Building a Legacy: The Shorts’ Enduring Commitment to Medic One
Sixty-four years ago, Dr. Floyd Short was a young resident physician in North Carolina. One day, while in the hospital cafeteria, he spotted an amazing young woman and asked his friends, “Wow! Who is that?” He soon learned she worked in the psychiatric ward.
“I was the admitting nurse, and they told me we were getting a patient from the medical section of the hospital,” Faye Short recalls. “This young intern showed up with the patient and got her admitted. He came back the next day for rounds, and I was impressed. And the next day, he came again. So, I said to the head nurse, ‘I’m so impressed with that intern. He has come every day to make rounds on this station.’ She looked at me and said, ‘Hey, you don’t get it; he’s coming to see you!’”
Throughout their journey together, Faye supported Floyd’s passion for cardiac care and emergency medicine. Floyd’s career paralleled the evolution of cardiac resuscitation. When he started, CPR and defibrillators didn’t exist. Everything changed when Dr. Leonard Cobb invited him to join Harborview Medical Center, where Floyd helped launch Medic One.
Floyd helped design Medic One’s first mobile van, ensuring every tool had its place. He also rode alongside paramedics during the program’s early days, refining protocols and equipment. His dedication went beyond Seattle: in 1973, he initiated a groundbreaking training program on Mercer Island, teaching firefighters to use defibrillators in the field. Under his guidance, Mercer Island firefighters became the first in the U.S.—and likely the world—to save a life with field defibrillation.
Floyd’s impact extended to Medic One Foundation, where he served as a board member and later President, driving fundraising efforts to support training, research, and innovation.
The Shorts have experienced Medic One’s care firsthand. “The minute they walk in the door, everything’s better,” says Faye. “They not only have the expertise, but they make you feel better.”
Their commitment to Medic One endures through their planned gift, ensuring its life-saving mission continues for generations. “If anyone has had paramedics come to help, all you want to say is, ‘Please, train some more!’” says Faye.
Planned gifts like theirs sustain Medic One’s innovation and excellence, ensuring trained professionals are always ready to save lives. Join Floyd and Faye in creating a legacy that reflects your values. Every gift contributes to a future where every second counts.
To learn more about how you can create a legacy of life-saving impact visit our Planned Giving page.
