In no other vocational environment with the possible exception professional sports is physical and psychological fitness so critical to a working man or woman than in the commercial diving industry.  The physiological and vocational demands placed upon the undersea laborer require that the diver be physically fit, psychologically sound and emotionally secure in navigating the harsh workplace of the undersea workplace.  In the undersea environment when “things go wrong” they occur at a very rapid pace, usually in far off places and in a setting where only self sufficiency, preparedness and professionalism in the face of chaos serve to “save the day”.

Poised to render aid and comfort at every milestone in a professional diver’s career stands one person to help guide working diver along his way - the hyperbaric physician, also affectionately known as the “diving doc”.  Employing cutting edge scientific research, passion for their science and love for their unique patient pool the hyperbaric medical health care provider succeeds in providing the industry with working divers certified “medically fit” and emotionally prepared to face the ever present perils of the sea.

The US commercial diver, especially those plying their skills in the GOM, find comfort in the knowing that they are very well served by the physicians who have devote their professional and personal lives to their health, welfare and well being.

The international professional organization dedicated to the study of and scientific research in the field of diving and hyperbaric medicine is the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, the UHMS has on its rolls approximately over 2,500 members from 50 countries.  In addition to providing leadership and certification process the UHMS leads the world in providing scientific information “to protect the health of sport, military and commercial divers and to improve the scientific basis of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, promote sound treatment protocols”.

The working GOM divers, their families and employers have at their disposal the world’s preeminent hyperbaric medical staffs.  Within this select medical community three names surface time and time again as the tops in their field, namely, Keith Van Meter, MD,  of New Orleans,  Caroline Fife, MD, of Houston and Joseph Serio, MD, of Lafayette. 

Centered in New Orleans Dr. Van Meter, a clinical professor of medicine at LSU School of Medicine heads a 140 physician group practice focusing the providence of emergency medicine.  Twelve of these physicians are boarded in diving and hyperbaric medicine.   Additionally, last year Dr. Van Meter’s program had an additional five hyperbaric physicians in training under the fine direction of Paul Harch, MD.

In times of extreme diving emergencies – at an average of four times per year - Dr. Van Meter himself, or members of his team, mobilizes to the worksite and “locks down” with the injured diver during recompression therapy.  Working hand in hand with Dr. Joseph Serio, Dr Van Meter and his staff additionally manage up to  three commercial diving accidents per week. Dr. Van Meter proudly acknowledges that “the collaboration clinically with Dr. Serio has been enriching over the last thirty four years”.

Most divers know Dr. Van Meter as “the diver’s doctor”, and may first meet Dr. Van Meter as arrives offshore when “everything is going to hell.”  Dr. Van Meter customarily enters the DDC and shares his comforting presence and his singular dedication to get the diver to the surface in a safe, calm and controlled manner.  A true legend in the GOM, Dr. Van Meter often makes harrowing rides to depth in the DDC with the diver while utilizing improvised treatment tables of his own design when previous attempts of treatment have proved futile.  Calling upon his “Dr. Spock-like” gift for scientific reason, and by his own admission divine help and “just plain luck”, Dr. Van Meter and his staff succeed in bringing back the diver to safety and the comfort and love of their family back home.  When Dr. Van Meter or his staff make their appearance on site it’s a good news/bad news scenario for the diver:  bad news…the diver is a critical situation….good news….the diver has the finest medical staff at his or her disposal.

In recognition of his efforts over the years it has been proposed to “canonize Dr. Van Meter”.  May the writer take journalistic license here and propose canonizing Dr. Van Meter as “Saint Keith of New Orleans, Patron Saint of Laborers of the Deep”. Without his care and comfort not only would the industry be at a loss but the list of diver obituaries would be beyond its already unacceptable number.

For over the last thirty years the very few commercial divers in the GOM who do not know Dr. Joseph Serio.  From his former clinic located in Belle Chasse, and through today from his clinic in Lafayette, Dr. Serio has served to introduce literally thousands of the entry level tenders to the industry.  Going to see “Dr. Joe” is a yearly ritual for countless divers in the industry.  Unfortunately, Dr. Serio is also the last doctor many divers see as they exit the industry when occupational injures or the physical wear and tear deprives them of the physical standards mandated by the ADCI Consensus Standards. Dr. Serio is often the first physician called by a diving contractor.  He is always there for the diver, rendering care, comfort and advice, in good times and bad times and bad.

Dr. Caroline Fife practices in Houston where she serves as clinician at Hyperbaric and Lymphedema Wound Clinic, Memorial Herman Texas Hospital.  She also is the Director of Clinical Research at Hermann Center for Environmental,

Aerospace and Industrial Medicine and is an Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

A past president of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Dr. Fife is uniquely blessed with an innate personal sense of caring and a thorough gift of scientific instinct. Dr. Fife provides her patients with a special sense of confidence and comfort as they face difficult times in post injury care and treatment.  As all of her patients attest Dr. Fife’s display of medical knowledge and reassurance truly places the safety of her patient in the forefront.  A medical consultant for NASA, Dr. Fife is universally seen as a highly regarded practitioner, professor and researcher having authored over seventy medical articles related to diving and hyperbaric treatment. 

The divers of the Gulf of Mexico are at peace knowing that there medical needs are covered by three of the best hyperbaric doctors in the world. 

In part, of the Oath of Hippocrates (the physicians oath) reads as follows:
I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for  the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art.

Drs. Van Meter, Serio and Fife not only are loyal to their oath, they exceed it.  And for their good works and devotion to those they serve all commercial divers should be appreciative…and thankful.

Author’s Note:
Over the years I have been amazed at the care given to the commercial divers by Drs. Van Meter, Serio and Fife.  If there is ever an occasion where you or your loved one needs a diving doc, here are the numbers and remember the maxim when it comes to managing bends cases;  "when in doubt....treat".    

Dr. Keith Van Meter   504.349.6553 West Jefferson Hyperbaric Center
Dr. Joseph Serio  337.233.4480
Dr. Caroline Fife  731.704.4268

--Bobby