BANGOR – The Maine Center for Coaching Education has honored a Bangor physician for his dedication to the prevention and care of athletic injuries, and to quality coaching.

Dr. H. Gary Parker is the 2002 recipient of the Robert J. Lahey Sports Medicine Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the promotion and practice of sports medicine in Maine.

Robert A. Cobb, dean of the college of education and human development at the University of Maine and chairman of the Maine Center for Coaching Education advisory board, presented the award to Parker at the council’s recent meeting in Waterville.

Cobb recognized Parker as a founding member of the former Sports Medicine Advisory Council, established in 1980 in response to concerns about injuries and the need for training coaches in prevention, first aid and developmentally appropriate coaching.

The commitment and initiative of the small group of volunteers represented the beginning of a new direction in coaching education and provided the catalyst for establishing the MCCE as a statewide resource in 1992. Parker was also a founding member of the MCCE.

“Dr. Parker’s continued contributions to sports medicine and his reputation as a skilled and caring physician extend far beyond Maine borders,” said Cobb. “He is an exceptional individual who possesses – and shares – great knowledge and compassion.”

A native of Patten, Parker did his undergraduate work and attended medical school at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After a residency in internal medicine, Parker returned to New England. He did orthopedic research at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and entered orthopedic training at Harvard, serving as chief resident at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.

After working at the Lahey Clinic in Boston for several years, where he treated many of Boston’s sports figures, he returned to Maine and established a practice in Dover-Foxcroft in 1978. Since 1990, he has been in private practice in Bangor.

Realizing the importance of public information about health issues, Parker worked with the MCCE on the video, “The Female Athlete: Reducing and Prevention Women’s Sports Injuries,” in 1997, and wrote a column, “Sports Medicine Primer,” which appeared weekly in the Bangor Daily News.

“The Female Athlete” was a finalist in the American Medical Association 1997 International Health and Medical Film competition.

The MCCE provides leadership for the professional development of coaches statewide, resources for sports leaders and parents, and public forums on timely issues in sports.

A collaborative effort of the University of Maine, the Maine Interscholastic Athletics Administrators’ Association and the Maine Principals’ Association, the center is located in the college of education and human development at UMaine.

The Robert J. Lahey Sports Medicine Award is named in honor of the late Old Town athletic director, who also was a founding member of the Sports Medicine Advisory Council.

The Maine Center for Coaching Education has presented the Lahey Award every year since 1996, explained Lancaster, director of the center. Previous recipients were:

. Arthur “Skip” Hanson, former superintendent of schools in Waterville, now superintendent in Exeter, N.H.

. Dr. Daniel F. Hanley, Bowdoin College physician, 1946-1980; physician, U.S. Olympic Team, 1960s; Medical Advisory Committee, U.S. Olympics, 1971-1984.

. Carl E. Nelson, retired athletic trainer from Colby College; head athletic trainer at Olympic Games in 1972 and 1976; clinic supervisor for Lake Placid Organizing Committee, 1980; member of National Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame.

. Michael Linkovich, head athletic trainer, Bowdoin College; athletic trainer, 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid; president, Eastern Athletic Trainers Association.

. Wes Jordan, longtime head athletic trainer, University of Maine; athletic trainer, 1980 Olympic Games, 1971 Pan Am Games; National Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame; Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

. Dr. Douglas W. Brown, Portland area physician and surgeon.