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BCMS NEWS
IN MEMORIAM:
Charles R. "Chuck" Bauer, MD
By Melody Newsom,
Chief Operating Officer Bexar County Medical Society
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 Car-
diovascular Surgery at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. UT Health Science Center and was instrumental in the establishment
From 1967-1970 he was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan car-
ing 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 Ambula-
tory 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 Ex-
ecutives recognized him as a Certified Physician Executive (CPE).
He continued clinical practice in emergency medicine and trauma
surgery resuscitation at University Hospital.
10 San Antonio Medicine • July 2017
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 contribu-
tions 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
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 Re-
sponse, 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 Pedi-
atric 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!