Member SpotlightsClinician Pioneers Professional Communications Via the Internet David W. Crippen, M.D., F.C.C.M. A Member Since July 2003  Nearly ten years ago Dr. David Crippen founded an international critical care medicine discussion group on the Internet. Today, with over 1,000 members it has become a model for how the Internet can effectively facilitate communication and the exchange of information among professionals around the world. This discussion group, entitled the Critical Care Medicine Listserv or CCM-L is designed to facilitate the discussion of topics related to the following:1). Patient care in intensive care units (ICU) focusing specifically on drug therapy and life support systems; 2). Determinations of resuscitation (code) status and coping with dying and death. 3). Management of scarce resources in the ICU setting, including the limiting, withholding and withdrawing of life support. Dr. Crippen attributes the long-lasting success of CCM-L in part to its unique structure. This structure provide list participants with opportunities to learn new information, receive and give advice, and develop a feeling of connectedness with other members of their profession. CCM-L is composed of three distinct elements: 1) The Cyber-Consult Service. Critical care consultations in (more or less) real time from experts around the world. 2) The Journal Club. Reviews of current critical care literature. 3) The Discussion Forum. Discussions of what's happening in the global medical socio-political arena. Another reason his listserv has been so popular is because of Dr. Crippen himself and the online personality he has created. It’s an attractive mix of quirkiness, humor and charm. This formula seems to work in drawing people out and creating a sense of belonging among individuals from different locations around the globe. People sign-up on the listserv to obtain access to the factual information it offers, but in reality end-up staying because of the sense of community that exists among its members. Dr. Crippen’s passion for CCM-L is evident when one takes the time to explore its website and archives, which are peppered with his insights, quips and stories. CCM-L is run out of the University of Pittsubugh where Dr. Crippen is a clinical associate professor emergency and critical care medicine. Dr. Crippen’s interest in medicine evolved from his natural interest in the life sciences. He attended the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia in the late 1960’s where he majored in microbiology and minored in biochemistry. His undergraduate years were interrupted by a two-year stint as a field medic in the United States Army where he served in Vietnam. After returning from the war, he went on to finish his schooling and receive his Bachelor of Science degree. After a year of graduate work in pathogenic microbiology, Dr. Crippen enrolled in medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. He did his internship and surgical residency at the New York University Medical Center-Bellevue Hospital and an emergency medicine residency at the Center for Trauma and Emergency Medicine, Methodist Hospital Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. His postgraduate fellowship years were in critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Presbyterian University Hospital, and the St. Francis Medical Center, Intensive Care Unit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When he is not practicing, teaching or speaking about medicine, Dr. Crippen can often be found working on, riding or talking about his motorcycles, a vintage 1969 Triumph trophy 500 and a new Triumph Speed Triple and reviewing concerts of vintage 60’s rockers. ### http://www.pitt.edu/~crippen/ ### << Previous Next >> [ View All Member Spotlights ] |
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