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Dr. L. D. Britt is a nationally renowned surgeon and philanthropist with many leadership roles in academic surgery and community service. A native of Suffolk, Virginia, Dr. Britt graduated Valedictorian from Booker T. Washington High School in 1968. He then completed his undergraduate work at the University of Virginia where he graduated with honors. After that he attended Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health where he graduated with a doctorate of medicine and a masters of public health. He then completed a residency in general surgery at the University of Illinois and Cook County Hospitals. During his residency, he dedicated three years to basic science research. His training in surgery was continued at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services where he completed a fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care.

After training, Dr. Britt took a faculty position with the Department of Surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School where he became chief of trauma, professor of surgery and later the first African American to obtain an endowed chair of surgery. Education has always been one of Dr. Britt's strongest callings with numerous teaching awards from deans, medical students and his devoted surgical residents. He has received the Outstanding Faculty award from the governor of Virginia, the William H. Sinkler Award from the National Medical Association, the Association of Surgical Education Distinguished Educator Award, the Distinguished Service Medal from the Uniformed Services University and the Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Award from the American Association of Medical Colleges, the highest education award in medicine.

Dr. Britt has received several honorary doctorates and has been a distinguished guest professor with over 160 invited lectures given at academic institutions across the country. He has authored over 45 book chapters and 155 peer-reviewed publications and is on the editorial staff of eight peer-reviewed surgical journals. His research interests have led to over 2.8 million dollars in grant money and he maintains a basic science lab investigating the role of various cellular mediators in septic shock. Dr. Britt's commitment to surgical education has also earned him a seat on the American Board of Surgery, the Executive Board of the National Board of Medical Examiners and Chairmanship of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education Residency Review Committee for Surgery. He has also served on the National Institutes of Health SOH Study Review Panel.

Leadership roles have placed Dr. Britt on 37 different regional, national and international professional societies including the American Surgical Association. He is past president of the Southeastern Surgical Congress, the Halsted Society, the National Medical Association Surgical Section, Society of Black Academic Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Chairmen, the Southern Surgical Association and is President of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Britt to the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Board of Regents which was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2002.
The American College of Surgeons has called on Dr. Britt for numerous responsibilities and leadership positions in its quest for scientific development, education and patient safety. He has served as Senior Consultant and Vice Chairman for the Committee on Trauma, the Executive Council for the Committee of Surgery Education and the Surgical Education Self Assessment Program Committee. He is past chairman of the Board of Regents and President-elect of the American College of Surgeons.

Community service has earned Dr. Britt such awards as the B'nai B'rith Great American Traditions Award, the NAACP Man of the Year Award and an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences: Youth Violence: a Call to Disarm. Dr. Britt has also been a long standing Executive Board Member of the Boy Scouts of America and sits on numerous scholarship committees and college boards.

Dr. Britt's illustrious career is highlighted with many "firsts" and "numerous" titles when recalling all of his accomplishments and contributions. He could only achieve more if there were more hours in the day. Despite his commitments, he has found time to marry a lovely and charming fellow physician and closest supporter , Dr. Charlene Britt. They have an equally charming and lovely daughter Avery Marie Britt. Dr. Britt calls the Surgery Department at EVMS one big family and perhaps his greatest admirers are the surgery residents he has personally trained and benefited with his infinite wisdom, surgical prowess, high standards and impeccable work ethic.

Robert A. Maxwell, MD, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery, UT College of Medicine

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