Search

close   X

3/29/11 news article

Emmett Broxson, Jr, Named Taggart Award winner

The Children's Medical Center of Dayton is pleased to announce Emmett Broxson, Jr, MD, has been awarded the Wallace B. Taggart Award for his outstanding service in the health care of children. Dr. Broxson was honored by his peers during a ceremony on Friday, March 11, at the Dayton Art Institute.

emmett broxson md

After growing up in Southern Alabama, Dr. Broxson joined the United States Air Force and then received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He then completed his pediatric residency at the Wilford Hall US Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, followed by a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology from The University of Colorado School of Health Sciences and The Children’s Hospital of Denver. 

Dr. Broxson completed his service for the US Air Force after relocating to Dayton to serve at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In 1988 he began volunteering on rotations at Dayton Children’s. In 1995 he joined Dayton Children's full time as division head of pediatric hematology/oncology.

Under Dr. Broxson's leadership, the department has seen drastic changes. The staff has increased, the outpatient clinic remodeled and updated, sickle cell and hemophilia services expanded, developed an outpatient infusion program, and hem/onc gained a permanent inpatient unit on the fourth floor. He has also led the department through numerous successful accreditations by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, making it one of only 11 accredited pediatric cancer centers in the country.

"The children and families of Dayton are incredibly lucky to have a pediatric oncologist with the dedication Emmett has.," said Dr. Robert Fink, colleague and friend of Dr. Broxson. "He spends time building relationships with patients and families and to them he is not just a doctor, but an extended member of the family."

During his time at Dayton Children's, Dr. Broxson has enhanced research with the Children’s Oncology Group by serving as a principle investigator, since joining the group in 2000. He has increased both the number of patients enrolled in clinical research as well as the protocols to cover a variety of conditions.  He has also helped the hospital excel by serving as part of the process action teams for sickle cell disease and procedural pain.

"One of my proudest accomplishments is the growth of the long term follow up clinic, one of the earliest of its kind in the nation," Dr. Broxson explained. "Patient numbers have grown and long term follow up has become prominent in the health care world."

Dr. Broxson has been recognized as an integral part of Dayton Children’s success over the past 23 years, but his leadership qualities gained him recognition long before his move to Dayton. During his service in the Air Force, he was awarded the meritorious service medal, which is given to members of U.S. Armed Forces who distinguish themselves with admirable achievement or service, and was also awarded the commendation medal, given for sustained acts of heroism.

Dr. Broxson was also instrumental in the development of the Fisher House Foundation, which is the Air Force counterpart to the Ronald McDonald House. He is on the Board of Trustees for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and a member of the Dayton Community Blood Center Medical Advisory Board.

"Emmett understands that medicine cannot cure all diseases, but that caring never ends," Dr. Fink said. "Emmett is truly an inspiration."

About the Taggart Award:

The hospital and the professional staff established the Wallace B. Taggart award for outstanding service in the health care of children in 1981 to recognize professional staff members with a commitment to Dayton Children’s, a commitment to quality patient care and a commitment to those in the community. The award is the hospital’s highest physician honor and is designed to credit the example of Dr. Taggart and his colleagues who pioneered pediatric care in Dayton. Dr. Wallace B. Taggart was the first chief of staff at Dayton Children’s, and he cared for children above all else. He was deeply committed to the mission of children’s medical center and to students, to colleagues and to his community. 

About The Comprehensive Care Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Dayton Children's

The Comprehensive Care Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders cares for children, teens and young adults, through 21 years of age. Dayton Children's pediatric cancer program partners with the Children's Oncology Group and follows nationally approved protocols for cancer treatment. This allows us to provide the infants, children and teens treated at Dayton Children's with the most current, state-of-the-art cancer treatments available.

For more information, contact: 

Marketing Communications Department 

Phone: 937-641-3666 

marketing@childrensdayton.org