Dr. Daniel Franklin Ward

Daniel Franklin Ward, M.D., of Augusta, GA, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on December 31, 2025. He was 89. Affectionately known as “Muttley” by his family, and Danny by his friends, Dr. Ward was an instrumental pioneer in the creation and development of much of the medical emergency, trauma and remote systems and procedures that have saved and improved countless lives and we take for granted today.

Born December 15, 1936, at home amidst his grandmother's pecan orchard in West Green, GA, Dr. Ward knew from the age of 3 that he wanted to be a country doctor. He realized that goal at age 25, after graduating from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in 1961, by establishing Columbia County’s first general medicine practice in Harlem, GA.

His medical career spanned multiple disciplines. After general practice, he specialized in psychiatry, maintaining a private practice in Augusta. In the 1970’s he turned his interests to emergency medicine and shock trauma, initially at Doctor's Hospital in Augusta. In 1979 he joined the faculty of MCG, where he founded and chaired the Department of Emergency Medicine, developed a residency program for it, and established a dedicated Trauma Center at the MCG’s hospital. He additionally held various leading clinical, teaching, research, and administrative positions at the school. Dr. Ward was a pioneer in the establishment of emergency medicine as a distinct medical specialty and in the founding of dedicated trauma centers within emergency rooms. He was among the first physicians to be certified by the then newly created American Board of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Ward also was an early leader in the creation of telemedicine and spurred collaborative efforts between MCG, the U.S. Army and DARPA in the research and implementation of advancements in that then new field. He also was a founder of the American Telemedicine Association and established a chair for Telemedicine at MCG. He further served on the Governor's Advisory Council on Science and Technology and in that role developed the first formalized policies for paramedic and advanced trauma life support training for the state of Georgia. He published 58 research articles and abstracts and delivered 21 lectures and presentations at prestigious medical conferences and proceedings.

Before medical school, he graduated from Savannah High School in 1954 and attended Armstrong College of Savannah and the University of Georgia.

Yet Dr. Ward still found time to avidly enjoy golf, buy and drive numerous cars, and, in later years, extensively tour Europe with his wife, Kitty, where he developed a love for all things Italy. Around the house he enjoyed reading through his extensive Winston Churchill book collection with a cat curled up beside him.

The family extends special appreciation to Trenia and Maureen of MYD Services for their loving and exceptional end-of-life care.

Dr. Ward was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Franklin Ward and Kate Harkleroad Ward, both late of West Green, GA. He is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Kitty Walker Coleman Ward, of Augusta, GA; his two sons, Daniel Franklin Ward, Jr. (Caroline) of Roswell, GA, and James Bayard Ward (Pam) of Augusta, GA; three grandchildren, Sarah Walker Ward, of London, United Kingdom; Katherine Alice Ward, M.D., of Portland, OR; and Daniel Franklin Ward, III of Atlanta, GA; his brother, William Warren Ward (Faye), of Douglas, GA; his sister, Catherine Ward Davis, of Dalton, GA, and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at a visitation at Platt’s Funeral Home, 721 Crawford Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904, between 4:00 and 6:00 pm on January 7, 2026. A private interment will be held at Lone Hill Cemetery, West Green, GA where Muttley will be returned to the pecan orchards, wiregrass and longleaf pines of south Georgia he loved so much.

Platt’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family requests that a donation be made to the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, 720 St. Sebastian Way, Ste. 150, Augusta, GA 30901.