Steven N. Parks MD,  Professor of Clinical Surgery and Chairman of the UCSF Fresno’s department of surgery at Community Regional Medical Center died at home on Aug. 21, 2010. He was 67. Dr. Parks was credited with establishing a standardized system of trauma care in the central San Joaquin Valley.

After completing his surgical residency at Highland General Hospital in Oakland, Dr Parks joined the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco in 1975. He was asked to go to the affiliated program in Fresno to “help out for 1 to 2 years” in 1976. And helped, he did. He became the director of the burn unit and the trauma service, and played an integral role in the initial paramedic training program. In 1982, Dr Parks became the Chairman of Surgery and the program director of surgical residency. 

Steve Parks was a gifted surgeon, a superb surgical anatomist and great teacher, mentor and friend. He received numerous awards for teaching and service including the Henry J Kaiser Lifetime Award for Excellence in Teaching, American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Millennium Commitment Award, the Advanced Trauma Life Support Meritorious Service Award, and the Society of Trauma Nurses Trauma Nursing Service Award.

In recognition of Steve’s service and commitment to the neediest of the needy and to the education of future generations of surgeons, the Steven N. Parks Endowed Chair of Surgery was established in 2009.

Dr. Parks is survived by his wife of 43 years, Patty, his daughter Nancy and his son Ben and his mother, Betty. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Terry’s House, The Steven N. Parks Endowed Chair of Surgery, or the Trauma Research and Education Foundation of Fresno (TREFF).