Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Mattox Awarded Order of Military Medical Merit

Amanda May

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Dr. Ken Mattox presented with the Order of Military Medical Merit by Dr. Martin Schreiber
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Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox, distinguished service professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, was recently awarded the Order of Military Medical Merit, which is given for exemplary contribution to the army medical department, and, in this case, to an individual who has saved countless injured war fighters’ lives through his actions and his years of dedicated service to the advancement of trauma.

In presenting the award, Dr. Martin Schreiber cited Dr. Mattox’s book, "Top Knife," the most commonly carried book for surgeons deployed down range - their "Bible" for care of severely injured war fighters. He noted that Dr. Mattox, in 1998, established the first military/civilian hospital training program at Ben Taub Hospital, resulting in the development of similar programs in hospitals throughout the country and also resulting in saving countless lives of injured war fighters. He related Dr. Mattox's history of performing paradigm shifting research that directly contributed to positive, life-saving changes in approach to resuscitation and treatment of injured warriors.  

Further, in his role as chief of surgery and chief of staff at Ben Taub, as well as Program Director of TCCACS, he has participated in training countless numbers of physicians who have gone on to save innumerable lives in combat. For these achievements, Dr. Mattox is now one of only five physicians to receive this high honor. The Order of Military Medical Merit is a private organization that was founded by the Commanding General of the U.S. ArmyHealth Services Command in 1982 with the goal of recognizing excellence and promoting fellowship and esprit de corps among Army Medical Department (AMEDD) personnel. 

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