The Wonderful World Scholarship, established by the family of Dr. E. L. “Doc” Burnham, celebrates the life and legacy of a remarkable physician, community leader, and friend whose lifelong philosophy was beautifully captured in his favorite expression: “It’s a Wonderful World.”
Born in Lewistown, Montana, Doc earned his D.O. from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1939 and began practicing in Ronan, Montana. In 1945, he relocated his medical practice to Oregon City and continued a distinguished career devoted to caring for patients and serving his community. In 1959, he cofounded the Gladstone Family Practice Clinic, helping to expand access to family medicine in the community. Additionally, he served on the medical staff of Eastmoreland General Hospital for 35 years. As one of the hospital’s founding physicians, he played an important role in its establishment and development.
Doc’s commitment to osteopathic medicine extended well beyond his own practice. A lifelong member of the American Osteopathic Association, he also served as President of the Oregon Osteopathic Association and remained deeply engaged in the profession throughout his career. In recognition of his contributions to osteopathic medicine, he received the Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation’s Founder’s Emeritus Award in 2003. His dedication to service also reached into the broader community, including his years of involvement with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where he served as a senior warden on the vestry.
Yet those who knew Doc best remember more than his many professional accomplishments. They remember his warmth, his humor, his generosity, and his remarkable ability to see the good in the world and in the people around him. “It’s a Wonderful World” was not simply something he said—it was a reflection of how he chose to live: with gratitude, optimism, compassion, and an enduring commitment to making life better for others.
In that spirit, the Northwest Osteopathic Foundation awards the E. L. “Doc” Burnham Wonderful World Scholarship annually to osteopathic medical students who demonstrate the qualities that defined Doc’s life and work: a commitment to compassionate patient care, service to others, community involvement, professional excellence, and a positive outlook.
Through this scholarship, his legacy continues in the lives of future physicians—encouraging them to care deeply, serve generously, and approach both their profession and their communities with the same joy and optimism that shaped Doc’s belief that “It’s a Wonderful World.”
