Paul J. Sheffield, PhD, CAsP, CHT

President and CME Program Director

International ATMO, Inc

San Antonio, Texas

 

Paul J. Sheffield, PhD, CAsP, CHT is President, International ATMO, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas, which provides wound care and hyperbaric medicine management, consulting, and education services.  His degrees include BS in Chemistry (Univ of Florida, 1962), MS and PhD in Physiology (Univ of Southern California, 1971, 1972).

 

He is a Certified Aerospace Physiologist (CAsP); Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT); Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association; Past Pres, Aerospace Physiology Society; Past Pres, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society; current Chair, UHMS Education (CME) Committee; and International ATMO CME Program Director.

 

Dr. Sheffield began his career in the US Air Force as an Aerospace Physiologist, with primary responsibilities in aircrew training, research, and hyperbaric medicine.  He received his initial training in Hyperbaric Medicine in 1965. He wrote and produced the Air Force training film: “Plasma Bubbles and Decompression Sickness.”  He was on the original team, with Dr. Jefferson C. Davis,  that established the USAF Hyperbaric Center at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas in 1974.  He was one of the originators of the use of tissue oximetry for wound assessment and patient selection for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. He was Air Force Chief of Aerospace Physiology in Washington DC prior to his retirement in the grade of Colonel after 30 years of military service. He is one of the founders of International ATMO in 1978, became Director of Research and Education in 1992, and became President in 2000.

 

He has 45+ years educating physicians and nurses in aerospace and hyperbaric medicine. He is a frequent international lecturer in hyperbaric physiology, safety, and diving medicine, with invited lectures in Australia, The Bahamas, Brazil, British West Indies, British Virgin Islands, Canada, China, Croatia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Thailand, The Netherlands, USA, and Yugoslavia.

 

Dr Sheffield became Course Director and faculty member in US Air Force hyperbaric medicine courses in 1971. He took up recreational diving in 1977 when he began instructing in Medicine of Diving Courses. He also has about 1400 hours of exposure in altitude chambers and hyperbaric chambers. Altitude exposures were up to 100,000 ft altitude (pressure suit) and hyperbaric exposures were as deep as 200 fsw (air) and 225 fsw (heliox).

 

He was editor of USAF Physiological Training Manual (1972), Compression Therapy Manual (1976), sr editor of Wound Care Practice (Best Publishing, 2004, 2007), and author of 100+ pubs with chapters in:

  • Davis & Hunt Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (1977)

  • Huch & Huch's Transcutaneous Oxygen Measurement (1983)

  • Shilling et al Physician's Guide to Diving Medicine (1984)

  • DeHart's Fundamentals of Aerospace Medicine (1985, 96)

  • Davis & Hunt's Problem Wounds: Role of Oxygen (1988)

  • Lavery & Dennis' Clinics in Podiatric Med & Surg: Diabetic Foot (1995)

  • Workman's Hyperbaric Facility Safety (1999)

  • Bakker & Cramer's Hyperbaric Surgery: Perioperative Care (2003)

  • Sheffield, Smith & Fife's Wound Care Practice (2004)

  • Sheffield & Fife’s Wound Care Practice 2nd Edition (2007)

His professional awards & honors include:

  • Military Medals and Decorations [Air Force Legion of Merit Medal, 1992; Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (6), 1975,80,82,84,87,88; Air Force Commendation Medal, 1969; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (2), 1983,85; Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (2), 1987,91; and Air Force Recognition Ribbon, 1992.]

  • 2009 UHMS Gulf Coast Chapter established the Paul James Sheffield Education Award to be presented annually to a person who made significant contributions to science and education in undersea and hyperbaric medicine

  • 1997  Jefferson C. Davis Memorial Award (UHMS Gulf Coast Chapter)

  • 1997  Charles W. Shilling Award (Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society)

  • 1995  Mulberry Alumni Hall Of Fame (Mulberry High School, Mulberry, Florida)

  • 1994  Polk County Schools Hall of Fame (Polk County Florida Schools)

  • 1992  Honorary Kentucky Colonel (Governor of Kentucky)

  • 1991  USAF Aerospace Physiologist of the Year (USAF Surgeon General)

  • 1987  Wiley Post Award (Aerospace Physiology Society)

  • 1984  Fred A. Hitchcock Award (Aerospace Physiology Society)

  • 1982  Presidential Award (SAFE Association)

  • 1981  Safety Award (USAF School of Aerospace Medicine)

  • 1979  Paul Bert Award for Physiological Research (Aerospace Physiology Society)

  • 1978  Air Force Scientist of the Year Award (Air Force Association)

  • 1971  Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (Life Member)