Daniel Danzl, MD

Welcome to our Department of Emergency Medicine that has a long tradition and history. Assuming this position as our second chair on April Fool’s Day, 1991, I had the pleasure of following in the footsteps of our founding chair and my mentor, Donald M.Thomas, MD. The first two autonomous academic departments of Emergency Medicine at U.S. medical schools were founded twenty years earlier in 1971 at the University of Southern California and here in Louisville. Both founding chairs, Gail Anderson, MD and Don Thomas, MD were chairs of other traditional departments and would only break this new ground as full chairs in an emerging specialty. The fortuitous confluence of events that precipitated those breaks with academic tradition are now well acknowledged, with well over 50 academic departments in place at the 128 U.S. medical schools.

The University of Louisville School of Medicine has proven over time its firm support for the specialty of Emergency Medicine. Senior level faculty in other departments who were once our medical students and residents have reminisced with us regarding the early days of our specialty and its impressive maturation. Our department’s mission has broad ranging commitments to education, service, EMS, and clinical research. Our facility is comfortable and spacious. A $13.2 million dollar “renovation”(mostly new construction) was completed in August 1998. Our clinical and office space was increased from 12,000 to 30,000 square feet.

Personally, I think it’s the relaxed collegial team atmosphere, institutional support, and esprit d’corps between faculty and residents that accounts for our stability. There is rarely faculty turnover, and resident transfers are non-existent. Our faculty and residents look for future residents who are fun to teach and to be around. The residents are provided membership in SAEM, EMRA, ACEP and AAEM, and are encouraged to participate and debate the issues.

Thanks for visiting our program.