Gary Hartstein
Encyclopedia
Dr Gary Hartstein, M.D.
(born 1955 in Staten Island
, United States
), is Associate Professor of Anesthesia
and Emergency Medicine
at University of Liège
Hospital
, Liège, Belgium
and FIA Medical Delegate for the Formula One
World Championship.
After finishing his undergraduate study at the University of Rochester
, Hartstein trained as a doctor in Belgium
during the 1970s. In 1983 he returned to his native New York
, spending six years at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
, in the Bronx, specialising in anaesthesiology.
In 1989 Hartstein returned to Belgium
and began working at Spa-Francorchamps
as part of the local medical team attending races. In 1990 Hartstein was assigned to the medical car containing Professor Sid Watkins
and the two doctors immediately formed a firm friendship.
Hartstein’s work at the Belgian Grand Prix
continued until 1997 when the FIA, realising the need for an anaesthetist to assist Watkins, recruited him. For the next seven years Hartstein and Watkins rode together in the medical car at the start of most races.
In January 2005 Sid Watkins
announced that he was to retire as Formula One Medical Delegate and Hartstein was selected as his successor.
Since that time, Hartstein has been key in developing some of the FIA's new approaches and policies in terms of medical safety. Dr Hartstein is chair of the FIA Institute's Medical Training Working Group, which aims to standardize training and practices of motorsport doctors, based on the most up-to-date trauma training techniques.
He was also, with Prof Gerard Saillant, behind the creation of the "FIA Institute Faculty" (FIMF), which will seek to consolidate the expertise of motor sport doctors and medical staff around the world, on the model of professional associations.
Hartstein lives in Liege year-round.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(born 1955 in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), is Associate Professor of Anesthesia
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
and Emergency Medicine
Emergency medicine
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries which require immediate medical attention. While not usually providing long-term or continuing care, emergency medicine physicians diagnose a variety of illnesses and undertake acute...
at University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
Hospital
University hospital
A university hospital is an institution which combines the services of a hospital with the education of medical students and with medical research. These hospitals are typically affiliated with a medical school or university...
, Liège, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and FIA Medical Delegate for the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
World Championship.
After finishing his undergraduate study at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, Hartstein trained as a doctor in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
during the 1970s. In 1983 he returned to his native New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, spending six years at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a graduate school of Yeshiva University. It is a not-for-profit, private, nonsectarian medical school located on the Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus in the Morris Park neighborhood of the borough of the Bronx of New York City...
, in the Bronx, specialising in anaesthesiology.
In 1989 Hartstein returned to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and began working at Spa-Francorchamps
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its...
as part of the local medical team attending races. In 1990 Hartstein was assigned to the medical car containing Professor Sid Watkins
Sid Watkins
Eric Sidney Watkins OBE, FRCS is a world-renowned English neurosurgeon.Watkins served twenty-six years as the FIA Formula One Safety and Medical Delegate, head of the Formula One on-track medical team, and first responder in case of a crash.He is commonly known within the Formula One fraternity as...
and the two doctors immediately formed a firm friendship.
Hartstein’s work at the Belgian Grand Prix
Belgian Grand Prix
The Belgian Grand Prix is an automobile race, part of the Formula One World Championship....
continued until 1997 when the FIA, realising the need for an anaesthetist to assist Watkins, recruited him. For the next seven years Hartstein and Watkins rode together in the medical car at the start of most races.
In January 2005 Sid Watkins
Sid Watkins
Eric Sidney Watkins OBE, FRCS is a world-renowned English neurosurgeon.Watkins served twenty-six years as the FIA Formula One Safety and Medical Delegate, head of the Formula One on-track medical team, and first responder in case of a crash.He is commonly known within the Formula One fraternity as...
announced that he was to retire as Formula One Medical Delegate and Hartstein was selected as his successor.
Since that time, Hartstein has been key in developing some of the FIA's new approaches and policies in terms of medical safety. Dr Hartstein is chair of the FIA Institute's Medical Training Working Group, which aims to standardize training and practices of motorsport doctors, based on the most up-to-date trauma training techniques.
He was also, with Prof Gerard Saillant, behind the creation of the "FIA Institute Faculty" (FIMF), which will seek to consolidate the expertise of motor sport doctors and medical staff around the world, on the model of professional associations.
Hartstein lives in Liege year-round.