Dennis Ashley, M.D., Awarded Medical Association of Georgia's Prestigious Honor
Dennis Ashley, M.D., Awarded Medical Association of Georgia's Prestigious Honor
Dr. Ashley Recognized for His Contributions to Statewide Trauma Care
MACON, GA (Monday, December 10, 2012) – Dennis W. Ashley, M.D., Director of Trauma Services at The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) has been awarded the Medical Association of Georgia's (MAG) Lamartine Hardman Cup. Dr. Ashley was recognized at MAG's 158th House of Delegates meeting in Savannah, Ga.
The Lamartine Hardman Cup is presented to the physician who, in the judgment of the Association, has solved any outstanding problem in public health or made any discovery in surgery or medicine, or such contribution to the science of medicine. Nominated by the Bibb County Medical Society, Dr. Ashley was recognized for his contributions to the development of a statewide trauma system as chair of the state trauma commission board.
In his nomination letter, Bibb County Medical Society President Edward H. Young, M.D., wrote, “Dr. Ashley was among a group of dedicated trauma specialists who recognized the (access to care) problem Georgia residents faced and undertook efforts to organize a system to provide timely and appropriate care to injured patients outside the reach of established centers. (Dr. Ashley and others) convinced the Governor and leaders in the state legislature to provide an office within the Governor's office to lead the organization of a network of trauma centers and link with emergency services to assure rapid and definitive care throughout the state.”
Dr. Ashley, of Surgical Associates in Macon, became the trauma director at MCCG after he was appointed to the position of assistant professor of surgery at the Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) in 1994. Under his leadership, MCCG earned its recognition as a Level I trauma center. Dr. Ashley has chaired the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission since its inception in 2007. In addition to his efforts to develop a statewide trauma system, Dr. Ashley has also established a training program in surgical critical care at MCCG's trauma center, which was re-accredited in 2011.
“Through (his) creativity (and his) ability to work with physicians and administrations of all types throughout the state, and plain hard work and dedication, Dr. Ashley has been able to bring the state trauma system to its present level of excellence for the benefit of all Georgia residents as well as visitors,” said Don K. Nakayama, M.D., the chair of the Department of Surgery at MUSM.
Dr. Ashley earned his medical degree from the University of Kentucky.
The MAG award was named for Lamartine Hardman, M.D., who was Georgia's governor from 1927 to 1931 and who was a successful physician, entrepreneur and farmer in Jackson County. With more than 7,000 members, MAG is the leading voice for the medical profession in Georgia. MAG membership has increased by more than 20 percent since the beginning of 2011. Go to www.mag.org for additional information.
In the attached photo, MAG Immediate Past President Sandra B. Reed, M.D. presents the Lamartine Hardman Cup to Dennis W. Ashley, M.D.