Palisadian Doctor Recognized at Saint John's 2011 Caritas Gala

On October 15th, Saint John’s Health Center Foundation and the Irene Dunne Guild hosted The Caritas Gala - an annual formal affair which honors those who demonstrate compassion and concern for others through exceptional service to the community. Since its inception in 1993, this elegant event has raised over $10.7 million. The proceeds benefit the Health Center’s programs and services such as the Child and Family Development Center, Women’s Health Services and the Irene Dunne Guild Gift Shop. The Caritas Gala is also a mechanism by which Saint John’s communicates with the public at large to share the word that their community hospital is an essential healthcare resource available to everyone.

This year, they recognized Palisadian Dr. Donald L. Morton, Chief of the Melanoma Program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) and Director of the Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program, with the Spirit of Saint John’s Award for his life-saving contributions to cancer research. One of his pioneering innovations, the Sentinel Lymph Node Technique, has not only fostered a new approach to how cancer is detected, analyzed and treated around the world, but has become the standard of care for Melanoma and Breast Cancer. Thirty years ago Dr. Morton started the John Wayne Institute, which is now a world-renowned cancer center. The JWCI, now in its 20th year at Saint John’s Health Center, has trained more than 120 of the best and brightest young surgeons who are now serving as leaders at major cancer centers across the nation, where they provide specialized care and lead research teams.

When you meet Dr. Morton up close and personal, it’s quite evident that he’s more than just an extraordinary surgical oncologist and clinical cancer scientist. Dr. Morton is a man with strong family values and reveres his family (five children and eight grandchildren) His lifetime professional accolades have not tarnished his West Virginia humility, a rarity. The dimple on his cheek gives one an indication of his humor, and his twinkling eyes adorning his face foreshadow his compassion and empathy for humanity and joy for life. He’s loved and admired by his family, friends, colleagues, and patients and received a heartfelt open love letter from his wife, Lorraine, in the Caritas Gala 2011 coffee table book, which rises far above any Hollywood love story written today.

Dr. Jonathan Cole, a board-certified internist, with extensive experience in the areas of preventive and internal medicine and also sports a degree in English literature, proudly presented the Caritas Award to two-time Golden Globe Award nominee Pierce Brosnan for the extraordinary passion that Brosnan brings to his family, profession, and community and great friendship to Saint John’s – the true spirit of Caritas. Brosnan and his beautiful wife - on both the outside and inside - Keely – have put forth their compassionate efforts on behalf of the environment, women and children. Some of the organizations they support at a glimpse are:

The Jane Goodall Institute
NRDC
Global Green
The International Fund for Animal Welfare
UNICEF Ireland
Starlight Children’s Foundation
Save the Whales Now
Oceana

Pierce also serves as Campaign Chairman for the Entertainment Industry Foundation which distributed $15,000,000 last year. The Brosnans have been honored by Heal the Bay, The American Ocean’s Campaign, Environmental Media Association, Women in Film and Green Cross International for their activism and philanthropy.

While most know Pierce as an actor, he is also a talented painter. His work is showcased on his website www.piercebrosnan.com. The profits from the sale of his prints are given to a trust that distributes the funds to children’s and women’s health charities.

Donna Tuttle, Chair of the Saint John’s Health Center Foundation confirmed that “the impact of both of our honorees has brought an incredible outpouring of support, and, with the amazing generosity of our trustees, sponsors and friends, we have raised a record $1.3 million here tonight.”

Mingling with the guests that evening, it became apparent why Saint John’s is truly a unique community hospital and as visionary President and CEO of Saint John’s Health Center and John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI), Lou Lazatin, stated, “a unique model for the future.” It is a health center that fosters compassionate care backed by expert research.

Lazatin said, “this combination will enable us to offer our patients a new kind of medicine – 'personalized' care. By that, I mean a cancer patient will be able to come to Saint John’s for a simple blood test. Physicians and researchers at the JWCI will then examine the patient’s genetic and cellular information and be able to recommend the best, most effective course of treatment.”

Lazatin continued, “the future is within reach.”

And as the evening came to a close, the spoken words echoed off the ballroom’s walls; reminding everyone why this gathering was so incredibly special. The future felt very well, indeed, within reach.