simpkins' completed his surgical training in 1980 at st. luke's hospital in new york city and downstate medical center in brooklyn. after his surgical training he did research fellowships at the boston university school of medicine and the naval medical research institute in bethesda, maryland. while in the united states navy, simpkins achieved the rank of commander and received two commendations for excellence in research. simpkins is board certified in general surgery with certification in critical care. he is also a fellow of the american college of surgeons and an honorary member of the eastern association for the surgery of trauma. dr. simpkins has consistently been a strong advocate for the provision of the best care possible for patients. this advocacy led to retaliation at the now defunct d.c. general hospital in washington, d.c., where he worked from 1987 to 1991. d. c. general retaliated by sending misleading and false information to the national practitioner's databank without any basis or hospital process and in violation of its bylaws. dr. simpkins sued the databank and d.c. general hospital in u.s. district court. he won after the actions of the defendants were determined to have been "capricious and arbitrary". dr. simpkins' name was ordered removed from the databank. he may be the only physician whose name was ever removed from this listing.