While Dr. Seth Hawkins saves lives in CVMC’s Emergency Department,
his passion for emergency medicine far exceeds any hospital’s walls.
At 48, he is a nationally-acclaimed expert in the field of wilderness
emergency medical services (EMS) and was named a Top 10 EMS Innovator by the
Journal of EMS in 2018.
“His versatility is amazing,” says Chuck Scronce, CVMC’s
emergency services administrator. “I think the biggest thing he
brings back to CVMC is his depth of experience. By continually traveling
and providing care in different environments, lecturing and just staying
on the cutting edge of treatment and technology, it makes not only him
a more effective physician, but the entire care team better.”
Hawkins lives at the base of Linville Gorge with his wife and three sons
on the Catawba River’s banks. There he works tirelessly as the chief
of Appalachian Mountain Rescue Team and medical director for Burke County
EMS and North Carolina State Park EMS. He’s often among the first
responders for medical emergencies in the area’s notoriously treacherous
and demanding terrain.
As a medical advisor for REI, the nation-wide outdoor retailer, Hawkins
helps design educational programs for outdoor enthusiasts seeking all
kinds of adventures.A columnist for
Emergency Medicine News and executive editor of
Wilderness Medicine Magazine, Hawkinspublished a first-of-its-kind textbook in 2018.
Wilderness EMS is a multi-author work that translates traditional emergency medicine principles
to harsh, rural and limited-resource environments. He also co-authored
Vertical Aid in 2017– a book about essential wilderness medicine for climbers, trekkers, and
mountaineers.
A current assistant professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine,
Hawkins instructs in its Department of Emergency Medicine. He earned his
medical degree from the University of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill
School of Medicine and, previously, obtained a bachelor’s degree
in anthropology from Yale University.
With dual board-certifications in emergency medicine and EMS, Hawkins became
the first physician ever named a Master Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness
Medicine. He’s also a Fellow of the American College of Emergency
Physicians and an inaugural Fellow of the Academy of EMS.
Frequently referred to as “Hawk” by his colleagues, Hawkins
is also a soaring entrepreneur. As the owner of
Hawk Ventures, he offers highly-customized products and services for EMS-Rescue, wilderness
medicine, anthropology and educational field support. He’s also
a partner in
Vertical Medicine Resources, a venture with locations in North Carolina and Vermont that helps train,
guide, and consult groups and individuals in their pursuit of vertical
and mountainous terrain adventures.
“There is not a lot Dr. Hawkins hasn’t seen as far as medical
emergencies go,” adds Scronce. “He’s a heck of a resource
for his physician colleagues and our entire team.”
Note: this article is merely an abridged list of Dr. Hawkins’ achievements,
learn more about him on Wikipedia.