Eagle Scout's career as doctor aids camp
Two parts of William R. Sexson's life collided two weeks ago when the physician was confronted with cases of swine flu at a Boy Scout camp.
When three Scouts came down with the H1N1 virus last month during a visit to a Georgia camp, Sexson contributed to their care.
Sexson, Emory University's associate dean of clinical affairs at Grady Memorial Hospital, where he also works as a neonatologist, has maintained a connection with Scouting since his days as a Cub Scout in 1954.
As part of that connection, he is an on-call physician for local Boy Scout camps throughout the year.
Sexson, who rose to Eagle Scout, answered the call when one of the campers exhibited flulike symptoms on his troop's bus ride from Florida. That Scout was immediately taken to a hospital.
Meanwhile, his troop was isolated at the campsite, where two more Scouts who had immediate contact with the boy had contracted the H1N1 virus.
Sexson spent more than 20 hours with the infected campers as a part of his duties as a volunteer with the Atlanta Area Council of Boy Scouts.
"We were able to contain everything and have the situation come out just fine," said Jenna Knight, a public relations professional with the Atlanta council. "That is all due to the guidance of volunteers like Dr. Sexson."
For Sexson, committing his time to the Atlanta council, one of the largest Boy Scout chapters in the country, comes naturally. His roles are many. He currently serves on the committee for Troop 18 in Atlanta, and for 10 years he has also been the acting health and safety chairman for the council.
"At any given day we have 1,500 Scouts at our camps," he said. "My job is to make sure that their time at summer camp is as safe and healthy as it can be."
Sexson said the time he gives to the Boy Scouts makes him happy. He believes nothing will ever diminish or replace his dedication to the Scouts.
"Doing things like this for your community and for the next generation of kids that are going to be the leaders of our country in another 10 years is something that we just need to do," Sexson said. "This is a lifelong commitment."
