William R. Hardcastle, M.D., received the Joseph P. Bailey Jr., M.D., Physician Distinguished Service Award for 2013 and John S. Harvey, M.D., received the Physician’s Award for Community Service during the Medical Association of Georgia’s (MAG) 159th House of Delegates meeting at the Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Buford on October 19. The award is given to a physician for distinguished and meritorious service that reflects credit and honor on MAG.
Hardcastle has served MAG in a number of leadership roles since he joined the organization in 1972 – including his term as MAG president in 2006-2007. Hardcastle is a fellow in the American College of Surgeons, he is certified by the American Board of Surgery, and he is a member of the medical staff at DeKalb Medical Center – where he has served in a variety of leadership positions, including a two-year term as the chief of staff. He served as DMS president in 1980, and he remains active on the county level. He also served as the team physician for the Marist High School football team for more than 30 years – having never missed a home game.
In nominating Harvey for the award, the Medical Association of Atlanta (MAA) applauded him for his service as a colonel and command surgeon in the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF), which is an authorized branch of the Georgia Department of Defense. Harvey has been a GSDF volunteer since 2000, and his missions have included the Katrina/Rita hurricane victim airlift reception in Atlanta and the Haiti earthquake victim airlift reception in Atlanta.
During the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Harvey served as a volunteer medical command officer – “dealing directly with the medical and multi-agency response to the Centennial Park bombing.”
