trauma center across the country. The model already exists.”
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Chris Foster has worked with
Dr. Smock for many years and visited San Diego, Calif., with him
to train in the recognition of neck trauma via strangulation. “Our
office has a great relationship with Dr. Smock. We rely on him to
give us frank opinions. He’s consistently educating the juries. He’s
educating us on the medical aspects of our cases. I admire his patience, his desire to teach, and I believe we often do a better job of
handling cases due to his involvement.”
Not one to merely sit at his desk, Dr. Smock also serves as a
tactical physician for the Louisville SWAT team, a position he’s
had for over 20 years. “I’m the last person in the stack. I’m the last
person, and I stop at the door. It doesn’t do the team any good if I
get shot. But, I’m right up there in a ballistic vest, a ballistic helmet.
I have to complete the same training and meet all of the physical
qualifications, shooting qualifications.” The St. Matthews Police
Department, the Jeffersontown Police Department and the Floyd
County Sheriff ’s Department in Indiana all call on Dr. Smock to
assist as a SWAT tactical physician as well.
Beyond the medical examinations, the SWAT missions and the
court cases, Dr. Smock found time to raise a family with his wife of
28 years, Cathy, a nurse. The couple has three children, all of whom
are interested in following their parents’ footsteps into public service.
With family, friends, students and colleagues, Dr. Smock also annually visits the African nation of Kenya. Together with University
of Louisville graduate and Kenyan Member of Parliament Wesley
Korir, Dr. Smock has worked to give thousands upon thousands of
villages fresh water and medical supplies through a program known
as WaterStep. He’s already planning his next trip for this July where
he’ll take 13 University of Louisville medical students, many of
whom will be making the journey for the first time.
Dr. Smock, 56, has no plans of slowing down any time soon. “Why
would I retire from a dream job that I love to do? I think we’re here
to help people, and I would do this even if I weren’t paid. I am as
happy as any physician could be.” LM
Note: Aaron Burch is Communications Specialist for the Greater
Louisville Medical Society
LMPD SWAT Officer Eric Culver has worked on the team with
Dr. Smock for ten years. “Dr. Smock serves as the lead tactical
medic. He’s trained the team in how to effectively use tourniquets,
do combat dressing, pack wounds and more,” said Culver.
“Dr. Smock deploys on missions with us. He dresses with us and
has the same equipment minus a firearm. He’s right there to apply
medical aid as he sees fit. If there are kids in the situation, he’ll be
the one to make sure they’re okay,” Culver continued. “It’s great we
have him, because he’s an essential tool for our tool box.”
June 2014
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