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George Whitelaw, MD

George Whitelaw, M.D., a Milton Hospital orthopedic surgeon and founder of Children Without Borders, has been honored with the 2009 Lira Family Award for Physician Excellence.

At his Milton Hospital practice, Dr. Whitelaw offers orthopedic care, primarily performing knee and shoulder scopes.  But it was during an Oxford fellowship that a professor guided him toward international volunteerism.  He first volunteered his surgical abilities during a mission to Nepal in 1979.  The Lira Award recognizes Dr. Whitelaw for what is now a career of providing volunteer medical care in developing nations throughout the world. 

Most recently, he established Children Without Borders, which operates three health clinics in Costa Rica to provide medical care and health education to young people.

“We first wanted to form a group that could facilitate the transport of patients in need of advanced care to the U.S.,” Dr Whitelaw explained.  “Ultimately, we established the clinics to try to prevent kids from developing diseases that would require advanced care.”

Through this preventative approach to medicine, Children Without Borders has taken on the challenge of providing education to parents and children alike on teen pregnancy, family violence, drug abuse, nutrition and other health issues.

“Offering volunteer medical care is truly fulfilling work, and I have had the opportunity to work with many good people in Costa Rica,” he said.

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.

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