Dear Colleague:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on
Emergency Medicine is in the process of establishing a
research endowment to support the efforts of junior
investigators in our section. This endowment is being created
to honor the memory of Dr. Ken Graff, a talented young
pediatric emergency physician and investigator who died in a
skiing accident in the wilderness of Colorado in 1995.
Ken joined the pediatric emergency staff of the Children's
Hospital in Denver in September of 1994, after completing his
medical education at the UCLA School of Medicine, his
pediatric training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and his
pediatric emergency fellowship at Washington University, St.
Louis. Ken was a unique, bright, energetic and well-rounded
individual. He immediately set his patients, their families,
and the medical staff with whom he worked at ease.
Ken' research in pediatric sedation/analgesia was of the
highest caliber. He was recognized in this regard when he
received our section's Willis Wingert Award for outstanding
research at the 1994 scientific meeting of the AAP, for his
study of ketamine and midazolam for the sedation of children
with orthopedic injuries. In addition, Ken was the recipient
of a prestigious and highly competitive EMS-C grant for his
research in sedation and analgesia.
Ken is sorely missed by his family, friends and the
medical and research communities. We hope that the
establishment of a pediatric emergency medicine research
endowment in Ken's memory will promote and support young
investigators in their pursuit of quality research in our
field. We hope to generate an endowment which will provide
$5000 to $10,000 for a deserving research project on an
annual or biennial basis. Junior investigators will be
encouraged to apply for these funds through a competitive
grant application process. We are hoping to be able to make
the first award at the 1999 annual meeting.
We are asking all of our colleagues to join in supporting this worthy
project. We hope you will consider making a contribution
of $50 or $100, but remember, your support in any amount is welcome.
Please be sure to designate that the donation is for the Ken Graff Endowment
Fund.
Whatever you choose to give, I know that you share my
pride in Ken's outstanding legacy, my sadness at his tragic
loss, and my dedication to advancing the work to which he had
devoted his life. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Susan Fuchs, M.D.
AAP Section on Emergency Medicine
