D. Holmes Morton
Encyclopedia
D. Holmes Morton is an American physician
specializing in genetic disorders of Old Order Amish and Mennonite
children. In 1989 he established the Clinic for Special Children
in Strasburg, Pennsylvania to focus on these diseases.
Morton is a former member of the United States Merchant Marine
and a 1979 graduate of Trinity College
in Hartford, Connecticut
where he was an avid reader of everything from literature to developmental psychology
, neurobiology, and child development. He attended Harvard Medical School
and served his residency at Children's Hospital Boston
. His interest in biochemical genetics
research led him to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
, Johns Hopkins University
, and finally to the Pennsylvania Amish
community. Although he could easily have landed a post at a prominent research institution, Morton and his wife Caroline chose to establish the clinic as a nonprofit organization
.
Morton received the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism
in 1993 and was named one of Time Magazines "Heroes of Medicine" in 1997. In 2006 he was awarded a MacArthur Foundation
"genius grant"
for his work.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
specializing in genetic disorders of Old Order Amish and Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
children. In 1989 he established the Clinic for Special Children
Clinic for Special Children
The Clinic for Special Children is a gene research clinic located in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. The facility, established by Dr. D. Holmes Morton, specializes in genetic problems of the plain sects such as the Amish and Old Order Mennonites....
in Strasburg, Pennsylvania to focus on these diseases.
Morton is a former member of the United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
and a 1979 graduate of Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
where he was an avid reader of everything from literature to developmental psychology
Developmental psychology
Developmental psychology, also known as human development, is the scientific study of systematic psychological changes, emotional changes, and perception changes that occur in human beings over the course of their life span. Originally concerned with infants and children, the field has expanded to...
, neurobiology, and child development. He attended Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
and served his residency at Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
. His interest in biochemical genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
research led him to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the largest and oldest children's hospitals in the world. CHOP has been ranked as the best children's hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and Parents Magazine in recent years. As of 2008, it was ranked #1 in the nation for...
, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, and finally to the Pennsylvania Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
community. Although he could easily have landed a post at a prominent research institution, Morton and his wife Caroline chose to establish the clinic as a nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
.
Morton received the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism
Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism
The Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism is a prize given to people who made exemplary contributions to humanity and the environment. The goal of the prize is to advance the cause of humanitarianism. The prize was established in 1986 by Albert Toepfer, an international grain merchant from...
in 1993 and was named one of Time Magazines "Heroes of Medicine" in 1997. In 2006 he was awarded a MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
"genius grant"
MacArthur Fellows Program
The MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
for his work.