In Memoriam

Elizabeth was born in Los Alamos February 2, 1953. She graduated from the University of New Mexico, obtained her medical degree from UNM, did her orthopaedic residency at the University of Texas, San Antonio, and fellowship at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas . She began her practice at Vanderbilt University. Elizabeth then moved to Beaumont, TX where she practiced with the well-respected Beaumont Bone and Joint Institute.

After returning to New Mexico, she served as the head of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at UNM Carrie Tingley Hospital and as professor of Orthopeadic Surgery at University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She served as a board examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. As a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, she served on the national Board of Councilors and the Women's Health Advisory Board. She was a national spokesperson for Culturally Competent Care in orthopaedics. She published work on osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency in children and on orthopaedic issues found in Native American children. She participated in eight surgical missions to Ecuador caring for underserved children in that country. She also performed surgery in remote areas of New Mexico helping children unable to travel to hospitals for care.

Shortly before her death, she was selected as the honoree for the 2015 Humanitarian Award bestowed by the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America for her work with children in Ecuador and New Mexico. Elizabeth introduced residents to medical mission work. One resident said in describing Elizabeth's work, "surgical interventions were performed in those patients who would benefit with minimal risk for their recovery knowing that our team would return home. We were providing care to the poorest in the region who otherwise could not receive this care. And, finally, we treated all patients and their families with dignity."

Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Dr. Ken Gilman; her stepchildren Juliane Taylor Shore, Joel Taylor, and Luke Gilman, her grandchildren Stella Shore and Koa Taylor; her brother Tom Szalay and her sisters Midge Mollenkopf , and Judy Dvorak.