Dorothy Elizabeth Carnegie-Shillinglaw

Born September 17, 1928, to William Burnham Carnegie, DO and Dorothy Mary Ocker Carnegie while living in Chicago, Illinois. The family relocated to Sandusky, Ohio where her father practiced Family Medicine.

Dorothy followed in her father’s footsteps after graduating from Oberlin College and attended the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1954. Upon her graduation, she completed her internship in 1955 and then residency in Internal Medicine while at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital in 1958. She received the Pfizer Fellowship for Resident in Internal Medicine in 1957, and was a Sigma Sigma Phi member, the National Osteopathic Honorary Fraternity. While in residency, she met Richard George Shillinglaw DO, they fell in love and married. They both were Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Fellows of the American College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dorothy had a distinguished career as a clinician, leader and educator in Osteopathic Medicine. Her father would go on to leave his practice in Sandusky to complete an Internal Medicine residency in Chicago, then join Dorothy and Richard as they established the first practice of a residency trained internist in Lansing, Michigan, practicing at Lansing General Hospital in the department of Internal Medicine. At Lansing General Hospital, Dorothy served as Medical Staff Secretary, served on the Executive Committee, was Chair of Credentials and Ethics and served on the Medical Care Evaluation and Utilization Review Committees. She was Editor and Chief of the Michigan Osteopathic Journal and continued on the editorial board until 1990. Dorothy and Richard enjoyed a very successful practice and then later all three joined the faculty at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1970.

At MSU, Dorothy was on the Professional Staff at the MSU Clinical Center and served as the Chairperson for the MSU College Of Osteopathic Medicine Department of Internal Medicine. Dorothy would be awarded a Professor Emeritus status upon her departure from the College. Dorothy was a proud member of the American Osteopathic Association and the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians, now the Michigan Osteopathic Association. Dorothy worked tirelessly with the AOA, serving on multiple committees and with the House of Delegates as an Editorial Consultant. Dorothy was a lead member of the Hospital Accreditation Committee and served as a Captain for Hospital Inspections. Dorothy was a member of the AOA Board of Trustees and many other committees. For the State of Michigan, Dorothy was a Governor’s Appointee for the Michigan State Board of Osteopathic Licensing and Registration. In 1971, Dorothy was elected the first female President of the Michigan Osteopathic Association and remained active at the state and national levels.

Nationally she was recognized and was honored to be appointed by Secretary Elliott Richardson of the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to the National Advisory Council on Health Professionals Education from 1972-1975. She was passionate in promoting the profession and educating future physicians and leaders. She was a founding member and Board of Directors member for the Statewide House Officer Training System from 1973-1981. Dorothy was appointed to the Michigan Council for Graduate Medical Education Inc. Board of Directors and served on the Board of Trustee for the Michigan Health Council. Dorothy was a visionary pioneer in medicine and mentor to many in the profession.

She was a founding member of the Zonta Club of East Lansing in 1976, one of over 1,200 clubs of Zonta International, a worldwide service organization. Zonta takes its name from the Lakota Sioux Indian tribe word meaning “honest and trustworthy.” Zontians volunteer their time, talents and energy to local and international service projects that are designed to advance the status of women.

In 1982-1983, Dorothy completed a travelling Fellowship through George Washington University School of Medicine in Geriatric Medicine, including time at Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford, becoming one of the early specialized Gerontologists. Locally she served on the Central Michigan Care Review Committee as a founding member in 1974, also serving on the Board of directors, and the Executive Committee. She was a member and past President of the Ingham County Osteopathic Association, Ingham County Health Council and Tri-County Office on Aging. She was also on the Care Management Advisory Council and Tri-County Aging Network.

Dorothy and Richard would establish the Carnegie Shillinglaw Endowed Award for Academic Excellence in Internal Medicine, honoring a student’s commitment and academic excellence. In 2016, having been retired but not forgotten, Dorothy E. Carnegie Shillinglaw, DO became the first recipient of The Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the American College of Osteopathic Internist may bestow on an individual physician, by unanimous recommendation of the Committee on Honors and Awards, and by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.

While she was dedicated to her career, Dorothy loved her family and her dogs. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard in 2002, and her grandson, Skyler Sebolt. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Elizabeth (Steve) Shelander RN of Perry, Michigan, and her son, Dr. William Richard (Michelle) Shillinglaw of Asheville, North Carolina; 4 grandchildren, Charles (Rachel) Sebolt, Lauren (Derek) Hughey, Nicole Sebolt RN, and William Richard Carnegie Shillinglaw II; and 3 great grandchildren, Kayla Sebolt, Jillian Sebolt, and Skylar Hughey.

Memorial services will be held Friday, February 24, 2023, 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 218 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to either the Capital Area Humane Society at https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=cahsad&id=9 or to Carnegie Shillinglaw Endowed Award for Academic Excellence in Internal Medicine; checks may be made payable to Michigan State University, memo Carnegie Shillinglaw Endowment (allocation code AS251), mailed to MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Fee Hall, 965 Wilson Road, Room A310, East Lansing, Michigan 48824; or on the web at https://givingto.msu.edu/gift/, Search Carnegie Shillinglaw Endowed Award for Academic Excellence in Internal Medicine.

The family wishes to express special thanks and gratitude to Ida Fuentes, Lisa Lugo, Taunnia Winer, Amanda Aeschliman, Nina Aeschliman, Susan Ralph, Sierra Tenniswood, and Lumba Moonga, for the outstanding and compassionate care provided for Dorothy.