ACEP is deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of Craig A. Manifold, DO, FACEP, FAAEM, FAEMS. Dr. Manifold was a leader in emergency medicine and the emergency medical services (EMS) communities, serving as the medical director of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians and the EMS director in San Antonio, Texas.

An ACEP member for more than 28 years, Dr. Manifold served in a variety of leadership positions, including the ACEP EMS Committee Chair from 2014–2016 and a committee member for many years, just recently appointed for another year of service.

“Dr. Craig Manifold was a true leader, a mentor and my friend. His contributions to EMS and those we serve will transcend for many years to come,” said current EMS Committee Chair Julio R. Lairet, DO, FACEP.

In 2016 at the Gathering of Eagles Conference, Dr. Manifold received the Michael Copass Leadership Award, a major award, for his efforts in leading emergency management services nationwide.

That same year, he gave testimony to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on “Strengthening our National Trauma System” that helped lead to the creation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017. This law legalizes the use of standing orders for EMS for using controlled substances and formalizes the process for receipt, storage, and dispensing of controlled substances by EMS services.

Dr. Manifold was the lead advocate for ACEP in working with the Drug Enforcement Agency on the use of controlled substances in the field by EMS and addressing the EMS standing orders issues, as well as many other projects.

“He was always willing to attend a meeting in D.C. or with any other organization representing ACEP and EMS, even if at the last minute as he would change his schedule or drop other activities. He was a friend and mentor to me for many years,” said ACEP EMS and Disaster Preparedness Director Rick Murray, EMT-P.

Dr. Manifold’s expertise and knowledge was shared at the state level, as well.

“Dr. Manifold has been a large presence in EMS across the country, but most especially in Texas,” said Jeff Jarvis, MD, FACEP, co-chair of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians’ EMS Committee.

“He served as EMS medical director for many Texas services and was an invaluable member of the medical director committee of our state EMS advisory committee,” Dr. Jarvis said. “Most importantly, he was our friend, colleague, and mentor. We will miss him dearly.”

Dr. Manifold served as assistant professor in the department of emergency health sciences, school of health professions at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and as a medical director for several EMS agencies in the San Antonio area. He also served as a joint surgeon for the Texas Air National Guard, and commander for the 149th Medical Group of the Texas Air National Guard in San Antonio, until his retirement last year.

According to the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Dr. Manifold received his DO in 1993 from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia. He received his BA in physiology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, in 1989. His residency in emergency medicine was done in 1997 through Joint Military Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency at San Antonio. He joined the department of surgery in 2009.

He was also a member of the board of directors for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and the Hope Shield Foundation.

Dr. Manifold has left an indelible mark on the field of emergency medicine and his passing will be felt among the colleagues, students, and patients he helped along the way. ACEP extends its sincerest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.