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| Alumni Affairs 2000 Recipient - Edward J. Shahady, MD (Class of 1964)  Edward J. Shahady, graduate of the class of 1964, has a long and distinguished medical career as teacher, administrator, clinician and humanitarian. One of his most noted acts of service was the founding of the Hoa Khanh Children's Hospital in South Vietnam in 1965. Along with his medical school classmate, Dr. James Wilkerson, they built this hospital while serving as Navy Medical officers attached to the Marine Corps in Vietnam. It began as a simple tent with 15 beds, and in just one year was moved into a building with 40 beds. After returning to his residency and eventual practice in Akron, Ohio, Dr. Shahady continued to help secure funding for the hospital which grew to more than 100 beds and served the children of South Vietnam until the country's leadership changed to the North Vietnamese in 1972. Dr. Shahady's efforts helped provide health care to thousands of Vietnamese children who otherwise would have had none. He received the US Navy Commendation medal and the South Vietnamese Social Service Medals 1st and 2nd class for his devotion to duty and contributions to the health and welfare of the Vietnamese. In 1970, Dr. Shahady was the founding director of the Family Practice residency at Akron City Hospital, one of the first 20 such residencies in the nation. This program rose to national prominence and was a model to be emulated under Dr. Shahady's leadership. His subsequent academic appointments have been the first chair of the Department of Family Practice at Northeastern Ohio Universities School of Medicine, professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and professor of Family Medicine at the University of Florida and founding director of the Family Practice Residency in Coral Springs, Florida. Since 1998, Dr. Shahady works part-time at the University of Miami, Department of Family Practice as director of faculty development, preceptor for the residency program and mentor for junior faculty. He continues his research on physician attitudes toward retirement and is a frequent guest speaker at national and international meetings. Dr. Shahady has a keen interest in high school and professional sports. He has been team physician for the Chapel Hill High School, Olympic and professional sports. In 1987, he and fellow, Dr. Mike Petrizzie, published a book entitled, Sports Medicine for Coaches and Trainers, now in its second edition. In 1996, he co-edited the book, Sports Medicine for Primary Care, published by Blackwell Science. He has contributed several book chapters and 65 scientific articles on subjects including sports medicine, smoking cessation, medical ethics, faculty development, teaching, behavioral medicine and the art of healing. His award are numerous including, the Wheeling Jesuit University Outstanding Alumnus Award, the American Academy of Family Physicians Thomas Johnson Award and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Recognition Award. He received service awards from the North Carolina and Ohio Academies of Family Physicians and teaching awards from students and residents at the University of North Carolina. He was named the 1998 Educator of the Year by the Florida Academy of Family Physicians and is a member of Who's Who in America, in the United States, in the World and in Medicine and Healthcare, and was included in the 1999 edition of the Best Doctors in Florida. Dr. Shahady is a master clinician and educator, touching the lives of patients, students, peers, athletes and friends. His teaching and patient care is a unique combination of the biology and the art of medicine. He truly is a most distinguished alumnus of the West Virginia University School of Medicine. |
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