S. Ward "Trip" Casscells (March 18, 1952 – October 14, 2012) was an American cardiologist who served with the U.S. Army in Iraq and later was

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)) is chartered under United States Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 5136.1 in 1994. This DoDD states that the ASD(HA) is the principal advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Defense o ...

. Among other honors, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Army's Order of Military Medical Merit, and the General Maxwell Thurman Award.

Biography

Samuel Ward Casscells III was born in

Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington ( Lenape: ''Paxahakink /'' ''Pakehakink)'' is the largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish settlement in North America. It lies at the confluence of the Christina ...

and graduated from Tower Hill School in 1970. He then graduated ''cum laude'' from

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

with a B.S. degree in 1974 and ''magna cum laude'' from

Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the graduate medical school of Harvard University and is located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States and is cons ...

with his M.D. degree in 1979. Casscells was board certified in internal medicine after completing his residency at Beth Israel Hospital from 1979 to 1983. He was then board certified in cardiology after completing a fellowship at

Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General or MGH) is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School located in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is the third oldest general hospital in the United Sta ...

from 1982 to 1985. Starting in 1992, he was employed by the

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is a public academic health science center in Houston, Texas, United States. It was created in 1972 by The University of Texas System Board of Regents. It is located in the T ...

. He also served in the Army Reserve, receiving the

Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: * Meritorious Civilian Service Award * Meritorious Service M ...

and retiring as a

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

Personal

Casscells was the son of S. Ward Casscells (November 15, 1915 – February 8, 1996) and Sarah Oleda (Dyson) Casscells (January 5, 1921 – August 18, 2002). His father was an orthopedic surgeon who had helped invent arthroscopic surgery and had served in the Army Medical Corps as a trauma surgeon with the Eighth Evacuation Hospital during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, retiring from service as a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. His parents were married in a civil ceremony in

Chesterfield County, South Carolina Chesterfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 43,273. Its county seat is Chesterfield. The largest city in the county is Cheraw. Chesterfield County is part of the Charl ...

on December 22, 1948 while his mother was completing her law degree at the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with highly selective ad ...

and again in an Episcopal ceremony in

Fairfax, Virginia The City of Fairfax ( ), colloquially known as Fairfax City, Downtown Fairfax, Old Town Fairfax, Fairfax Courthouse, FFX, or simply Fairfax, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. At the 2010 census the po ...

on June 11, 1949 after her graduation. After his death from

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that su ...

at his home in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, the younger Casscells was interred next to his parents in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

on July 19, 2013.

References

External links

Defenselink.mil: S. Ward Casscells BiographyHealth.mil: S. Ward Casscells Biography

Articles

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20090224091555/http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/02/casting_the_net_for_a_replacem.php "Casting the 'Net for a Replacement", by Bob Brewin, NextGov. February 19, 2009.br>“Soft Power with Guns”, by Peter Buxbaum, International Relations and Security Network- Security Watch. January 16, 2009.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090328123720/http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/news/mercury/09-01/healthchief.cfm "Health Chief Discusses AHLTA, Other Issues", by Jerry Harben - Mercury News. January 2009.]
"Health Care Champion: An Interview with S. Ward Casscells, M.D. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs", by Chaz Vossburg - Military Medical Technology. December 2008.“Healing Environments for America’s Heroes”, by Michelle Ossmann, Clay Boenecke, Barbara Dellinger. Healthcare Design Magazine. November 2008.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110711055543/http://www.futurehealthcareus.com/?mc=engine&page=cs-viewarticle “Engine of Innovation: US Healthcare from Military to Private Sector", by Divya Sood. Future Healthcare Magazine. 3Q 2008.]
“Agencies Dispatch Health Care Workers; Mission Responds To PTSD” Audrey Hudson. The Washington Times. June 5, 2008."A Lion in Autumn: How a middle-aged doctor wound up on the battlefield in Iraq", by Evan Thomas. Newsweek. November 19, 2007.

"Try Advil instead - Department of Defense bans aspirin" by Leo Shane, Stripes Central April 29, 2009.
*“Delaware Native Comes To Military Career Late But Ascends To Top”, By Nicole Gaudiano. Gannett News Service. March 28, 2007. *“Swiftly Confirm: Wartime Pentagon Needs A Top Health Official, and Houston's Ward Casscells Is Right Man for the Job” (Editorial). Houston Chronicle. March 27, 2007. *“Delaware Native On Call For Veterans Health Crisis” By Nicole Gaudiano. Gannett News Service *“Bush To Nominate Houston Doctor To Defense Health Affairs Post” By Todd Ackerman. The Houston Chronicle. February 24, 2007.

* ttps://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN17189361 “U.S. Aims To Grow Ears, Skin For War Wounds” Kristin Roberts. Reuters. April 18, 2008.*“Departments Of Defense And Veterans Affairs Working Together” The Montgomery Advertiser. December 27, 2007. *“State Gears Up To Screen Combat Stress” Philip Dine. The Pantagraph. December 26, 2007.
“Faux Candidate Ranks High In Poll” Ralph Z. Hallow. The Washington Times. September 26, 2007.“Casscells Returns from Tour of Duty”, Heart Wire. February 1, 2007.“Mourning a doctor who improved Iraq” by Col. S. Ward Casscells, Stars and Stripes Mideast edition. January 27, 2007.
*“Pentagon Official Praises Staff For Hospital's Recovery” Wire Reports. Fort Worth Star-Telegram *"A Parable to Help Make Sense of Iraq" Col. S. Ward Casscells. Houston Chronicle. November 26, 2006.
"Iraq: The Old Chevy" Col. S. Ward Casscells. Stars and Stripes. November 7, 2006."World Renowned Doctor Trades Lab Coat for Uniform", by Elaine Wilson. Army News Service. February 8, 2006.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Casscells, S. Ward 1952 births 2012 deaths People from Wilmington, Delaware Yale College alumni Harvard Medical School alumni American cardiologists University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston faculty United States Army colonels Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States) United States Assistant Secretaries of Defense Deaths from prostate cancer Burials at Arlington National Cemetery