February 8, 2007 --- For Immediate Release
Omaha Doctor Recognized by Prestigious CEO Organization
(Omaha, NEBRASKA) – An Omaha obstetrician-gynecologist was recognized for his “extraordinary witness and heroic actions” and for his “courageous Christian witness in defending the sanctity of all human life.”
Legatus International awarded Thomas W. Hilgers, MD, with the “Cardinal John J. O’Connor Pro-Life Award” on February 2, 2007 during their Summit in Naples, Florida. The award, first bestowed upon Honorable Henry Hyde in 2001, recognizes clergy or individuals in elected office, academia, media or ministry/politics for pro-life activism. This year, six people received the award.
Legatus, a prestigious lay organization of Catholic CEOs and their spouses, is “committed to studying, living, and spreading the Faith.” Since its 1987 inception by the former owner of Domino’s Pizza and Detroit Tigers’ baseball franchise, Tom Monaghan, Legatus now consists of over 3,200 members, who must meet strict criteria, in its numerous chapters throughout the United States, in Canada, and elsewhere.
When he learned about his upcoming reception of the Cardinal John J. O’Connor Pro-Life Award, Hilgers was moved. Cardinal O’Connor himself had been a long-time friend and supporter of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction, which Hilgers founded and currently directs. The Institute is the home of research for the new science of NaProTechnology and for the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. It also houses Hilgers full-time medical practicce.
Hilgers, an obstetrician-gynecologist, specializes in difficult reproductive medical cases, infertility, and high-risk obstetrics. He is the only member of the Society of Reproductive Surgeons in Nebraska and is a member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. Hilgers is a clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Creighton University School of Medicine.
Since his years in medical school, Hilgers has been a strongly committed pro-life activist. He took the Church’s challenges in Humanae Vitae to heart and pursued his dream of practicing obstetrics and gynecology in a manner that respects the dignity of women and children and in a way that helps couples to regulate their fertility naturally while upholding Catholic Church teachings. Hilgers once wrote, “[T]he words from [Elvis Presley’s] If I Can Dream have echoed in my mind over and over again… ‘[There must be] strong winds of promise that will blow away all doubt and fear…If I can dream of a warmer sun where hope keeps shining on everyone…Still I am sure that the answer is going to come somehow.’”
In 2004, he was able to say with Elvis, “Let [my dream] come true right now”, when he presented his new science of NaProTechnology to the world. He also released the definitive 1300-page medical textbook, The Medical & Surgical Practice of NaProTechnology. This medical and surgical science resulted from the research conducted at the Pope Paul VI Institute. Its highly effective applications include infertility, abnormal bleeding, ovarian cysts, premenstrual syndrome, postpartum depression, miscarriage and premature birth.NaProTechnology is unique because it treats women’s health problems cooperatively with the procreative and gynecologic systems while respecting the dignity of women, couples and children (born and unborn). Women are actively involved in their own health care by monitoring and helping to identify gynecologic problems. NaProTechnology, which is consistent with Catholic Church teaching, networks a natural means of regulating fertility (the Creighton Model FertilityCare System) with gynecologic health science.
Hilgers is excited about the young physicians who are learning NaProTechnology through a fellowship program co-sponsored by the Institute and Creighton University School of Medicine. He sees their eagerness to practice NaProTechnology and to continue NaProTechnology research as a hopeful sign that the culture of life will ultimately defeat abortion and contraception.