Lira Award for Physician Excellence

Maria Rodrigues, M.D., a Randolph-based primary care physician, has been honored with the 2009 Lira Family Award for Physician Excellence.

An internist at Milton Hospital since 2000, Dr. Rodrigues was selected for her commitment to medicine and her involvement in hospital and community activities.

"I feel humble and privileged, especially in the company of the many great Milton physicians who came before me," Dr. Rodrigues said. "Many of our past award recipients have a true love and dedication to their patients and to medicine. We are fortunate at Milton Hospital that we have many physicians like them."

In addition to her active primary care practice at 32 South Main Street, Randolph, Dr. Rodrigues serves as physician for the Randolph Public Schools and as a trustee for Commonwealth School in Boston. Dr. Rodrigues earned her medical degree from Brown University School of Medicine and a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University School of Public Health. In addition, she completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, and a fellowship in Infectious Disease at Brown University.

The Lira Award was established by the late Hugo "Baron" Lira. A much-beloved hospital volunteer and local bandleader, Lira contributed over 6,000 volunteer hours to Milton Hospital.