Bringing Hope and Surgical Cures to the World’s Children
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The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) presented the 2009 Humanitarian Award to David P. Roye, Jr., MD, on February 26th at its 2009 Annual Meeting. This award honors Fellows of the Academy who have distinguished themselves by providing outstanding musculoskeletal care, both in the United States and abroad. In addition, this award recognizes those orthopaedic surgeons who help to improve the human condition by alleviating suffering and supporting and contributing to the basic human dignity of those in need. “I am truly humbled to receive this honor,” said Dr. Roye. “I consider myself fortunate to be able to provide orthopaedic care to children who have no other resources.”
Dr. Roye is currently chief of the pediatric orthopaedic service and the St. Giles Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center. He has been a member of the faculty at Columbia since completing his fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Roye continues to commit himself to caring for underserved children with orthopaedic conditions, as well as teaching other orthopaedic surgeons, and conducting research on musculoskeletal problems in children.
Dr. Roye became an integral member of the Children of China Pediatrics Foundation (CCPF), in 1999, providing orthopaedic surgical services to special needs Chinese orphans. He became the foundation’s executive medical director in 2002.
CCPF efforts have resulted in bringing expert surgical care to children who would otherwise not be cared for, and in addition, has made the project sustainable with an infrastructure that supports and includes mentoring programs. Dr. Roye has recruited 150 medical personnel and other providers to become involved with CCPF. “For more than 25 years I have chosen to volunteer and provide orthopaedic care for the underserved children of the world,” noted Dr. Roye. “Since first becoming involved in global health I recognized a great need to provide orthopaedic medical resources to as many children as possible.”
CCPF honored Dr. Roye last May for his decade of commitment and service. He was also recognized by The Children’s Dream Foundation in 2006 for his work and research studies in improving children’s healthcare.
Dr. Roye’s colleagues always speak of his confident, yet humble manner, and to his commitment to his patients’ needs, which fosters an exceptionally strong bond. “David Roye influenced my decision to pursue a career in pediatric orthopaedics more than any other person,” said David L. Skaggs, MD, endowed chair of Pediatric Spinal Disorders, Childrens’s Hospital Los Angeles and associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, Univeristy of Southern California School of Medicine. “He embodies the model of a humanitarian academic surgeon, who contributes to the orthopaedic field at many levels, yet does it with no self-promotion,” noted Dr.Skaggs.
Dr. Roye has been bestowed with many other honors, such as an Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Order of Merit award. He holds a number of leadership positions locally, nationally and internationally, including executive committee member of the Section on Orthopaedic Surgery of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“The missions he has gone on and the leadership awards which Dr. Roye has received throughout his career are just a small sampling of his kindness, commitment and expertise,” said Theodore J. Ganley, MD, director of sports medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Dr. Roye’s dedication to academic medicine and teaching, as well as his profound generosity is second to none.”
Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
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