DGMC commander receives 2009 Excellence in Military Emergency Medicine Award

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  • By 60th Medical Group Public Affairs
  • 60th Medical Group
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Dr. (Col.) Lee E. Payne, commander of the 60th Medical Group at David Grant USAF Medical Center, received the 2009 Excellence in Military Emergency Medicine Award from the Government Services chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. 

"I am very humbled to receive this award," said Dr. Payne. "During my more than 20 year career in Emergency Medicine, I have witnessed those who have been selected in past years by the chapter from all three services to receive this award. Many of them were my mentors and I have always held those honored in high esteem. 

Dr. Payne entered the Air Force in 1987 after completion of his medical training and has remained on active duty since. While an Air Force emergency physician he began his career with his first assignment at Madigan Army Medical Center's Department of Emergency Medicine. After a successful tour at MAMC, Dr. Payne went to Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas where he was a staff emergency medicine physician and moved up to become the chief of the acute care division. 

In the eight years when his career was focused on emergency medicine, Dr. Payne participated in grant-funded research, presented at multiple conferences and published. He was an active leader in GSACEP serving on the board and as an alternate Councilor to ACEP. 

In 1995, his military career took him down the command track causing him to leave the full-time practice of emergency medicine. His career has been impressive; three tours as a military treatment facility commander including his current assignment as 60 MDG commander at DGMC, the second largest MTF in the Air Force Medical Service. He has also served as U.S. Air Forces Central Command surgeon where his emergency medicine background helped him become a strong advocate promoting military medical operations with the proper focus on trauma and critical care management. 

In his current assignment, Dr. Payne has found time to remain clinically active as an emergency medicine physician, reengaged with GSACEP by serving as an alternate and then regular Councilor since 2006 and is a member of the GSACEP board of directors. 

He has maintained his American Board of Emergency Medicine certification throughout his career. He is also nationally active as a member of the ACEP Quality and Performance committee since 2007. 

ACEP is a national emergency medicine specialty society with more than 25,000 members and is committed to improving the quality of 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. 

In 1997, GSCACEP developed a chapter award to recognize a member who has made outstanding contributions to military emergency medicine in one or more categories ranging from conspicuous contribution to the specialty through research, teaching, publications or other significant academic endeavors while serving as a Federal/Emergency physician to singular achievements related to direct patient care, such as responding to disaster or mass casualty situations. 

The first winner of the award was Dr. (Col.) Ray Ten Eyck, USAF. Dr. (Col.) Linda Lawrence, another Air Force military emergency physician currently DGMC's chief of the medical staff, was recognized in 2005. Dr. (Rear Adm.) William Roberts, USN, was last year's recipient. 

"It is one of the greatest professional validations one can receive when you are singled out by a group of your peers," said Dr. Payne. "I am extremely grateful."