Scott B. Frame
MD, EMT-P

 The Measure of a Man - by Will Chapleau (March 24th, 2001)

Eulogy- by Norman McSwain (March 24th, 2001)

Eulogy- by Blaine Enderson (March 24th, 2001)

Eulogy- by David B. Hoyt (March 24th, 2001)

Eulogy- by L.D. Britt (March 24th, 2001)

Eulogy- by Joseph Fischer (March 24th, 2001)

Requiem to a Friend- by Norman McSwain (March 14th, 2001)

Scott Frame Memorial Fund & Lectureship (March 14th, 2001)
 
Memorial services for Dr. Frame were held on Saturday, March 24 at 2:00 p.m. in the Atrium of Shriners' Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio. There were over 250 people in attendance. The Eulogies and Memorials posted represent the Service for those who were unable to attend.

Requiem to a Friend

In the early morning hours of March 14, 2001, Scott B. Frame, MD, a personal friend of many of us and a true friend of the trauma patient, passed away after a long fight with adenoma carcinoma of the colon.

Scott approached his disease 'pedal to the metal' just like he approached his patients and his life. After diagnosis, he made the decision to go all the way with whatever treatment modalities that were available. He proudly told everyone when he passed the 8 months "dead day" for the average of his level of disease.

He was continuing to pursue the tough road of experiential chemotherapy until the very end. When all failed, he personally made the next decision with the strength of character that he used when he took care of his patients or taught surgery to his residents and the trauma management to the EMTs of the world.

Scott was one of the major reasons that the Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support program has grown internationally to now be available in 28 countries.

Scott Frame, MD, was born January 31, 1952, and spent his early years in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He attended high school there, playing football and competing in both the high and low huddles. In the last two years of high school, his was the fastest time in the state in both races. He went to college at the University of New Mexico, playing football and excelling in his studies en route to medical school there as well. For medical school financial support he applied for and was accepted into the US Navy. He completed his residency in Portsmouth Naval Hospital. On one tour of duty he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt as it was in the yards being readied for sea duty. Because the duties of a surgeon are light during the construction phase of a ship, he (as he did for all of his life) found a way to manipulate the system to spend most this time in New Orleans at Tulane and Charity Hospital completing a trauma/critical care fellowship. He was the second person to complete the US Navy fellowship at Tulane. From there he returned to a duty assignment at the San Diego Naval hospital to assist in the development of a trauma educational program for the Navy residents.

After completing his Navy obligation, Scott joined the faculty at University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He continued to develop his trauma and prehospital interests, joining the American Association for Trauma Surgery, The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and the National Association of EMT's. He was then recruited to become the trauma director for the University of Cincinnati.

The changes that he produced were aggressive and compatible with his approach to the other aspects of his life. His prehospital involvement grew as he became active in the EMS delivery system both ground and air in Knoxville and the PreHospital Trauma Life Support program. In PHTLS he became the associate Medical Director and very active in the promulgation of courses outside of North America. At the time of his untimely death he had assumed the responsibility of putting together the 5th edition of the PHTLS course, which included not only revision of the textbook but also the instructor manual and all of the associated teaching materials such as the slides and the CD. He had accepted the appointment to become the medical director of the course when the 5th edition was published. He was the liaison to the ACS/COT for the PHTLS program.

An avid diver, Scott took over the job as Director of Continuing Medical Education for the International Society of Aquatic Medicine (ISAM) in 1995. He provided excellent and interesting speakers for that organization. When Scott married Joyce, she quickly developed as the mainstay in his life. She was his constant companion whither he was working on the PHTLS course, traveling to meetings or just staying at home relaxing. During his illness, Joyce provided him with love, companionship during the long days in the hospital and assistance in all of the decisions necessary for planning his medical care. She was Scott's life and love and he hers. She held his hand as he took his last breath. Scott's friends are numerous because he was a friend to them. Outspoken when he believed that he was correct, loving when he was needed, aggressive in the care of his patients and an excellent teacher to residents, other physicians and to the prehospital providers of the world. The hole that he leaves in all of our lives will never be filled.

By Norman McSwain, Jr., MD, FACS

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Scott Frame Memorial Fund Information

Joyce has requested that any remembrances of Scott to be send to one these organizations:

Trauma: Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Scott B. Frame, MD Memorial Fund - This money will be used to develop a lectureship or scholarship in Scott's name as to be decided by Joyce and EAST Scott Frame Fund of EAST c/o Michael Pasquale, Sec-Treas EAST, Dept Surgery Lehigh Valley Hospital 1210 Cedar Crest Blvd, #3100, Allentown, Pa 18103.

PreHospital Care: PreHospital Trauma Life Support (http://phtls.org/) of the National Association of EMT's (http://naemt.org/) Scott B Frame, MD Memorial Lectureship - The money will be used to develop a self perpetuating fund to sponsor a yearly named lectureship in Scott's honor. This will be presented at the NAEMT annual meeting or the PHTLS scientific symposium. Decision as to the exact time to be determined by Joyce.

Scott B. Frame Memorial Fund, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, PO Box 1400, Clinton, MS 39060-1400

Cancer Fund: National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (http://www.nccra.org/). Donations can be made directly from this web site.

Scott Frame Lectureship:
2007 - Dr. Osvaldo Rois
2006 - Dr. James K. Styner
2005 - Dr. Frank Butler
2004 - Dr. David B. Hoyt
2003 - Dr. Jameel Ali
2002 - Dr. Blaine Enderson

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The Measure of a Man

When I was told that Joyce asked for me to speak here today, my first reaction was, of course, that this would be easy. How hard could it be, I thought, to say a few words about a man that has been such a large part of our lives? A man that has been a good friend, a model of professionalism, and a standard for all of us to rise to.

In reality, it was harder than I thought. You see, though I knew that Scott had left us, I really hadn't had to face it yet. Even when I saw Scott at the hospital and he told us he was leaving, it seemed more like the farewells at airport gates that have been so much a part of our lives.

Not till I sat down to write these words did it hit me with full force that Scott was gone.

I searched for some phrase, some wise words uttered by better men than me, to honor Scott and what he meant to me, to us here today, and to the people all over the world that have flooded the mails and the Internet with their thoughts and prayers. They all join us here today in spirit. As I searched, words and phrases jumbled and blended, until I ended up with a paraphrase that summarized this jumble of experience and emotion.

The measure of a man, is the company he keeps.

Scott would really be angry with me now for spending this much time on him. He wasn't much for accolades. Particularly since he thought it was his job to do the best he could do and he felt he could always do better. That was his own measure. That was how he judged his own work, his life, "Was it the best I could do"?

The measure of a man is the company he keeps.

Scott made time for so many, his company is difficult to describe. First in his company of course, is Joyce. All who knew Scott knew first, how much he loved Joyce. Seeing them together made it clear how much they loved each other. A love that only grew palpably stronger as their lives became more difficult.

The measure of a man is the company he keeps.

Scott made time for a diverse group of people from every corner of the globe. An ambulance driver from Argentina found Scott willing to listen to him describe the problems facing rural Patagonia. A Physician in Bulgaria sat with Scott and discussed ways to build an Emergency Care system for his country. A Nurse in Italy found Scott willing to listen to her concerns about her developing burn center. He'd spend time with fireman, policemen, first responders and paramedics in every state of the US And each one felt that their problems were his concern, that their solution was worthy of his attention. The company he kept was filled with people wanting his help and he was happy to provide that.

The measure of a man is the company he keeps.

Scott made time for all of us by compressing his own time. I remember sitting up with him one night in the Northwest Territories with a sun that would not go down, watching as he arranged schedules to accommodate the needs of the National Association of EMT's, and PHTLS. He truly believed that Prehospital Trauma Life Support had the potential to save countless lives all over the world and threw himself into the task. It was clear that he loved PHTLS as he loved its father. And that it was always a priority in his life to act in the best interest of PHTLS. The amount of time he gave to us at conferences, working on materials, writing chapters, is incredible. He coached us, advised us, and infused us with the energy that comes with embarking on a noble quest. This band of believers, he so obviously loved is part of the company he kept.

The measure of a man is the company he keeps and it has been a pleasure to have been in his company.

I am grateful for the gift that Scott has been. He taught us to challenge, to passionately fight for right, and vigorously challenge what is not. To go when called and to leave when you're no longer needed. To teach others to do for themselves rather than encouraging dependence. All of us that have benefited from time shared as faculty or students, are the company he kept.

This day, this memorial, is less for Scott than it is for us. A day to share our grief, yes, but also to celebrate the life he lived from the first day to his last. If we are truly to celebrate him, if we are to honor the things that he dedicated his life to, then we should move from this day to continue the work he loved. In his name and in his memory, to live up to his measure and to continue to keep the company he kept.

by Will Chapleau, RN, EMT-P, CEN, TSN.

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Tinsley R. Harrison, MD 
 
Tinsley Harrison must have had a vision of Scott Frame, the physician, when he penned these words in 1950.

In his dying months in 1972, Dr James T Thouroughman, Professor of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine wrote the following:

Death Comes to the Physician

Who speaks thus---

Enter, death, my old acquaintance! I will not call thee friend, for we have been adversaries these 50 years. Success at times has been thine, and failure likewise - when victory has been mine. Neither can I deem thee wholly evil, for at times thou has brought surcease from suffering to those whom my poor skill could not ease. When the shadow of thy presence hovered over those whom thou didst not touch, was this to test the mettle of their soul or to challenge me to greater endurance? Thou dost not answer?
So thou has come for me. I know thee too well to fear thee. Come let us walk arm in arm down the long corridor until I enter the portals of eternity, from whence thou are forever barred.

James T Thouroughman, MD 1904-1972
 
These words describe Scott Frame in life as he fought against death many times, in the operating room, in the ICU and in the classroom; and then, again, against a rapidly growing tumor in his own body. They also describe Scott as he approached the end of this fight.

Yet this does not completely describe the Scott that we are here today to thank our own individual god, for the blessing of having the chance to know, and to be around. He is one of the most complete human beings that I personally have ever known.

He gave to those of us here and to many more that are not. He received when we gave to him and said thanks for the gift. He laughed with us in fun and was sad in times of sorrow. He loved and was loved. He was a real person and he treated every one that he met no matter what their job was or how much money that they made (or did not make) exactly then same. He said hello and joked with everyone. Just look at the pictures and see Scott on his knees in his tux dancing with his niece, Julie.

Perhaps some of the kindred spirit that linked Scott and I was our love for the Navaho culture. Although I did not recognize the depth of this mutual enjoyment until several years after he was my trauma fellow at Tulane, yet when he was there, somehow our spirits joined. I have not had a closer friend in my life except my daughter.

His brother-in-law Paul has written a beautiful and moving poem about the Scott, the Medicine man joining the four winds of the Navaho tradition. I hope that you have the chance to read it.

Scott and Scuzball (his pet name for Joyce) enjoyed life together. The other night, with her sisters, Barb and Jane and brother-in-law Paul we went through the picture albums to pick out some representative pictures of Scott for you to see and which are displayed on the picture boards. As much as I knew about their lives together, I was still amazed at the number of places that they had traveled together. A wonderful couple and a wonderful life together. We joked that the only place that they had not been was to heaven, so Scott took an exploratory trip to check out things for Joyce

As I thought about this recognition of his life, there are images that come into view: The view of Scott on a dive boat ready to enter the water; in the OR gently but firmly telling the anesthesia folks at the head of the table not to put the trauma patient to sleep until he was prepped and draped; the smooth flow of his hands as he quickly opened the skin to see into the Pandora's box of the gun shot abdomen ready to solve any problem that was there; the sound of his voice as he sipped his single malt choice of the day and philosophized about the problems of the world; the insight into developing a teaching module so the PHTLS student could better understand and learn; the view of Scott behind the bar serving drinks at the Hot Buttered Rum Party each year; the discussions on the floor in front of the TV when Alabama and Tennessee battled in the afternoon before the HBR party started; and his reflections of the high regard that he held his brother, Terry. But the strongest was that of Scott and Joyce together. They were one.

These are some of my memories but perhaps others will share theirs with us shortly. His academic life is portrayed for you in his CV on the table. I hope that you will get one on your way out if you do not have it already. It was a full life.

"Only the rocks, my friend, last forever" as the Navaho artist, Martin, Little Thunder. Entitled his painting of an Indian saying good by to his friend. Scott, my friend. It is time to say "good by" to you in body but not in our spirits nor in our love. As the Navaho would say, "Hagonee Shi Kxisk", Good by, my friend.

Norman McSwain, MD

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Eulogy

My name is Blaine Enderson. I am speaking today as a representative of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, as well as a personal friend of Scott's.

Scott was an active member of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, since its earliest days as an organization. He was very involved in the activities of EAST, especially during its early, formative years. He served on a number of committees with EAST over the years, including the membership committee and the program committee-both of which were responsible for establishing the reputation of EAST and helping to power growth of the organization.

Scott was also actively involved in the scientific program of EAST-submitting abstracts and manuscripts, encouraging his residents and fellows to do the same, and serving as an invited discussant for a number of papers. In fact, it is almost unfortunate that one of the things that is still discussed on the Trauma List and on other occasions, is his discussion in 1996 of a paper presented at EAST on the prehospital application of emergency cricothyrotomy. The words and metaphors that he used to drive home his point are still remembered, but unfortunately I fear that his very real and valid concerns with the study are often forgotten.

Scott and Joyce attended every one of the annual meetings of EAST, until his illness prevented him from attending the last couple of years. I still remember how torn he felt at the EAST meeting in January, 1991 watching the beginning of Desert Storm. Although he was happy to be in practice in Knoxville and being with many friends at the EAST meeting, he felt more than a little guilty that he was not with our armed forces in the Persian Gulf, serving in the way he had prepared for during the prior 10 years of his career.

Scott was a great mentor to the residents and fellows at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville, just as I am sure he was a great mentor in Cincinnati, New Orleans, San Diego and the other places where he served. While at Knoxville, Scott and I developed the idea of a trauma scholarship that is awarded each year to a surgical resident that allows them to attend the annual scientific meeting of EAST. I am proud to announce that this scholarship will now be named for him. More importantly, because of the key role that Scott played in EAST and because of the example that he set for all of us as a trauma surgical mentor, I am proud to announce that EAST is establishing the Scott B. Frame, MD Memorial Fund, which will help to further its mission of mentoring the young trauma surgeon.

Now, on a more personal level…Scott and Joyce Frame have been friends with my wife, Jean, and I for 10 years. In fact, Scott and I have been best friends since we first met 11 years ago in New Orleans and I started recruiting him to come to Knoxville.

During the past 11 years, I have seen and experienced many sides of Scott Frame. I saw and experienced the energetic, enjoy what life has to offer side of Scott on many trips together-whether it be hiking or camping in the Smokies, touring the wine country of Sonoma and Napa, hiking volcanoes in Costa Rica and Hawaii, or scuba diving in the Caribbean or the Bonne Terre Mine in Missouri.

I saw and experienced the dedication that he had toward his work and especially toward the care of the injured patient. As many of you know, he did not suffer silently those who were not as dedicated as he-often bursting forth in a torrent of "Navyspeak" to gain people's attention. Yet, he did not hold a grudge, and those torrents would pass and be forgotten quickly.

I saw and experienced his love of teaching-as well as his expectation that those he taught cared as much about the subject as he did.

I saw and experienced his attempts to be a grinch-stating that he did not like children or he did not like pets, or he did not like Christmas. Yet, even though adults occasionally had trouble seeing through that veneer, my children and my pets did not. They always went to him first, instinctively knowing that despite his gruff exterior, he had a huge soft heart, 10X the size of most normal adults.

I saw and experienced his loyalty-once you were his friend, you were always his friend. And his honesty-you always knew what he was thinking. And, his willingness to consider other positions. He would take a strong position, but if you could logically convince him otherwise, he would readily admit he was wrong.

Most recently, I saw and experienced his bravery. As he told me in November of 1999 when he was first diagnosed, "You know, it really sucks when your life expectancy suddenly goes from being measured in years to being measured in months." Yet, he and Joyce threw everything that they had into the fight. While fighting for Scott's life, they did not abandon everything else they believed in-they continued to work, to teach, and to love. And, they showed us what true love is.

Several years ago, at a meeting of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Joyce and Scott and Jean and I went out to dinner and had some wine. After dinner, we returned to our hotel and Scott and I talked until 4 in the morning, while continuing to drink some wine. In that conversation, we solved all of the problems of the world. Unfortunately, the next day, we could not remember what those solutions were. I know that Scott has now rediscovered all of those answers. I look forward to living the lessons that Scott has taught me for the rest of my life and then relearning those answers from him in the future.

by Blaine Enderson, EAST

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He maintained the vital connection to the early care of the injured patient in the field and was responsible for the evolution and recent editorial revision of the bible of emergency medical technician training - PHTLS. In addition to his spirit of leadership, his PHTLS legacy will benefit the injured patient forever. The world will be a better place because of his contributions.

Scott, I can only say that your courage and fight, and your love for Joyce and the special relationship you both shared are an inspiration to me and to all of us. We will all miss you. At the same time, we will all strive to achieve in our own practice and lives, the commitments you have lived in your own. Please know, Joyce, as you think about Scott in the future, that all of us who worked with him, thought of him as the very BEST.

David B. Hoyt, M.D., FACS
Chair, American College of Surgeons/Committee on Trauma
President, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma

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Eulogy

There have been few things more problematic to this society than the plague of trauma. A few decades ago, key organizations in this nation formally declared a "full scale" "war" against this devastating problem. This WAR has been waged on all fronts: the prehospital setting, the trauma center setting, the rehabilitation front, and the prevention / education arenas.

As we all know, Dr. Scott Frame was one of the true admirals in this war. Even in the face of his own personal battle, Dr. Scott Frame never abandoned his ship. All the branches of this "military-like" medical initiative are represented here today (ACS/COT, AAST, EAST, National Association of EMT (PHTLS), Pan-American Trauma Society and others).

Yes - we are all here from all corners of the nation to pay the highest tribute to one of our colleagues who played such a pivotal role in every aspect of trauma management and prevention. There is no doubt that the spirit and enthusiasm of Scott will always remain with each one of us. You know-the "Footprints" of life often come and go. I have no doubt that the "Footprints" of Achievement so professionally made by Dr. Scott Frame will remain with us for decades to come.

L.D Britt, MD, FACS
Professor & Chair, Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Vice Chair, American Collage of Surgeons/Committee on Trauma
Regent, American Collage of Surgeons

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Eulogy

We are here to say farewell to Scott Frame.

My father once said to one of my brothers about me that death was so familiar that perhaps to me it had lost its sanctity.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Surgeons, particularly trauma and critical care surgeons, are all too familiar with death.

The best illustration of this to me comes from the poetry of Wilfred Owen, a British poet killed in World War I whose poetry forms a major portion of the libretto of Benjamin Britten's highly regarded War Requiem:

Out there, we've walked quite friendly up to Death;
Sat down and eaten with him, cool and bland, –
Pardoned his spilling mess-tins in our hand.
We've sniffed the green tick odour of his breath, –
Our eyes wept, but our courage didn't writhe.
He's spat at us with bullets and he's coughed shrapnel.
We chorussed when he sang aloft;
We whistled while he shaved us with his scythe.
Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!
We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.
Benjamin Britten 
 
Physicians, and especially surgeons, also think they are invulnerable. Events such as this remind us of our vulnerability.

We are indeed sorry. Scott was with us such a short time. As Joyce said to me a week or two ago, "we liked it here." Well, we liked you here as well.

To me, the saddest words in the language are "What might have been."

What might have been.

Scott, we will miss you. Farewell.

By Joseph Fischer MD

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