Previous Page
Robert D. Orr, MD, CM

Robert D. Orr, MD, CM

Emeritus Fellow

Robert D. Orr, MD, CM (1941-2021) was a Distinguished Fellow and former co-chair of the Healthcare Ethics Council with The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, Professor of Bioethics at The Graduate College of Union University,* Professor of Medical Ethics at Loma Linda University,* Professor of Bioethics at Trinity International University, and Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.* In addition, Dr. Orr previously chaired CBHD's Advisory Board.

Dr. Orr received his MD, CM from McGill University in 1966, did residency training in family medicine, and then engaged in the private practice of family medicine in Vermont for 18 years where he was named Vermont Family Doctor of the Year in 1989. A growing interest and involvement in medical ethics led him to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago (1989- 1990).

From 1990-2000 he was the Director of Clinical Ethics at Loma Linda University in southern California, and from 2000-2006 he was Director of Clinical Ethics at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the University of Vermont College of Medicine*. He was honored by the American Medical Association in 1999 when they gave him the Isaac Hays & John Bell Award for Leadership in Medical Ethics and Professionalism. In 2006 he was Scholar in Residence at the Kilns, the restored home of C.S. Lewis in Oxford, UK. In 2010, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations honored Dr. Orr by giving him the “Servant of Christ” Award.

He has authored, co-authored or edited six books, contributed 14 book chapters, and over 150 articles related to clinical ethics, the ethics consultation process, and issues in terminal care. He has given lectures on these topics regionally, nationally and internationally. He chaired the Council on Ethical Affairs for the California Medical Association, and was Vice President of the American Society for Bioethics and the Humanities. He has served on the Ethics Commission of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations and served as chairman of that commission from 1991-1994.

Updated May 2021

* For identification purposes only; does not imply institutional support.

Committee on the Biological and Biomedical Applications of Stem Cell Research
Board on Neuroscience and Behavioral Health
Michael A. Palladino
Kelly A. Hogan
Dr. George Daley
Eve Herold
Ronald M. Green
Daniel Paisner
Diana DeGette
Laura Black
Becky White
Elizabeth Savant
Rajesh Rao
Lindsay Pflug
Ilinca Pera
Ben Parks
Michael Nowak
Amber Nedreberg
Daniel Morgan
Andrew Moeller
Jackson McNeece
Rosa Macrito
Matthew Krueger
Apostolos Kalantzis
Stacy Colvard Hountras
Jenna Hostetler
Mikaela Hills
Maureen Girkens
Rebecca Garcia
Janessa Futrell
Justin Egge
Joanna Dukes
Joel Cunningham
Jessica Cernek
Bethany Burrell
Denise Bailey
Jay AuWerter
MaryLou Andrews
Drew Andrews
Kenny Allen
Michael Bellomo
Charis Thompson
Nancy E. Snow
Jonathan Slack
Christopher A. Pynes
Sarah Chan
Muireann Quigley
Andrew G. Renehan
Robert B. Clarke
Christopher S. Potten
Paul Torremans
Alice Park
Joseph Panno
Lars Østnor
Hans Clevers
Bernard Roelen
Anja van de Stolpe
Christine L. Mummery
Michael Mulkay
Jerome Tobis
Ronald Miller
Kristen Renwick Monroe
Anthony Atala
Sheldon Krimsky
Stephen R. Munzer
Russell Korobkin
Paul Knoepfler
Evelyn B. Kelly
Ron Harris
Asher Meir
Elisa Garcia
Göran Hermerén
Kristina Hug
Laura Grabel
Lori Gruen
Marin Gillis
William R. Hoffman
Leo Furcht
Lauri Friedman
Cynthia Fox
Katrien Devolder
Sarah Devaney
Committee on Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Board on Life Sciences
Division on Earth and Life Studies
National Research Council
Gracy Ledingham
Ewa Carrier
Michael A. Buratovich
Eric E. Bouhassira
Ruha Benjamin
Judy E. Stern
Deni Elliott
Trevor Smith
Susan Folkman
Bruce D. Sales
Josephine Johnston
Edward P. Richards
Earl C. Pike
Sana Loue