SPONSOR: BROTHER F. CHRISTOPHER, F.S.C.
DEGREE: DOCTOR OF LAWS
C. EVERETT KOOP
BROTHER PRESIDENT:
THE QUALITY AND VALUE OF A HUMAN LIFE IS MEASURED BY MANY YARDSTICKS.  A LIFE LIKE THAT OF C. EVERETT KOOP WHICH HAS BEEN TYPIFIED BY SUCH VISIBLE PUBLIC DEDICATION TO HIS BELIEF IN THE SACREDNESS OF EVERY HUMAN LIFE HAS BEEN, AND WILL BE, SCRUTINIZED USING DEVICES OF HIGH INTENSITY.  BY ANY SUCH MEASURE DR. KOOP EMERGES A MAN OF IMPRESSIVE STATURE.
IN HIS PROFESSION, THE POSSESSION OF THE M.D. AND D.SC. DEGREES PREPARED HIM FOR BOTH PRACTICE AND RESEARCH, AND HE HAS EXCELLED IN EACH.  THE COLLECTION OF OVER 175 PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES HE HAS AUTHORED COULD WELL REPRESENT A HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN PEDIATRIC SURGERY AND OF THE SUPPORTIVE CARE NEEDED BY THE YOUNG PATIENT AND THE FAMILY.  PEER RECOGNITION OF HIS ABILITY AND PROMISE CAME EARLY
IN HIS APPOINTMENT AS SURGEON-IN-CHIEF OF THE FAMOUS CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA, A POST HE HELD FROM 1948 TO 1981. TESTIMONY TO THE GROWTH OF HIS REPUTATION CAN BE SEEN IN THE CITATIONS AND AWARDS HE HAS RECEIVED FROM MEDICAL SOCIETIES, FROM GOVERNMENTS AND FROM CIVIC GROUPS.  ALL RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY HIS MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS BUT THE SPECIAL IMPRINT OF HIS PERSONAL BELIEF WHICH MADE THEM UNIQUE.
IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE DR. KOOP GIVES ELOQUENT TESTIMONY FOR HIMSELF.  A STAUNCH MEMBER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DR. KOOP IS A COMMITTED CHRISTIAN MAN.  IN A RECENT INTERVIEW HE SAID:  "SHORTLY AFTER I BEGAN PRACTICING MEDICINE I BECAME A CHRISTIAN . . . FROM THEN ON THERE WAS NEVER ANY QUESTION, I KNEW I WAS TO PRACTICE MY CHRISTIANITY THROUGH MY SURGERY.  EVERYTHING I VALUE OR DO I CONSIDER TO BE A GIFT FROM GOD."  AN OUTGROWTH OF HIS LIVED FAITH HAS BEEN HIS FERVENT ADVOCACY OF THE VALUE AND DIGNITY OF EVERY HUMAN LIFE, AND HIS POSITIONS IN THIS AREA ARE MATTERS OF CLEAR PUBLIC RECORD.  EVEN THOSE WHO HOLD DIFFERING POSITIONS ARE QUICK TO ACKNOWLEDGE Dr. KOOP'S SINCERITY AND TO RESPECT HIS INTEGRITY.
PERHAPS THE BEST TRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY AND WORTH OF DR. KOOP'S LIFE AND CAREER COMES FROM THE SOCIETY WHICH HE SERVES. HIS ELEVATION TO THE POST OF SURGEON GENERAL IS EVIDENCE ENOUGH OF THE NATION'S REGARD FOR HIS PROFESSIONAL SKILL AND HIS PERSONAL CONCERN. MORE TELLING THOUGH
IS THE TESTIMONY OF THE ARMY OF SIMPLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO HIM INTHEIR PAIN, AND ENTRUSTED INTO HIS HANDS THAT MOST PRECIOUS OF THEIR POSSESSIONS  -- THEIR CHILDREN.  HOW WELL MUCH OF HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE HAS ECHOED THE REFRAIN OF HIS ADMITTED MASTER; "SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME."
BROTHER PRESIDENT, FOR HIS MEDICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FOR HIS CHRISTIAN IDEALISM, FOR HIS LIFE OF SERVICE TO SO MANY, I AM HAPPY TO PRESENT DR. C. EVERETT KOOP FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF LAWS, HONORIS CAUSA.