Honorary Alumni Award from Penn State

Dr. Mortel was awarded the prestigious Honorary Alumni Award from Penn State University.

Dr. Mortel made a significant impact during his time at Penn State in addition to the impact he continues to have on the poor in Haiti through this Foundation. Congratulations to our Founder on this well-deserved recognition!

Read what was published in the Penn State booklet

This award recognizes those who are not Penn State graduates but have made significant contributions to the university’s welfare through their commitment and service.

Dr. Mortel joins fewer than 100 people who have earned this distinction since its establishment in 1973.

“I know that only two to four people are selected each year, and that since the award has been set up, only three faculty from the College of Medicine have been recipients of this award,” Mortel said. “I am proud to find myself in a very small circle of distinguished people to be selected from the College of Medicine.”

One day, suddenly I get a letter asking if I would I accept that one of the societies be named after me. I was really surprised

Mortel served in a number of positions during his 30 years at Penn State Hershey. He was promoted to full professor in 1977, only five years after joining the faculty, and later became the chair of obstetrics and gynecology in 1983.“His leadership at Penn State has been so very instrumental in establishing this Medical Center as one of the premier institutions in the country,” said Dr. Chester Berlin, professor of pediatrics, in a nomination letter for Mortel. “Penn State was so very fortunate in having Dr. Mortel in leadership positions so early in the life of Penn State Hershey.”

Added Dr. A. Craig Hillemeier, dean, Penn State College of Medicine, CEO, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Health System and senior vice president for health affairs, Penn State, “Dr. Mortel’s prolific efforts over the years have supported the growth and reputation of Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. By helping train aspiring physicians and conducting groundbreaking research in our labs, Dr. Mortel deserves to be recognized for his service to Penn State.”

Current College of Medicine students will recognize Mortel’s name among the four learning societies implemented in the 2013-2014 year. While he was on a panel of emeritus faculty that discussed the idea, the individual honor was unexpected.

“One day, suddenly I get a letter asking if I would I accept that one of the societies be named after me. I was really surprised,” Mortel said.

That honor is deserved in part due to the perseverance he showed beginning in medical school at the University of Haiti in Port-au-Prince.

“The medical school registered only 40 students every year when there were 500 to 600 candidates,” he said. “But in essence, that helps, because the determination remained with me when I came here. I wanted to be at the top of any organization I was associated with even though I was told that because I came from Haiti, that could not have happened. But it did happen.”

After 13 years as department chair, Mortel was named founding director of Penn State Cancer Institute in 1995, where he discovered a new treatment for uterine cancer. He remained involved in educating young doctors and researchers.

“Education has been my passion from the age of 11,” Mortel said. “Not only did I educate myself to a high level, but I also make sure that everything I do, at least in this country, is to provide education. That’s why we endowed two visiting lectureships.”

The Rod and Ceil Mortel Visiting Scholar in Obstetrics and Gynecology started in 1999 and the Rod and Ceil Mortel Visiting Scholar in Cancer Research started in 2001 at the College of Medicine.

Mortel’s passion for education has continued into his retirement as well.

These are students from high schools that we recruit to go to Haiti and experience the Haitian culture and realize that people can be very poor, yet very happy

In 1997 he established the Mortel Family Charitable Foundation, the first US 501(c)3 charitable organization to work in all levels of education in Haiti. It serves 1,200 students between five schools in Gonaïves, including 3- and 4-year-old preschoolers, adult literacy students and youth learning trades.

“Our goal is to have these groups we are educating take over the direction of the country and help in restoring dignity to the poor Haitians and eliminate corruption in the government,” he said. “So it will be probably another 25 years before we see the product of what we have accomplished.”

Six months before he retired in 2002, he was ordained a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. In addition to service in the Diocese of Harrisburg and in his home diocese of Gonaïves, Mortel serves as missions chair in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Part of his ministry takes groups of youth to Haiti schools.

I was really excited and surprised that, even 15 years into retirement, Penn State was still interested in what I do,

“These are students from high schools that we recruit to go to Haiti and experience the Haitian culture and realize that people can be very poor, yet very happy,” he said.

The people in Gonaïves also embodied the same pay-it-forward spirit that fuels Mortel’s ministry.

“Twice during the year, the Haitian students collect their pennies together and buy food, cook a meal and deliver it to the prisoners. So I think they show that if somebody helps you, then you go help somebody else.”

Mortel is thankful for the university’s honor.

“I was really excited and surprised that, even 15 years into retirement, Penn State was still interested in what I do,” Mortel said. “I want to thank both the College of Medicine for nominating me, and the Penn State Alumni Association leadership for selecting me as the fourth person of the College of Medicine to receive this prestigious award.”