The Samuel Chapman Armstrong Award was created in 1993 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of public service, humanitarian or charitable efforts, arts, letters or sciences, which have gained the awardee significant national or international recognition. This year's honoree has done just that, and Dr. Calvin C.J. Sia '45, a pediatric physician, was recognized on June 10 for his profound impact on the field of medicine.

Jeffrey Sia '74 accepted the award on behalf of his father, who was in Washington, D.C., attending a National Emergency Medical Services for Children conference. The conference commemorated the 25th anniversary of one of Sia's amazing accomplishments: the initiation and promotion of the Federal Emergency Medical Services for Children Act, which created the first-ever emergency training programs geared towards children. Today, this program exists in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories. A generation ago, Jeffrey Sia said, a child could have been treated by any doctor in an emergency room. But with his father's program in place, children will be seen by a pediatrician.

Since 1978, Dr. Sia has served on the American Medical Association Section Council on Pediatrics, and in 1983 he was appointed chair of the Pediatric Delegation and Section Council on Pediatrics. He advanced the medical home concept of care with Healthy Families America, a national home-visitation program for parents at risk of abusing children, modeled after the Hawai'i Healthy Start program he co-founded.

Sia also co-founded the Hawai'i Family Stress Center, The Medical Home Concept, Zero-to-Three Program and the Healthy & Ready to Learn Center. He helped create the Variety School in Honolulu for children with learning disabilities.

Sia has served as a board member for the Variety School, Easter Seals School, and Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children. He also has volunteered at the Waikiki Health Center and served in the U.S. Army.

PAA is not the first to recognize Sia's contributions. He received the Jonas Salk Memorial Award for Achievement in Maternal & Child Health, the Abraham Jacobi Award from the American Medical Association, and the Job Lewis Smith Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics. He even received an award as a student at Punahou: the American Legion Boy of the Year Award, given for sports, academics and popularity.

Although this is an impressive list of awards and accomplishments, none are more prized or treasured than Katherine, his wife of 57 years; his three sons Richard '71, Jeffrey '74 and Michael '77; and his beloved grandchildren.