DR. Morton recognized with the Albert Schweitzer Award

Written by Cindy Stauffer

Friday, December 17 1993 05:35

Reprinted with permission from the 10/28/93 issue of the Lancaster New Era, Lancaster ,Pa.

Dr. Holmes Morton, a county pediatrician and friend to "God's Special Children", received a national humanitarian prize in Baltimore Wednesday.

Morton, the founder and director of the Clinic for Special Children near Strasburg, received the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in ceremony at the John Hopkins Medical Institutions.

Morton was awarded the $10,000 prize for his work among the Amish and Mennonite communities, treating children with genetic disorders. He was cited for practicing medicine in a compassionate way that respects the culture and lifestyle of his patients.

"Your presence as a tireless physician in a rural area, making house calls, has been received by these stricken families as a sign of providence," read the citation for the award. The Schweitzer Prize was created in 1986 by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of New York. Past recipients include President Jimmy Carter, author and editor Norman Cousins and Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund.

Morton, 43, is a graduate of Harvard Medical School. He has done extensive research in metabolic and neurological diseases, identifying about 40 different genetic disorders, including some that have never been described in medical journals.

"I am happy to have the work of the clinic recognized by the Schweitzer Prize," Morton said. "We try to provide medical care that is accessible and respects cultural beliefs. I hope the prize will make others more aware of the need elsewhere for the kind of care we provide here."

Morton, who was joined by his family at the award ceremonies, said he plans to use the monetary award to set up a special fund that will go on to support humanitarian work at the clinic.

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