Distinguished Award for Humanitarian Service

Previous Distinguished Award for Humanitarian Efforts Awardees at the 2007 AAO-HNS Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
Back row left to right: William Lewis, MD; James Saunders, MD; Drew Horlbeck, MD (2007); Juan Garro, MD (1999)
Front row left to right: David Parsons, MD (2002); KJ Lee, MD; James Netterville, MD (2004); Daniel Martinez, MD (1998)

The President presents this award at the Opening Ceremony to an Academy member who is widely recognized for a consistent, stable character distinguished by honesty, zeal for truth, integrity, love and devotion to humanity and a self-giving spirit. The awardee is an outstanding example and model to emulate for a life dedicated to a nobler, more righteous, and more productive way for the human to live as an individual on this earth. The awardee is well known for professional excellence and has demonstrated professional dedication by the giving of professional skills freely, and without desire for personal gain or aggrandizement, to those in this world who cannot otherwise, physically and financially, receive them.

Recipient: James D. Smith, MD

Dr. James D. Smith is an experienced teacher who has worked to establish resident and physician training programs in Singapore and other Asian countries. His efforts have brought modern standards of patient care to communities in need.  Dr. Smith travels constantly as board chair of ComCare International, an organization dedicated to developing and distributing rugges, low-cost solar-powered hearing aids.  He has also served for more than 35 years on the medical staff at Oregon Health Sciences University and as an otolaryngology consultant for the U.S. Veterans Hospital, Portland, Oregon. 

Dr. Smith has not sought recognition for his acts that have benefited thousands.  In his quiet way, he has made a monumental impact on countless patients, students, and colleagues.  An exemplary model of humanitarian ideals, Dr. Smith is a deserving recipient of the 2008 Humanitarian Award. 

Previous Awardees are:

• 2007 Drew M. Horlbeck, MD
• 2006 Craig P. Hedges, MD
• 2005 Brent A. Senior, MD
• 2004 James L. Netterville, MD
• 2003 Byron James Bailey Jr., MD
• 2002 David S. Parsons, MD
• 2001 Michael J. McGee, MD
• 2000 Sylvan E. Stool, MD
• 1999 Juan J. Garro, MD
• 1998 Daniel M. Martinez, MD
• 1997 (no award)
• 1996 Salyaveth Lekagul, MD and Soontorn Antarasena, MD
• 1995 Hans von Leden, MD
• 1994 Jack V. D. Hough, MD
• 1993 Samuel O. Massey Jr., MD
• 1992 M. Coyle Shea Jr., MD
• 1991 M. C. Culbertson Jr. MD
• 1990 Col. Joan Zajtchuk, MD

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