|
One of the Valdez’s
own - Dr. Kathleen Todd - has been named the Family Physician of
the year by the Alaska Academy of Family Physicians. And her
colleagues in town couldn’t be too much prouder if they’d won
earned the reward themselves.
According to Dr. John Cullen, this award is presented to one
physician a year, who demonstrates compassionate, comprehensive
and caring family medicine, and is involved in community affairs
and activities, and act as a role model both professionally and
personally.
Cullen claims
that this year was very competitive, but Dr. Todd had many letters
of support after being nominated by her patients, the staff at the
Valdez Medical Clinic, and the hospital. Dr. Todd has been caring
for families in Valdez for 26 years now. Her devotion to her
patients and her community has been unparalleled. Despite
difficulties, including the loss of her husband, the oil spill,
and many other trying times, Cullen wrote that she has “covered
the emergency room no less than once every four nights and often
every other night. She often has spent the night caring for those
in need, then seeing her regularly scheduled patients the next
day. Her children spent many nights at the hospital when their
parents were needed there.”
Residents of
Valdez attested to her skill and her devotion to their needs both
in the clinic and during crisis. Colleagues say she has
maintained the highest levels of professional medical care and
integrity throughout, calling her a source of inspiration, as well
as a role model for residents and medical students.
She delivers
babies, performs ultrasound, mends broken bones … you name it. In
addition to her commitment as a physician, she is active in the
community, playing music for the Lutheran church services,
coaching synchronized swimming, acts as a Girl Scout Leader, and
most recently, she also serves on the Valdez school board.
The Alaskan
Academy of Family Physicians is the largest Medical Specialty
organization in Alaska. Family doctors take care of the physical,
mental and emotional health of both their patients and their
patients' families. They know the family's health history and how
it can affect an individual. They are trained to care for people
through all the stages of life and, if necessary, when to bring in
another trustworthy specialist.
Having won the Alaska Family Physician of the Year, she has the
option of being nominated for the American Family Physician of the
Year. She was presented with award at the President’s Reception
for the AKAFP Scientific Congress on Saturday night, June 16 at
the Valdez Civic Center. |