Dr. Luis Ernesto Donayre

Dr. Donayre was born in Peru to a very prominent, political family. He graduated Suma Cum Laude from medical school of San Marcos University in Lima, Peru. After serving in the elite flight surgeons group of Peruvian Navy, he made the decision to go to the United State for special training. He completed a year of internship in Athens, Georgia.
Post graduate courses in surgery were taken at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, where he also met and married Mrs. Donayre.
He finished his general surgery residency at Watts Hospital now Durham General Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is affiliated with Duke University Hospital.
A thoracic surgery residency was completed at Missouri State Sanatorium in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. A fellowship in cardiovascular surgery was done at St. Vincents Hospital, which was affiliated with the University of California in Los Angeles.
During his senior year as Chief of Surgery at Durham County Hospital, he was recognized as the outstanding surgical resident.
Dr. Donayre received a letter of congratulations from the President of the N.C. Board of Medical Examiners recognizing that he passed the N.C. Medical Board examination with the highest grades.
Dr. Donayre started his surgical practice at Hufh Chatham Hospital in Elkin, North Carolina, where he was Chief of Surgery for 11 years.
His diplomatic upbringing was recognized very early in his career by his mentor.
On the 50th anniversary of his graduation from Medical School, he was recognized and congratulated by the President of the American Medical Association. Dr. Donayre has been a mentor during his residency years and his private practice to medical students and residents, who are now accomplished surgeons and numerous nurses.
When Dr. Donayre first came to Whiteville in conjunction with Dr. Hez Walters and Dr. Sam Wheatly, he was instrumental in getting a full time Pathologist and a full time Anesthesiologist. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the “Surgical Intensive Care Unit” which subsequently was incorporated with the Coronary Care Unit in our hospital.
Dr. Donayre, in conjunction with one of the senior member of the radiology group, requested of the Administration at the time, to have a CT scan unit in our hospital and prior to that he requested and the administration agreed of the acquisition of a C arm much needed for the insertion of pacemakers.
Dr. Donayre along with Dr. Ron Walters and other surgeons was instrumental in getting one of the first “Abbi” x-ray machine in our hospital which allowed doing minimally invasive surgeries as well as stereotactic needle biopsies of the breast.
Dr. Donayre was trained in laparoscopic surgery before he came to Whiteville, continued to take post graduate courses and introduced to CRHS laparoscopic surgery, performing the first laparoscopic cholecystectomies and hysterectomies.
When Dr. Donayre was Chief Resident of Watts Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, his mentor, Dr. James E. Davis, a very prominent professor of surgery at Duke and Chapel Hill, and who was one of the pioneers of Ambulatory Surgery in this country, asked Dr. Donayre to join him in developing the ambulatory surgery concept in Durham. Dr. Donayre not only joined Dr. Davis in this endeavor, but then he brought the concept to CRHS and under his leadership and persistency, the Ambulatory Surgery service was established.
In 2005, Dr. Donayre donated his office building to be used as the “Donayre Cancer Center” for the comfort of the citizens of this county. Since then, many patients have benefited by his very generous gesture.
Dr. Donayre continued to travel to Peru periodically during his life to give conferences and to support different philanthropic foundations, including the Coronary Care Surgical unit, which he was instrumental in establishing in his alma mater.
He was Board certified by:
The American Board of Surgery
Fellow American College of Surgeons
Fellow South Eastern Surgical Congress
Diplomat Member, Pan American Medical Association, Section of Surgery
Fellow of International College of Surgeons
Active Member American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane Hutchinson Donayre of the home,  sons, Luis E. Donayre, Jr . of San Jose,Calif. and Tico Donayre of  Panama City, Fl., Nephew, Carlos Quevedo of  Fl. and  Several other Nieces and Nephews.

A private Funeral Service will be held by the Family at a later date.

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