FCEP Member Charles Sand, MD

Washington, D.C. — The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) today announced it has recognized Florida College of Emergency Physicians (FCEP) member Charles Sand, MD, as a "Hero of Emergency Medicine." Dr. Sand is an emergency physician at Tampa's St. Joseph’s Hospital. The "Hero" campaign, which is part of ACEP's 40th anniversary, recognizes emergency physicians who have made significant contributions to emergency medicine, their communities and their patients.

"Emergency physicians are on the front lines of America's health care system, providing the essential community service of emergency care," said ACEP President Linda L. Lawrence, MD. "The dedication, passion and commitment Dr. Sand has shown embodies the vision of ACEP’s founders and the ideals of our specialty."

Dr. Sand has been involved with the American Heart Association and emergency medicine for a number of years, including previously serving as the Florida-Puerto Rico AHA affiliate president and past National ACLS Florida representative. He participates in community, state, and national education and committee work on heart disease and stroke, and has served on and chaired a number of EMS and FCEP committees.

Dr. Sand actively promotes placement and training of automated external defibrillators available to the public, having been involved in the nation's first AED law in 1997. He played a major role in the passage of the Florida Stroke Act in 2004, the first act passed in the nation that requires acute stroke patients to be transported to the hospital most appropriate for their care. He also represents Tampa Bay EMS and hospitals in developing protocols for trauma, STEMI and stroke alerts.

"The American College of Emergency Physicians is celebrating 40 years of advancing emergency care, and the nation’s emergency physicians are dedicated to saving even more lives and to improving emergency care for the next 40 years," said Dr. Lawrence. "Tens of thousands of lives are saved each year by emergency physicians and 115 million patients are treated in the nation's emergency departments. Emergency physicians are medical specialists who are experts in their field."

ACEP is a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 25,000 members. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

The Florida College of Emergency Physicians (FCEP) represents more than 1,100 emergency physicians in the state of Florida. FCEP members represent the health care safety net of Florida’s residents and visitors. More than seven million patients seek care annually in Florida emergency departments. FCEP was founded on Oct. 15, 1971 and is headquartered in Orlando.