Terrance Davis, MD, associate chief medical officer, and William Shiels, DO, chief of Radiology, were recognized with two prominent awards by Rotary International.
Dr. Davis was awarded the Rotary International Service Above Self Award for his efforts in helping to establish two important programs overseas. First, he helped form pediatric heart surgical teams in El Salvador and Peru. The program in Peru, known as, "Programa de Cirugia de Torax y Cardiovascular," is an assistance program for indigent patients, which has been very successful and is now self sustaining. Dr. Davis also helped establish an orphanage for children who have lost their parents to AIDS in Kenya. The Rafiki AIDS Ministry provides housing, food, clothing, schooling and medical care for about 30 AIDS orphans, and educates another 60. This program is expanding and is also becoming self sustaining.
The Rotary International Service Above Self Award is the Rotary’s highest honor for individual Rotarians. This award is given out to only 150 Rotarians of 1.2 million Rotarians around the world who have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary. Dr. Davis’ work has left a lasting impression on the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Program as both teams are now self-sustaining, and the Rafiki Aids Ministry has progressed rapidly since its inception in 2004.
Dr. Shiels was also honored by the Rotary with the District Governor’s Humanitarian Award for his role in developing the International Rotary Mini Fellowship. This fellowship allows leading radiologists from both developing countries and/or countries where there are no pediatric interventional radiologists to visit Nationwide Children’s Hospital to receive training from the team of six interventional radiologists. This “teach the teacher” program has allowed the visiting physician faculty to return to their own countries with the pediatric interventional radiology procedures they have learned to train other radiologists to benefit more children around the world.
The Rotary District Governor’s Humanitarian Award honors outstanding professionals who have contributed to greater understanding and peace through service to humanity, and whose significant achievements have enriched their profession or vocation.
For more information about the International Scholars Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital, go to http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/international-scholars-program.
NOTE TO EDITOR: Dr. Davis is a resident of (43221) and Dr. Shiels is a resident of (43017).