Sharon Elizabeth Mace, youngest of four children, was born in Syracuse, NY. She was 2½ months premature, weighing only 2 pounds 11 ounces. Her parents were told she probably would not survive. But her parents also believed, “doctors and nurses are heroes who save peoples’ lives,” so Dr. Mace wanted to be a pediatrician when she grew up.
Dr. Mace did well in school, especially in science. She attended Syracuse University on a scholarship, majoring in chemistry. During college, she worked as a nurse’s aide at the county home. She attended medical school at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY, did a pediatric residency at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. After completing a pediatric cardiology fellowship, she received a grant from the American Heart Association and did an additional two years in pediatric cardiology research during the day, while working in the ED on evenings and weekends.
During her time in Ohio, Dr. Mace served on the Ohio ACEP Board of Directors and chaired the Education Committee. She did the first medical helicopter flight for the first air medical transport in the state and started the first emergency medicine residency in Cleveland, Ohio and served as the residency director for the program.
After seven years, Dr. Mace returned to New York to be near family. She worked in various positions including ED Director at Saratoga Springs, ED Director of St. Mary’s Hospital, and as pediatrician and Chair of the ED at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She started the 911 dispatch for Monroe County, was EMS Medical Director for Monroe and Saratoga Springs Ambulance Services and worked with Monroe Community College to establish an EMT/paramedic training program. She was elected to the NY ACEP Board of Directors. While in New York, she spent time with her two brothers, two sisters-in-law, a sister, a brother-in-law and three nephews who lived only a few blocks away, and her long-time friend Steve.
After about a decade, academic emergency medicine again beckoned, and Dr. Mace became Director of Pediatric Education and Quality Improvement, Director of the Observation Unit at the Cleveland Clinic, and Assistant Director of EMS. She is currently Director of Research and Director of the Community Paramedicine Program. Dr. Mace is a Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and has mentored many EMTs, paramedics, medical students, residents and fellows. She received a legacy award from the Cleveland Clinic Women’s Professional Staff Association this year for her contributions to education and research. She was awarded the Pamela Benson award from ACEP.
Dr. Mace enjoys spending time with her brothers and sister and their spouses, as well as three nephews and three grandnieces, who are the next generation of Doctor Maces. Spending time on the lake in the Adirondack Mountains or boating on the Erie Canal is a favorite summer pastime. Dr. Mace also enjoys traveling the country with friends lecturing and teaching courses, presenting abstracts, meeting people, and enjoying the local scenery. She has lectured and traveled to every continent except Antarctica.
About This Award
The Lou Graff Award for Excellence in Observation Medicine Award recognizes emergency physicians who have made a significant contribution to the field of observation medicine within emergency medicine.
