So Cowley's official first name became simply "R", and he insisted that it be written without a period after it.Media portrayal
Cowley is portrayed by William ConradWilliam Conrad
William Conrad was an American actor, producer and director whose career spanned five decades in radio, film and television....
in the 1982 made-for-TV film Shocktrauma.