Michael L. Weaver, M.D., FACEP, CDM, clinical professor in emergency medicine and early graduate of the medical school, has announced his retirement as of July 1. Weaver was the first African-American to complete the school’s full six-year curriculum, graduating in 1977.
During his years as a physician, Weaver has championed the School of Medicine’s efforts in diversity and inclusion while earning a national reputation as a leader in emergency medicine and an advocate for victims of abuse.
In addition to his teaching role at the School of Medicine through Saint Luke’s Hospital, Weaver served in many capacities at the school. These included being a member of the Selection Council, the Diversity Council, and chair of the alumni Minority Faculty Recruitment Committee and the Alumni Retention Committee. He established a minority scholarship at the school in 2004, and was the first African- American to hold the title of clinical professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. He has provided education to the School of Medicine through Grand Rounds and noon conferences, and has provided mentorship within the Summer Scholars Program.
Weaver is the 1997 winner of the school’s E. Grey Dimond, M.D., Take Wing award and is also an E. Grey Dimond Fellow.
He served as medical director of Saint Luke’s Kansas City Hospital’s Level I trauma emergency services for 17 years and was the founding chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine. He has provided emergency medicine oversight for MAST and Life Flight Ambulance systems for more than 15 years and was appointed by Missouri Governors Carnahan and Ashcroft to chair EMS for Missouri.
Since 1980, he has been the medical director of Saint Luke’s Health System’s Clinical Forensic Program, providing care for victims of elderly/child abuse, sexual assault, interpersonal violence and trauma. In this role, Weaver has also been a consultant for the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice and the White House. He has authored numerous articles, edited books/journals and lectured internationally.
For the past 15 years, Weaver has led the Critical Mass Gathering event, a mentoring program for underrepresented minority medical students at UMKC, University of Kansas and Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. To continue that work, Weaver founded Mission Vision Project KC, a nonprofit that aims to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the Kansas City health care workforce.
Weaver says, “It’s hard to be it, if you can’t see it!” He plans to create age-appropriate mentorship opportunities for K-12 to show underrepresented minorities that they can see and aspire to be doctors or dentists, pharmacists, nurses, paramedics, biomedical engineers, etc. He will continue working with health care organizations, educational institutions, and community partners to raise funds to support these goals.
With retirement, Weaver plans to spend more time with his family and continue his work with Mission Vision Project KC.
