“We, at UCSF Fresno, are deeply saddened by the passing of dear friend and colleague, Steven N. Parks, MD. Dr. Parks was the longtime chief of surgery and program director of the surgery residency at UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program. He was a driving force in establishing a standardized system for trauma care in the Central San Joaquin Valley. And he was well known and respected across the nation and internationally as a trauma educator and surgeon. He was recognized last November by his colleagues with an endowed chair named in his honor. Dr. Parks’ mark on medicine will be recognized well into the future. We are all the poorer for the loss of his vision, leadership and guidance. All of us at UCSF Fresno extend our sympathy to the Parks family and keep them in our thoughts during this difficult time.”
Background on Dr. Parks:
Parks was recruited to UCSF Fresno in 1976, following completion of a trauma surgery fellowship at the UCSF-affiliated San Francisco General Hospital. He was named chief of surgery and program director of the surgery residency at UCSF Fresno in 1982.
He has served in a variety of capacities on a number of boards, committees, medical societies and other professional organizations, including the American Burn Association, The American Association of the Surgery of Trauma, and as a founding member of the American Trauma Society.
He was active with the American College of Surgeons, serving on the Board of Governors, chairing the Advanced Trauma Life Support subcommittee, and serving as a member of the Committee on Trauma. In addition, he was an executive committee member on the board of directors for the Association of Program Directors in Surgery.
Parks was a founding member and current president of Central California Faculty Medical Group. He also was a board member of the Community Medical Centers Foundation.
In 1995, Parks received the Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching. He received the award for a second time in 2005 as a Career Achievement Award.
Parks graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, and completed a rotating internship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He was a resident in surgery at Highland General Hospital in Oakland. Parks was board certified by the American Board of Surgery and was certified with Added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care.
