It is with a sad heart that we inform you that
Charles R. “Chuck” Bauer, MD passed away Sunday, June 4, 2017. Dr. Bauer was
loved and admired for all his service to the United States, Texas and to San
Antonio.
Dr. Bauer graduated from Marquette University School of
Medicine in 1958 and completed a rotating internship at St. Mary's Hospital. He
entered the US Air Force and spent 3 years as a flight surgeon at Tinker AFB,
Oklahoma. From 1962-1967 he completed four years of general surgery residency
and an additional year in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Thoracic and
Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. From
1967-1970 he was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan caring for Vietnam war
casualties. Dr. Bauer was Commander, 659th Air Transportable Hospital, USAF
Hospital Luke, and USAF Kessler Medical Center (Brig. General position). He
retired in 1982 as a Colonel with Chief Physician and Chief Flight Surgeon
ratings and was awarded the Legion of Merit with 2 oak leaf clusters.
After being out of uniform for 22 years Colonel Bauer was one
of the first physicians recruited into the Texas Medical Brigade (then known as
the Texas Medical Rangers) during the initial organization of the Brigade.
During his tenure in the Medical Brigade, Colonel Dr. Bauer held almost every
important position appropriate for a physician. He responded as the Chief
Medical Officer to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Dean, Dolly, Ike, and Gustav.
Upon retirement from the Air Force, Dr. Bauer joined the
faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio as a
general and trauma surgeon and as the Assistant Dean for Ambulatory and
Emergency Services. He was instrumental in the founding of the Division of
Trauma and Emergency Surgery, the Division of Emergency Medicine. He is a
founding member of the Department of Emergency Medicine. Doctor Bauer served
until his death as an Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine.
He was board certified in general surgery, emergency medicine
and medical management. The American College of Physician Executives recognized
him as a Certified Physician Executive (CPE). He continued clinical practice in
emergency medicine and trauma surgery resuscitation at University Hospital.
Dr. Bauer was interested in Disaster Response and
Preparedness after arriving in San Antonio. He was the founding Chair of the
Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) and which he continued as the
Chair Emeritus. He chaired the Bexar County Medical Society Emergency and
Disaster Preparedness Committee from 1985–2006. He was nationally recognized
for his contributions to medical preparedness and training for disasters by
FEMA and by the Medial Reserve Corps Program of the US Department of Health and
Humans Services.
Dr. Bauer developed the South Texas Poison Center located at
the UT Health Science Center and was instrumental in the establishment of the
Texas Poison Center Network. He retired as a Colonel from the Texas State
Guard, and served as the Commander of the Alamo Group, Texas Medical Rangers.
Dr. Bauer was recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal with a Life Time
Achievement Award for his community and medical services to San Antonio and Texas
and has also received the 2009 Governor’s Lonestar Achievement Award.
He completed numerous courses and taught on the subjects of
HazMat, Biological, Chemical, Nuclear and Radiation, Disaster Response, and
Hospital Emergency Incident Command. He had been the course director for close
to 100 Advanced Trauma Life Support Courses and also taught Advanced Cardiac
Life Support, Pediatric Life Support, Advanced HazMat Life Support and Advanced
Pediatric Life Support.
Dr. Charles R. Bauer dedicated his life to
medicine, to serving the citizens of the United States of America and the State
of Texas. There is no one that had done more for our community with such grace
and humility. He has a heart of gold and was earlier this year awarded the
Bexar County Medical Society’s highest honor, the Golden Aesculapius Award.
He will be truly missed!
Melody
Newsom
Chief Operating Officer
Bexar County Medical Society
4334 North Loop 1604 West Ste 200
San Antonio, TX 78249
Rosary for Dr.
Charles Bauer will be held at 7pm, June 15th, 2017 at Porter Loring
Funeral Home, located at 1101 McCullough, San Antonio, TX 78212.
Services will be
at 11:30am, June 16th, 2017 at Porter Loring Main Chapel, with
burial to follow at Ft Sam at 1:15pm
