In Memoriam: Morris Green, MD

August 12, 2013

Dr. Morris Green, MD, passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at the age of 91.

Dr. Green was a nationally renowned pediatrician, inspiring educator, and prolific author. He dedicated himself to a lifelong commitment to the health and well-being of Indiana's children through his extraordinary service of almost 50 years to Riley Hospital for Children, serving as its Physician-in-Chief from 1967-1988 and Chairman of the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Green was the Founding Director (1970) of the Indiana LEND, then University Affiliated Facility or UAF, and a pioneer in Behavioral Pediatrics and family centered care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Morris Green Scholars Fund, Rm. 5900, Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Said one memorial:

The Riley Child Development Center was informed today of the passing of Dr. Morris Green. Many of you knew and worked with Dr. Green and are aware of his many contributions to the field of developmental-behavioral pediatrics. He was, in fact, one of the fathers of that branch of pediatrics. He was more than a physician, though, he was a husband, a father, a friend, and a mentor.

He wrote this years ago, and I try to take it to heart every day:

"Pediatrics is basically about individual persons - infants, children, adolescents, parents, and family members as well as about health and illness. Riley families have very diverse geographic, economic, cultural, religious, and personal backgrounds, which may be different from ours.

Listen to their stories.

If we listen, they can teach us much about the human condition and, thereby, help increase the personalization and effectiveness of what I term contextual pediatrics - attention to the family and community as well as the child."