PLEASE NOTE: THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE DEBATED AT THE 2015 COUNCIL MEETING. RESOLUTIONS ARE NOT
OFFICIAL UNTIL ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (AS APPLICABLE).
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RESOLUTION:
1(15)
SUBMITTED BY:
North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians
Toxicology Section
SUBJECT:
Commendation for Marsha D. Ford, MD, FACEP
WHEREAS, Marsha D. Ford, MD, FACEP, has been an active physician in the specialty of emergency
medicine since 1982; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford provided education to 32 generations of trainees in the field of emergency
medicine; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford instilled a genuine enthusiasm and sometimes laughable fear into all 32 generations
of emergency medicine interns related to the importance of toxicological considerations; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford enhanced the education of trainees in Emergency Medicine in the specialty of
toxicology; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford contributed to the scholarly advancement of Emergency Toxicology through the
publication of more than 20 peer-reviewed articles, 30 book chapters, and as editor of Clinical Toxicology; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford positively affected the care of poisoned patients through the development and
advancement of the Carolinas Poison Center; and
WHEREAS, The Carolinas Poison Center grew to care for the patients of the State of North Carolina
under her tenure; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford worked tirelessly in her advocacy for poison centers on the national and
international stage; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford, with her administrative skills, advocated for over a decade to the U.S. Department
of Health & Human Services to further the national understanding of the value of regional Poison Centers; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford was a strong proponent for the value of poison centers in her testimony to the
Subcommittee on Health, Energy & Commerce Committee, in the U.S. House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS Dr. Ford was instrumental in the development and recognition of toxicology as a sub-board
of the American Board of Emergency Medicine; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford has been an active member of the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians
since 1986; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford served as a Board member of the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians
Board member for nine years and served as an alternate councillor or councillor for 28 years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford has served as the president of the North Carolina College of Emergency
Physicians; and
Resolution 1(15) Commendation for Marsha D. Ford, MD, FACEP
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WHEREAS, Dr. Ford has chaired or served on numerous committees of the American College of
Emergency Physicians, including Awards, Bylaws Interpretation, Education, Federal Government Affairs,
Finance, Reimbursement, Coding & Nomenclature, Nominating, State Legislative/Regulatory, and the Council
Steering Committee since joining the College in 1983; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford was called upon by the College to chair and participate in the Poison Center,
International Emergency Medicine, and Long-Range Planning task forces; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford carried the tenants of Emergency Medicine abroad and chaired the subcommittee
on International Meetings for the College for 20 years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford organized the inaugural Research Forum at Scientific Assembly for the College; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford has made substantial contributions to the policies of the College and has been a
strong advocate of Emergency Medicine, including being instrumental in the adoption of the Prudent Layperson
definition of Emergency Medicine in the State of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford was instrumental in her advocacy that resulted in a state-wide Protocol for
Assisting Sexual Assault Victims as part of her work on the North Carolina Sexual Assault Task Force; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford deserves a lifetime achievement award for developing a skill and niche within
emergency medicine that has come to define the practice of toxicology as an entity that has defined our specialty
of emergency medicine; and
WHEREAS, The emergency physician community and patients have been the beneficiaries of her
medical practice, academic achievement, and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford was the recipient of the Council Meritorious Service Award in 2003; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ford announced her retirement from practice effective 2014 after more than three
decades of service to the College and to Emergency Medicine; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the American College of Emergency Physicians commends Marsha D. Ford, MD,
FACEP, for her service as an emergency physician, scholar, and patient advocate and for her lifelong dedication
to the advancement of the specialty of Emergency Medicine.