Peter M. Rhee

Peter Meong Rhee (born September 18, 1961) is an American surgeon, medical professor, and military veteran. During his 24 years in the United States Navy, Rhee served as a battlefield casualty physician in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Formerly a Professor of Surgery and the Chief of Trauma, Critical Care, and Burn and Emergency Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine until 2016, he then served as the Chief of Surgery at the Marcus Trauma Center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently he is the Director of the surgical ICU at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Now he is Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda Maryland, Morehouse School of Medicine and is a tenured Professor of Surgery at the New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. He rose to national prominence when he served as the attending physician to U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords of Arizona, as well as other victims, following the 2011 Tucson shooting.

Early life and education Born in Seoul, South Korea, Rhee lived for several years in Uganda where his father, a surgeon, worked in a clinic in Torroro, Uganda. The elder Rhee moved the family to the United States when his son was 10 to get a better education. The family was raised in a small Pennsylvania town, south of Pittsburgh. His father was an anesthesiologist at Uniontown Hospital. Rhee graduated in 1979 from Laurel Highlands High School in Fayette County and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1983. In 1987, Rhee earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine. He also earned a master's degree in Public Health from the University of Washington Department of Health Services. In 1999, he earned a diploma in Medical Care of Catastrophes from the Society of Apothecaries of London.

Career

Military service Rhee was one of the first battlefield surgeons to be deployed at Camp Rhino in Afghanistan. In 2001, Rhee became one of the first American military surgeons to be deployed in Afghanistan at Camp Rhino, the first forward operating base to be established during Operation Enduring Freedom. His service awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal. Rhee was appointed as Professor of Surgery and Molecular Cellular Biology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and continues to consult for the Office of Naval Research and the Marine Corps War Fighting Laboratory.

Personal life Rhee met his wife, Emily, as he was completing his residency at the University of California, Irvine. They have two children.

On October 13, 2011, Rhee and his wife attended the State Dinner for the Korean President.

On May 12, 2012, Rhee delivered the commencement speech to the University of Arizona Class of 2012.

In April 2012, Rhee was selected as the Hometown Hero for the Thunder and Lightning over Arizona open house at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Rhee was able to fly with the Thunderbirds in an F-16 Fighting Falcon Jet.

Research interests He is a founding member of the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Committee (TCCC) and his research interests have continued to focus on saving combat casualties. He has served on numerous National steering committees and national trauma research committees including the Defense Health Board's Subcommittee on Trauma & Injury, as well as the Federal Drug Administration's blood products advisory committee, the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium's protocol review committee and the drug safety and monitoring board.