Career

Key Achievements

Known for contributions to the surgical and medical care of infants and children.

Highlights: The use of Total Parenteral Nutrition to salvage children with potentially fatal intestinal problems; innovative surgical procedures for the treatment of childhood cancers; development of new surgical techniques and the use of airway stents to treat life threatening airway problems.

Authored or co-authored more than 290 original papers and book chapters on a variety of pediatric surgical subjects.

Established a full-time surgical organization at The Hospital for Sick Children. Surgeons on staff moved their offices from the community to newly established offices within the hospital and a team approach to care by surgical specialty was established. These changes resulted in notable improvements in the efficiency of patient care and the immediate availability of surgical services for the children in need.

Led project, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Ontario Medical Association, and staff physicians, to establish a unique alternate payment plan with the hospital. This eliminated the fee for service method of remuneration for surgeons and other physicians and aligned hospital and physician monetary incentives.

Provided leadership in developing the current multi-organ transplant program and the only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Centre in Ontario.

Established the Telehealth program at The Hospital for Sick Children to provide health care for children at distant and remote sites, the first of its kind in Ontario.

Co- Founded Canadian Society of Telehealth.

Served as a Visiting Professor and Invited Lecturer, internally and externally, and at numerous universities and conferences around the world.

Served as Editor or Associate Editor of many professional publications, including Pediatric Alert, Journal of Pediatric Surgery, Canadian Journal of Surgery, Pediatric Surgery International, and Child Health Alert.

Became a recognized expert in the separation of Conjoined (Siamese) Twins.

Publicity from innovative airway operation performed on Herbie Quinones established the well-known successful Herbie Fund which provides funding for needy children around the globe.

Associate Professor of Surgery, Faculty of Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1970 – 1977

Staff Surgeon and Associate Chief of Surgery Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1966 – 1977

Career History

Education, Surgical Training, Military Service

The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Surgeon-in-Chief 1977-1995

Head Division of General Surgery 1977-1992, 1995-6,1997-1999

Member, Board of Trustees 1977 - 1994

Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee (6 yrs)

Director, Telehealth, 1995 - 2002

Founder and leader of the Telehealth initiative at The Hospital for Sick Children which provided consultative medical care and teaching to children, families and professionals at distant sites, using advanced interactive communications technology.

Medical Director, External Affairs, 1994 - 2002
Ambassador role to medical institutions and health professionals throughout the world, establishing and maintaining relationships with international centers to help in the medical requirements of patients for the Hospital for Sick Children. One of those responsible for the establishment of the charitable Herbie Fund over 20 years ago, which brings children with serious health problems from around the world to the hospital. More than 500 children have been treated, funded by more than $15 million in donations.

Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, University of Toronto, 1977 - 2001
Responsible for training of pediatric surgeons, lectures to medical students, and post-graduate trainees. Developed and directed a renowned training program in pediatric general surgery, and attracted outstanding trainees from around the world many of whom now serve in leadership positions in their own countries.

Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Emeritus, University of Toronto, 2001 - present

Education, Surgical Training, Military Service

A.B., Cornell University, Ithaca N.Y. 1952

M.D., cum laude, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo. 1956

Internship and Residency, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Boston, Mass. 1956-1964

US Army, Captain, Medical Corps. Served at Walter Reed Army Research Center, Washington DC, and 85th Evacuation Hospital, Quinhon, Vietnam. 1964-1966

Certification in adult and pediatric general surgery, and thoracic surgery by the respective American Boards of Surgery. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Professional and Community Volunteer Activities

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

American Pediatric Surgical Association: Founding member, Member of Board of Governors (3 yrs), President (1991)

American College of Surgeons : Governor (6 yrs), Chairman of the Advisory Council for Pediatric Surgery (2 yrs), Member, Ontario Credentials Committee

American Surgical Association: Member

Central Surgical Association: Member

Canadian Society of Telehealth : Founding member, Board member, Vice president, President

Ontario Telehealth Network: Chair of Board (2006-2009)

Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons: Member, Surgical Residency Training Committee

Division of Anatomy, University of Toronto, Demonstrator (2003-2010)

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Director at Large (9 yrs)

Active member in more than a dozen prestigious Canadian and International Medical and Surgical Societies

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation: Member, Clinical Research Advisory Committee, (10 yrs)

Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities, Director (12 yrs)

Variety Village Toronto, Governor (5 yrs)

Awards

Professional and Community Volunteer Activities

Robert M. Filler endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery Established at the Hospital for Sick Children in 1999

The Order of Ontario, for contributions to the health of children, 1995

Sir James Carreras’ Award, Variety Clubs International

Alumni Achievement Award, Washington University School of Medicine

The Cross of Merit for Outstanding Achievement, Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem

The Bronze Star Medal, U.S. Army, for treatment of Vietnamese children during one-year tour of duty as military surgeon during the Vietnam War, 1965-1966