On July 25, 2002, the surgical community lost a dear friend and colleague. C. James Carrico, MD, was one of those unique individuals who excelled in clinical care, investigative skills, and administrative prowess. A visionary in his time, he will long be remembered for his unexcelled dedication to the advancement of surgical science and the importance of compassion and competence in the delivery of patient care. His guidance, teaching, and mentoring had a profound influence on surgeons throughout the world.
The son of an educator, he followed in the footsteps of his father who led the chemistry department at his alma mater, North Texas State University. Jim’s leadership ability was soon recognized and on graduation from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, he was selected to receive the prestigious Ho Din award as the outstanding senior medical student.
During his residency, he was unexpectedly thrust into history, as he was the first physician to care for President Kennedy at Parkland Memorial Hospital on that fateful day in November 1963. True to his character, he kept that in proper perspective, rarely discussed and never speculated on the circumstances surrounding the event.
He fulfilled his military obligation at the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego where he became a co-investigator and was instrumental in setting up the Shock and Resuscitation Program. At the conclusion of his military duty in 1969, he returned to Dallas and began what turned out to be a most impressive career in academic surgery. He remained on the faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School until 1974 when he moved to Seattle and ultimately became Chairman of the Department of Surgery in 1983. He was persuaded to return to his alma mater in Dallas and serve as Department Chair in 1990, a position he held for the next 10 years.
His accomplishments are well known. He was the consummate educator, who was often called on to lead many organizations including the American Board of Surgery and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, which he did with diplomacy and grace. He had the envious ability to bring people together and achieve consensus when compromise was difficult to achieve.
He was a member of 22 professional organizations, published 84 journal articles and contributed to 64 textbooks and monographs. He served on the editorial board of eight surgical journals including the Annals of Surgery and was a member of the Surgery, Anesthesia & Trauma Study Section of the National Institutes of Health.
Despite his intense interest in trauma and critical care, he was first a general surgeon and knowledgeable in all aspects of the specialty. Throughout his career, he championed the established principles and ideals, so necessary for both young and old surgeons alike, to be able to deliver the highest quality of care to their patients. In his later years, much of his energy was directed toward prevention of injury. He saw this as a major public health issue and weeks before his passing, was tenaciously lobbying this cause.
His work with the American College of Surgeons was legendary. He served on 34 committees culminating with the Chairmanship of the Board of Regents from 1999 to 2001. Of all of his accolades, becoming the President-Elect of the College ranked as one of the most meaningful.
Throughout his distinguished career, he was always able to balance his professional interests and responsibilities with an unparalleled love, devotion, and dedication to his lovely wife Sue and their three children. Often seen as a serious individual, he had a sense of humor and a devilish side of his personality that was youthful and refreshing. He often said, “what we do is a serious business; however, we must never take ourselves too seriously.” He lived by that dictum and was as comfortable in a pair of jeans tromping around his beloved home on Whidbey Island as addressing a national audience in formal attire. Jim was an inspiration to all who knew him. The manner in which he faced his final battle exemplified his positive attitude and zest to continue the work that was so important to him. Even at the times when we were called on to advise him and support him as he had to make critical decisions about his treatment or to face the progression of his disease, we left him feeling that he had given us even more than we gave him.
During his career, he trained hundreds of surgeons and influenced many more. Although he insisted on the highest quality of care for and dedication to every patient, he was, first and foremost, a role model for young physicians teaching them to balance their busy careers with their family lives. He loved the practice of surgery, working diligently to place skilled surgeons into community practices, but he also found great satisfaction and pride in being, to use his own simple terminology, a “school teacher.” The many fine surgeons practicing in communities and medical schools across the country and throughout the world who were influenced by his teachings will long remember him.
Earlier this year over 300 of his friends and colleagues helped establish the C. James Carrico M.D., Distinguished Chair in Surgery for Trauma and Critical Care at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. This is only the second endowed chair in trauma in the nation and will allow his memory to continue in perpetuity. This was a fitting tribute honoring a person who had unselfishly given so much of himself and influenced so many, in such a humble manner. He was an outstanding, teacher, mentor, clinician, investigator, administrator, friend and above all a devoted son, husband and father.
C. James Carrico has left an enviable legacy for which he will always be remembered.
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