The UAB Department of Surgery is saddened to announce that former faculty member and champion of trauma care, Alan Dimick, M.D., passed away this week.

Dr. Dimick’s dedication to trauma care led to the establishment of the UAB Burn Center, paramedic firefighter training in Birmingham, desegregation of emergency rooms and establishment of the American Burn Association. He was known for his excellence in education and compassion in patient care. He treated everyone the same care, respect and kindness, whether he was interacting with young medical students, a world-famous physician, a nurse, custodial staff, a patient or a paramedic.

Dr. Dimick was an advocate for civil rights. In 1963, he worked to desegregate black and white emergency rooms at University Hospital. As director of the hospital’s Emergency Department during a time of racial turmoil in Birmingham, Dr. Dimick also witnessed one of the darkest moments in American history: On Sept. 15, 1963, he gave patient care to the four young black girls who were horrifically injured in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing and subsequently died.

In 1972, Dr. Dimick became medical director of a federal grant that provided funds for emergency medical training for 33 firefighters in the fire departments of Birmingham, Homewood and Vestavia Hills. These 33 firefighters were the first paramedics in Alabama.

Dr. Dimick was the medical director of the paramedic training program at the UAB Regional Technical Institute from 1973 to 1985. His influence can still be seen across the Birmingham Emergency Medical Services community. He served on the board of the Birmingham Regional Emergency Medical Services System, the organization responsible for the overall coordination of and improvements in the pre-hospital emergency medical care of a seven-county region.

Dr. Dimick was also highly engaged with the University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association, and was involved through the following roles and awards:

• Past President (1967-1968)
• Secretary/Treasurer (1998-2012)
• Class Reunion Chair, since 1978
• Distinguished Alumni (1995)
• Distinguished Service Award (2008)

For those who would like to honor Dr. Dimick's memory and dedication to trauma care, The Alan R. Dimick Burn Care Fund, which directly supports the UAB Burn Unit is a wonderful outlet to do so. Please click here if you wish to donate.

Story constructed by: Jane Longshore, School of Medicine Managing Editor.