It is with great respect and sympathy that we share news of the passing of Jacquelyn Morillo-Delerme, MD, a distinguished alum of our department. Dr. Morillo-Delerme passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the age of 68, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Dr. Morillo-Delerme earned her MD from Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine in 1981. She completed her anesthesiology residency at Mercy Hospital in Boston and completed specialty training in pediatric anesthesiology as a fellow in our department in 1992. From 1992 to 2003, she served as a faculty member and attending anesthesiologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
She was a dedicated educator, serving as the UPMC Children’s medical student clinical coordinator from 1993 to 2002 and directing the Clinical Procedures course for second-year medical students. Dr. Morillo-Delerme’s service extended to our residency program; she was a member of our Resident Education, Recruitment, and Curriculum Committees and served as the residency site director at UPMC Children’s. She presented many lectures to both residents and fellows and served as a resident mentor.
Dr. Morillo-Delerme’s remarkable career later took her to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Dayton Children’s Hospital, where she retired in 2022 as Chief of the Division of Anesthesia. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Morillo-Delerme was a silent hero, selflessly dedicating her time to volunteer work. She participated in relief efforts in Puerto Rico following the devastating hurricane, undertook mission trips to underserved areas, and worked with Doctors Without Borders.
To honor Dr. Morillo-Delerme's legacy, a scholarship fund is being established to reflect her unwavering dedication to caring for others. The scholarship will support pre-med students who demonstrate a commitment to service or those who have faced adversity, including the challenges of a cancer diagnosis. Donations can be made at GoFundMe: Dr. Jacquelyn Morillo-Delerme’s Legacy.
For more information, please refer to her obituary.
Dr. Morillo-Delerme’s contributions to medicine and her unwavering compassion will not be forgotten. She leaves behind an inspiring legacy that will continue to impact lives for generations to come.