Dr. Charles R. Baxter (1925-2005) joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 1962 as an Assistant Professor of Surgery. On November 22, 1963, he was Director of the Parkland Memorial Hospital Emergency Room when President John F. Kennedy was brought to Trauma Room One after being shot. He and his colleagues tried unsuccessfully to save the President's life. He also performed surgery on Texas Governor John Connally, who was also wounded in the attack on the President. Dr. Baxter went on to specialize in the research and treatment of burn injuries. He headed the Parkland Memorial Hospital Burn Center and was a trailblazer in the use of donated human skin to save victims of major burns. He oversaw the establishment of the Parkland Skin Transplant Center for Burns, one of the nation's first skin banks for transplant to burn victims. He also developed the 'Parkland Burn Formula' or 'Baxter Burn Formula' for treating patients with large, severe burns. The formula is used to calculate the amount of fluid that a victim of severe burns needs in the first 24 hours to remain hemodynamically stable. He was a mentor to thousands of students, residents, staff, and faculty. Dr. Baxter was a 1954 graduate of Southwestern Medical School. He retired in 1992 and served as a Professor Emeritus until his death.
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