Childrens Hospital, Navicent Health Pediatric Intensivist Lowell Clark, M.D. Wins Statewide Lifetime Achievement Award
ATLANTA (Monday, November 23, 2015) - Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital Pediatric Intensivist Lowell Clark M.D., was awarded the prestigious Georgia Hospital Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award at the Georgia Hospital Association's (GHA) annual meeting on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Dr. Clark, who was the only individual statewide to receive the award, was recognized for his work in transforming pediatric patients care statewide over the past 37 years.
Dr. Clark began his career as the second physician hired by Macon's Atrium Health Navicent in 1978. When he began working at the hospital, it had a small neonatal intensive care unit while pediatric patients shared a ward with adult patients or were placed in the adult ICU. In 1987, Dr. Clark, along with 23 other local pediatricians, signed a charter dedicating The Children's Hospital, creating a hospital for pediatric patients throughout central and south Georgia designated for children that was not shared with adult patients.
In 1991, Dr. Clark led the effort to establish a separate pediatric ICU at the hospital, currently the only one serving central and south Georgia. The number of admissions has grown from less than 100 in 1991 to an average of 1,200 annually. To handle this growth, Dr. Clark recruited four additional intensivists over the years. A few years later, Dr. Clark further enhanced pediatric care with his development of the Children's Hospital Outpatient Services (CHOPS), which provides health services to infants, children and adolescents, including sedation for MRIs and CTs, blood transfusions and intravenous transfusions.
In 1997, Dr. Clark was instrumental in establishing Crescent House, Atrium Health Navicent - one of the first advocacy centers in the state designed to meet the needs of children who are victims of suspected abuse. Since its opening, more than 10,000 children have received evaluations, care and support following allegations of abuse.
Dr. Clark has also been instrumental in establishing Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) training programs throughout the state, as well as a pediatric critical care transport team that responds specifically to pediatric patients in need of acute care.
“I have often heard it said that greatness is determined by your service to others. If this is true, then Dr. Clark may very well be the greatest man that we have ever had the priviledge of knowing and working with. He will never know the full magnitude of his work, and the impact that his life's service has had on others. He has dedicated his life to caring for children and their families, and his career exemplifies compassion and excellence. I can think of no one more worthy of a lifetime achievement award than Dr. Lowell Clark,” said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Atrium Health Navicent.
Dr. Clark is not only active in the continued development of the programs that he has helped to establish, but he also works full time as an intensivist. He makes time to connect with patients and families, stressing the importance of face-to-face interaction. He is known for spending hours at the bedside, making sure his patients have what they need to help them recover as quickly as possible. He is a mentor to many doctors and nurses at the hospital, several of whom state that they would not be the caregiver they are today without the training and support of Dr. Clark.
“Dr. Clark is a remarkable physician whose outstanding dedication to pediatric care has changed the lives of innumerable pediatric patients and their families. His work has had a far-reaching impact on his community and throughout the state. He is an extraordinary role model for all of us and is a most-deserving recipient of this award,” said GHA President Earl Rogers.