Damon Clark, MD, Wins Volunteerism Award

The American College of Surgeons has named Damon H. Clark, MD, of USC’s department of surgery, as the winner of its annual Surgical Volunteerism Award. The award is intended to honor surgeons who go above and beyond their surgical practices with exceptional contributions to the community. The award is given in four categories: domestic, international, resident, and military, with just a single winner in each category.

Clark, an assistant professor in the division of trauma, surgical critical care, and emergency surgery, was nominated by his colleagues in the division. Anaar Siletz, MD, PhD, first brought the award to the attention of her team and suggested the nomination.

“I’ve been a great admirer of Dr. Clark’s work since before I joined the faculty here and he has been a tremendously impactful and inspirational mentor to me and so many others,” she said. “We are at a moment now when many in healthcare are starting to realize how much systemic socioeconomic injustice harms our patients and our society. Dr. Clark deserves to be recognized for his amazing hard work and the enormous impact he has had on so many lives here in an economically devastated area of LA. He leads all of us at USC by example, and it seemed important that he have the opportunity for this recognition by the American College of Surgeons so he can continue to lead by example at the national level. There is no one more worthy to win this award than Dr. Damon Clark, and no one who will more effectively leverage any win that comes his way in the service of others.”

An ideal colleague

J. Perren Cobb, MD, Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Surgical Critical Care Section, knew that Clark would be a great nominee. “He’s an ideal colleague,” Cobb said, “The most important thing to him is what’s best for the patient. He’s as passionate and vocal a patient advocate as you could ever find, as well as a dedicated and beloved teacher. And he’s putting in 5–10 hours a week volunteering and mentoring families on top of what can be more than a 60-hour work week.”

Kenji Inaba, MD, vice chair of the department of surgery and chief of the division of trauma, surgical critical care, and emergency surgery, was also enthusiastic about Dr. Clark’s award. “What he has done is remarkable. He’s exactly the person who deserves this award. Damon Clark goes above and beyond his work as a trauma surgeon to do things that really impact our entire community. And he brings along our trainees. They get to truly understand what it means to provide community-based care.”

In his nominating letter, Cobb pointed out that much of Clark’s volunteer work centers around preventing the violence that he often sees as a trauma surgeon. For example, Clark runs Stop the Bleed training with at-risk youths. While the program involves practical training on what to do in a medical emergency, another layer of the program is in getting at-risk teenagers to see themselves differently—as leaders who are the first to step up in a crisis. The Surgeon for a Day program, founded by Clark in collaboration with Keck School surgical residents and medical students, has a similar goal. The wildly popular program brings students from under-resourced schools onto the Keck School campus to learn about careers in surgery and medicine at all levels.

“It can change their lives,” explained Clark. “They go from a mindset of thinking they have no options to ‘Shoot, I could do that too.’”

Inspiration from his own life

Clark noted that one of the reasons he is so passionate about his volunteer work is his own childhood in a disadvantaged area in Detroit. “I was one of those kids,” he said. “Most of the men in my life are either no longer with us or in jail. I’ve seen how tragedy affects the whole family—emotionally, spiritually, and financially. I was fortunate to have a mom who wouldn’t quit and a lot of luck.”

Clark also helps individuals and families to rebuild from past experiences with violence. He co-founded Grupo Apoyo Padres por la Paz/Parents for Peace, a free, long-term support group for families who have lost loved ones to violence, and started a free tattoo removal service staffed by surgical residents. Tattoo removal is a key part of helping survivors of human trafficking and former gang members fully leave their pasts behind and move forward in their lives.

Community work as an aspect of healthcare

Clark sees volunteer work as an integral part of his work as a healthcare professional. “People don’t realize that violence, suicide, and injury are health problems like anything else. In my eyes, it’s no different than diabetes or high blood pressure. Just like in medicine, early intervention is key. And you can see it work! When people get resources—substance abuse counseling, tattoos removed, someone to listen and take them seriously—you see kids that go to trade school, join the military, or go to college. You can change the whole trajectory of their lives.”

Cobb summed it up well: “Dr. Clark is the consummate example of a humanitarian surgeon.”