Georgetown pediatrician John W. Hellerstedt, MD, who guided Texas through one of the most consequential public health crises in modern history, was honored by the Texas Medical Association with the Distinguished Service Award for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout his 45-year career.
Nominated by the Travis County Medical Society (TCMS), Dr. Hellerstedt said he was deeply honored and surprised during the award presentation April 17 at TexMed in Corpus Christi before hundreds of TMA members.
“We can think of no member of TMA who has better reflected the values of our organization in leadership and service with a lasting impact on the public and our profession,” TCMS President Belda Zamora, MD, said about the nomination and honor.
The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1962 as a special recognition for meritorious achievement in medical science, advances in public health, and exceptional service to the medical profession and the community.
Dr. Hellerstedt is best known for his time as commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) during the COVID pandemic. He first briefed Gov. Greg Abbott on Jan. 20, 2020, weeks before most Americans had given the virus much thought and served as the director of the Governor’s Infectious Disease Task Force. He also contributed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health and a member of the Committee on Continuing Education.
In addition to keeping the association up to date with information and resources during the pandemic, DSHS worked with stakeholders like TMA to develop supply chains and distribution networks for COVID testing, personal protective equipment, vaccines, and therapeutics when most of the pre-existing mechanisms “were broken or had yet to be created,” Dr. Hellerstedt said.
“[Dr. Hellerstedt’s] service during that time was exemplary, and we all owe him for that,” TMA President Bradford W. Holland, MD, said while presenting the award.
The early months of the pandemic were improvised under enormous pressure. Nonpharmaceutical interventions like masking, social distancing, and sanitation were all the preventive measures they had, Dr. Hellerstedt said, and nobody knew how much would be enough.
“What made our response successful was the genius of free people to organize themselves and to respond – not only as individuals, but as communities – in order to pass through a very difficult time,” Dr. Hellerstedt said.
Before his time as commissioner, Dr. Hellerstedt served as the first medical director for Texas Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program, implemented the first office of medical technology at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and held senior leadership roles at Dell Children’s Medical Center and Seton Hospitals in Austin.
Dr. Hellerstedt has been a TMA member for 45 years and is an adjunct clinical professor at the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine.
More information about prior Distinguished Service Award recipients can also be found on the association’s website.