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# Local doctor receives heritage award
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/local-doctor-receives-heritage-award/
- Published: 2003-04-07T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:02:46.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Health, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

A local doctor recently received the 2003 Annual Heritage Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology at its annual career symposium.

Award recipient Dr. Donald L. Morton of the John Wayne Cancer Institute was honored for his commitment to progressive research and treatment for cancer.

Dr. Morton and his research team were among the first to develop experimental vaccines to treat patients with advanced melanoma. The vaccine, which is called Canavaxin, is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials.

“I accept this award not as a reflection of my own career but rather as a tribute to all specialists in surgical oncology,” he said. “We have made significant progress over the years in the way we treat such deadly cancers as melanoma, but we must remain tenacious in our pursuit for a cure.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/040703-07_01.jpg)

Kite enthusiasts convened on the beach in Santa Monica Saturday, where they enjoyed 10 to 15 mph winds. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 7, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/040703.pdf?ref=smdp.com)