Dr of the Year Hall of Fame

25 Year Award of Distinction Recipient
Robert M. Filler, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C)

Dr. Filler is an active member in more than a dozen prestigious Canadian and International medical societies and has published more than 170 scientific articles and 80 book chapters that illustrate his vast medical expertise. He held a six-year governorship in the American College of Surgeons and was elected President of the American Pediatric Surgical Association in 1991.

He is known for his many contributions to the surgical treatment of infants and children. He is recognized as an expert in the separation of Siamese Twins. In 1979 he performed an innovative operation at The Hospital for Sick Children on Herbie Quinones from New York. The publicity from this operation helped establish Herbie Fund at the Hospital for Sick Children to help children with serious health problems from around the world.

In 1995 he initiated a Telemedicine program at SickKids, the first in Ontario. He was a founding member of the Canadian Society of Telehealth in 1998 and served as its President from 2000 to 2002.

His community activities have included long term memberships on the Clinical Research Advisory Committee for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, Director of the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities, and Governor of Variety Village.

His name is included in the publication Best Doctors in America and International Who's Who in Medicine, and Canadian Who’s Who. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the U.S. Army for his treatment of Vietnamese children during his one year tour of duty as a military surgeon during the Vietnam War.

In his career he has been honoured by many awards including the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Variety Club's Sir James Carreras' Award, and the Alumni Achievement Award, Washington University School of Medicine. The Hospital for Sick Children has established an endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery in his name. In 1995 he was awarded the Order of Ontario.