Complex challenges intrigue the Honorable D. Bruce Poole—whether in business or everyday life. When faced with a challenge, Bruce examines its components to develop a plan to overcome it.
This degree of due diligence has served him well as the principal of the Poole Law Group and as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1987 to 1999, where he became the youngest member to serve as House Majority Leader.
“I gain great satisfaction from drilling into problems and solving them to the best of my abilities,” Bruce shared.
He approaches philanthropy similarly. “Too often, philanthropic projects lack the focus and structure to achieve their desired outcomes,” Bruce emphasized. “You have to make sure there’s an underlying structure in place and people who are actively engaged.”
He said the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) and the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center (STC) epitomize a structurally sound organization. “We have leadership at the top in Drs. Mohan Suntha and Bert O’Malley, and on the ground in Drs. Tom Scalea and Kristie Snedeker, to make things work.”
Bruce has served on the Shock Trauma Board of Visitors for over a decade, including two years as chair. He has a deep appreciation for the dedicated teams and world-class services provided by the organization. Bruce credits UMMC surgeons for his recovery from a series of traumatic events and surgeries resulting from football injuries and a motorcycle accident over 40 years ago.
Shock Trauma’s quest for continuous improvement and growth enticed Bruce to serve on its board. “I firmly believe in the saying: If you chase perfection, you’ll never catch it, but if you chase it long enough, you will catch excellence.
That is what they’re dedicated to doing.” That same philosophy has shaped his board leadership and fueled his philanthropy. One of the board’s top priorities is to secure philanthropic support so that STC has the financial resources to meet today’s critical care needs. Another key focus is violence prevention education and training. “Fallout from violence doesn’t just stop because we’ve patched someone up and sent them home,” Bruce said. “We must take better care of our citizens and understand that they haven’t just gone through a physical injury; they’ve gone through a profound psychological injury.”
Shock Trauma is a statewide system built on cooperation with state and local governments and a network of emergency medical services. “It doesn’t matter if you’re on the ski slopes in Garrett County or crabbing in Somerset County, we’ve got your back— One Maryland, One Shock Trauma,” he explained.
Bruce has taken a strategic approach to board recruitment to support STC’s goals and objectives. “I want to make sure that we have the best advocates and supporters on the Shock Trauma board,” he said. “To back the best, you must have the best. I’m extremely proud of the people who serve on the Shock Trauma Board.”
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