David Jacobs, M.D., FACS.

Standing with his mentee, John Knox, is an associate medical director of the Ross Trauma Center at Carolinas Medical Center (CMC). 

Dr. Jacobs has been a leader in violence prevention since coming to CMC in 1995. He is the founder and chairman of CMC’s Violence Prevention Committee. The committee collaborates with numerous community agencies to prevent youth violence, including Gang of One, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and Right Moves for Youth.

He developed a program called “The Real Truth about Violence” that he has presented to more than 850 CMS middle and high school students. The program educates students about the true medical, social and financial consequences of violent behavior.

He has offered anti-violence sessions at the 100’s Movement of Youth Saturday Academy, showing mentees what he sees as an emergency room physician.  The graphic slides cause the mentees to seriously reflect on the outcomes of drugs and violence.  He allowed his mentee John Knox, wearing medical scrubs, to shadow him through his emergency room rounds to demonstrate the consequences of violence.

He also was instrumental in organizing two violence prevention conferences in Charlotte that have attracted nearly 400 educators, law enforcement officers and health care professionals to participate in roundtable discussions and hear national experts discuss the issue.

Dr. Jacobs brought the ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Campaign to Charlotte, which encourages parents to ask if a firearm is present in homes that their children may visit. In recognition of his efforts, the National ASK Campaign invited him to represent the healthcare community at the 2006 ASK Benefit Gala in New York City.  He received the 2007 Director’s Community Leadership Award from the Charlotte office of the FBI. The award has been given since 1990 to recognize individuals or organizations working to prevent drug use or violence.

Dr. Jacobs’ community activities include leadership positions with 100 Black Men of Greater Charlotte and Mothers of Murdered Offspring.  As Vice President of Health & Wellness for the 100, Dr. Jacobs has provided health screenings for 500 children in our community; provided screenings and education at the Men’s Winter Homeless Shelter; and instituted the “Know Your Numbers” program in partnership with Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, including prostate cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and body fat screenings and health workshops. 

Dr. David Jacobs received the 2010 Pride Community Service Award.  Jacobs was recognized as the creator of the Violence Prevention Committee at CMC and a school-based violence prevention program called “The Real Truth About Violence.”