John Higginbotham, M.D., a longtime member of the Medical Association and Madison County Medical Society, passed away earlier this week. Dr. Higginbotham was a retired orthopaedic surgeon and who was instrumental in the formation of the North Alabama Medical Reserve Corps. In 2014 he received the Association’s highest award, the Samuel Buford Word Award, which is given in recognition of service to humanity beyond the usual scope of medical practice and often rendered at some personal sacrifice.
He served as medical director of the Metropolitan Medical Response System and as county disaster liaison for the Madison County Medical Society (MCMS) and was a member of the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Advisory Council on Emergency Preparedness. Despite retirement, Dr. Higginbotham continued to serve on the boards of MCMS and NAMRC.
Dr. Higginbotham was 75 when he died Tuesday. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday from 4-8 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Huntsville and March 15 at 11 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Guntersville.
Surgeon and Christmas Star: Remembering Dr. John Higginbotham