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The recipient of the 2007 Jeff Clawson Leadership Award accepted the recognition on behalf of a profession he truly admires. “We serve the public in their hour of greatest need whether it’s through saving lives or by calming an individual during a crisis,” said Arthur H. Yancey, II, MD, MPH, medical director of the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness (Georgia) and attending emergency physician at Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta, Ga.). “I am deeply appreciative to speak with you and to receive this award.”    Dr. Yancey received the award at the closing luncheon of the Navigator Conference of the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) held recently in Las Vegas. Dr. Clawson presented the award that is given annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the emergency dispatch profession and represents the highest standards and pursuit of excellence in research, education, management or operations. Dr. Yancey contributed the award’s $500 honorarium to the Emory Children’s Center (Atlanta, Ga.), which provides extensive specialty and general pediatric care for a wide range of hospitals and clinics in the Atlanta region.   Dr. Clawson, inventor of the Priority Dispatch System® (PDS) and NAED co-founder, praised Dr. Yancey for his contributions to medical care. “He has dedicated his life to improving services in EMS and public health,” he said. “I am honored to present him the award.”   Dr. Yancey graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, trained in General Surgery at Howard University, and Burn Surgery at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. He received the MPH degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. As medical director of the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, Dr. Yancey's provides oversight of the EMD program at the County's 9-1-1 center, which includes protocol and surveillance issues.   He serves on the NAED Council of Standards, which evaluates PDS protocols and recommends improvements for future versions of the program. He is also a member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians (NAEMSP) Public Health Committee and a member of the EMS Medical Director and Public Health Integration Task Force sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In Georgia, he led efforts to require that hospitals notify Fire First Response and EMS responders about contagious diseases in patients they treat and transfer.   At the Navigator Conference, Dr. Yancey was among a panel of experts discussing the role of 9-1-1 and protocols in handling the avian flu and other pandemics.   EnRoute Emergency Systems sponsored the award. The National Academy can be reached at www.emergencydispatch.org or 800-960-6236.