The Henry P. Russe, MD Citation

The Institute of Medicine of Chicago and Rush University Medical Center annually award the Henry P. Russe, MD, Citation for Exemplary Compassion in Healthcare. Henry P. Russe, MD served as Dean of Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center. He served five terms as President of The Institute of Medicine of Chicago during an extraordinary decade of personal and professional commitment to the advancement of medicine. In recognition of his contributions, the Trustees of Rush University Medical Center and The Institute of Medicine of Chicago have established the Henry P. Russe, MD Citation for Exemplary Compassion in Healthcare. This ongoing award demonstrates, as Dr. Russe exemplified, that humanitarianism must characterize the practice of medicine and medical education beyond the science, technology, and personal skillfulness essential in caring for the health of our fellow citizens.

David G. McLone, MD, PhD

2010 Recipient

Dr. David G. McLone at the 95^th Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner
 

Dr. David McLone, a pioneer in pediatric neurosurgery, has devoted his career to the care of children with spina bifida.  He has addressed this problem at every level – from scientific study of the relevant anatomy and physiology, development of new surgical techniques and tools, and careful collection of clinical outcomes data over several decades, to the founding and financial support of a residential transitional housing complex for adults with spina bifida.  In the course of his career, he has transformed the way this and other congenital neurologic conditions are viewed and addressed throughout the world.

Dr. McLone received his MD degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1965, and pursued doctoral study in neuroanatomy at Northwestern concurrent with his neurosurgical residency training.  During residency, he gravitated toward a focus in pediatric neurosurgery, having been involved in exploration of the pathogenesis of hydrocephalus during his graduate work, and established the spina bifida clinic at Children’s Memorial Hospital during his residency.  He then joined the faculty at Northwestern, where he has remained throughout his career, serving as chairman of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery from 1978-2001, and chief of Surgery from 2001-2003.

Dr. McLone was a founding member of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons, served as its president from 1990-1992, and led the development of the American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgeons, serving as its first chairman from 1991-1996.  Dr. McLone has published over 170 journal articles and 100 books and book chapters during his career, and served as the editor in chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery.

Early in Dr. McLone’s career, the survival rate for children born with spina bifida was about 10%.  Building on his laboratory work, he developed new surgical techniques.  As he perfected these techniques, he kept meticulous and comprehensive records of children’s medical, developmental, and social progress.  These clinical outcomes studies demonstrated the effectiveness of surgical intervention on behalf of these children.  His approach to the care of these children is now the standard of care, and survival into adulthood among his cohort treated at Children’s Memorial is now over 75%. 

As Dr. McLone himself writes, “One of the greatest challenges in medicine today is establishing a network of care for adults with spina bifida.”  Dr. McLone has met these challenges in an extraordinary way, in founding The Village Foundation in 2001, in conjunction with the Anixter Center.  The Village Foundation, “committed to enhancing the quality of life for young adults with chronic neurological disabilities by providing opportunities and habilitation services that foster independence,” has built a 15-unit apartment complex in Chicago, the first of its kind created specifically for people with spina bifida and related disabilities.  Dr. McLone served as President and CEO of the Village Foundation during the formative phase of the apartment complex and continues to provide services there as medical director.  He is also President and CEO of the Board for YMCA’s Camp Independence.  While Dr. McLone has received a number of national awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Spina Bifida Association in 2009, it is with deep respect and gratitude that IOMC recognizes his humanitarian service within the metropolitan Chicago community. 

We are honored to name Dr. David McLone the 2010 recipient of the Russe Citation for Exemplary Compassion in Health Care.

Past Recipients of the Henry P. Russe, MD Citation

• 2009 Judith M. Haasis, ACSW, MSSW
• 2008 Maria I. Brown, DO
• 2007 Mardge Hillary Cohen, MD
• 2006 Dharmapuri Vidyasagar, MD
• 2005 Warren W. Furey, MD
• 2004 Angelos P. Creticos, MD
• 2004 David W. Cugell, MD
• 2003 Arthur G. Jones, MD
• 2002 Arnold L. Widen, MD
• 2001 Henry Betts, MD
• 2001 Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD
• 2000 Edward A. Lichter, MD
• 1999 Sister Sheila Lyne, RSM
• 1998 Quentin D. Young, MD
• 1997 James R. Webster, Jr., MD
• 1996 Dudley Childress, PhD
• 1996 Serafino Garella, MD
• 1995 Whitney W. Addington, MD
• 1994 Ruth M. Rothstein
• 1993 Harry J. Miller, MD