Scott Frame, MD, EMT-P: 1952 - 2001

By Dr. NORMAN McSWAIN

CINCINNATI, Ohio — In the early morning hours of March 14, 2001, Scott B. Frame, MD, a personal friend of many of us and a true friend of the trauma patient, passed away after a long fight with adenoma carcinoma of the colon.

Scott approached his disease 'pedal to the metal' just like he approached his patients and his life. After diagnosis, he made the decision to go all the way with whatever treatment modalities that were available. He proudly told everyone when he passed the 8 months "dead day" for the average of his level of disease.

He was continuing to pursue the tough road of experiential chemotherapy until the very end. When all failed, he personally made the next decision with the strength of character that he used when he took care of his patients or taught surgery to his residents and the trauma management to the EMTs of the world.

Scott was one of the major reasons that the Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support program has grown internationally to now be available in 28 countries.

Scott Frame, MD, was born January 31, 1952, and spent his early years in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. He attended high school there, playing football and
competing in both the high and low huddles. In the last two years of high school, his was the fastest time in the state in both races. He went to college at the University of New Mexico, playing football and excelling in his studies en route to medical school there as well. For medical school financial support he applied for and was accepted into the US Navy. He completed his residency in Portsmouth Naval Hospital. On one tour of duty he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt as it was in the yards being readied for sea duty. Because the duties of a surgeon are light during the construction phase of a ship, he (as he did for all of his life) found a way to manipulate the system to spend most this time in New Orleans at Tulane and Charity Hospital completing a trauma/critical care fellowship. He was the second person to complete the US Navy fellowship at Tulane. From there he returned to a duty assignment at the San Diego Naval hospital to assist in the development of a trauma educational program for the Navy residents.

After completing his Navy obligation, Scott joined the faculty at University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He continued to develop his trauma and prehospital interests, joining the American Association for Trauma Surgery, The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and the National Association of EMT's. He was then recruited to become the trauma director for the University of Cincinnati.

The changes that he produced were aggressive and compatible with his approach to the other aspects of his life. His prehospital involvement grew as he became active in the EMS delivery system both ground and air in Knoxville and the PreHospital Trauma Life Support program. In PHTLS he became the associate Medical Director and very active in the promulgation of courses outside of North America. At the time of his untimely death he had assumed the responsibility of putting together the 5th edition of the PHTLS course, which included not only revision of the textbook but also the instructor manual and all of the associated teaching materials such as the slides and the CD. He had accepted the appointment to become the medical director of the course when the 5th edition was published. He was the liaison to the ACS/COT for the PHTLS program.

An avid diver, Scott took over the job as Director of Continuing Medical Education for the International Society of Aquatic Medicine (ISAM) in 1995. He provided excellent and interesting speakers for that organization. When Scott married Joyce, she quickly developed as the mainstay in his life. She was his constant companion whither he was working on the PHTLS course, traveling to meetings or just staying at home relaxing. During his illness, Joyce provided him with love, companionship during the long days in the hospital and assistance in all of the decisions necessary for planning his medical care. She was Scott's life and love and he hers. She held his hand as he took his last breath.

Scott's friends are numerous because he was a friend to them. Outspoken when
he believed that he was correct, loving when he was needed, aggressive in the care of his patients and an excellent teacher to residents, other physicians and to the prehospital providers of the world. The hole that he leaves in all of our lives will never be filled. 

Memorial services tentatively will be Thursday, March 22.

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