AKAFP Family Physician of the Year

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Dr. Harold Johnston of Anchorage named 2011
Alaska Family Physicians of the Year.

On June 18, 2011 at the Alaska Academy of Family Physicians Annual Scientific Conference in Seward, Alaska, Academy President John S. Cullen M.D. and Academy Members Barbara J. Doty M.D and Marin Granholm M.D. presented Harold L. Johnston M.D. of Anchorage, the 2011 Alaska Family Physician of the Year award.

Dr. Johnston finished his residency in family medicine at Swedish Hospital in Seattle in 1989 and returned home to Alaska.  He first joined the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, a community health clinic, to practice full-spectrum family medicine, which he has continued to the present day.  His medical knowledge and expertise, his calm demeanor, and his passion for quality care and access for all, combined to establish him in the leadership position of medical director at the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, where he remained until he became the first and only director of the Alaska Family Medicine Residency Program, Alaska’s only postgraduate medical residency program.

From its inception in 1997, to the present, he has been the leading force behind the Alaska Family Medicine Residency Program’s development into one of the best, primary care training programs in the country.  The program has now graduated its 12th class, and in all, over 100 family physicians have experienced Harold's presence in their formative training years.

Dr. Johnston is the complete family physician who provides Comprehensive Care for his patients in continuity over their lives.  He is recognized by his peers throughout Alaska, the Northwest, and the country as a strong leader and visionary in family medicine.  In 1996 he was the recipient of an award for innovative research in primary care by the National Association of Community Health Centers.  The AC GME awarded its “Courage To Teach” award to him in 2003. In 2005, the Alaska Primary Care Association awarded him their “Sockeye” award for leadership in primary care.  In 2006, he was given a leadership award by the University of Washington Family Medicine residency Network, for which he served as president from 2004 at 2006.

In his presentation Dr. Cullen quoted John Schwartz, MD, Faculty Physician, at the Alaska Family Medicine Residency stating “ Dr. Johnston is a smart, caring, yet humble family doctor, who is a great teacher, and a strong leader in Alaska, and throughout the country. He inspires his staff, residents, and peers, to pursue excellence in health and learning for ourselves, patients and our communities.”

The Family Physician of the Year Award is the highest honor given to a member of the Alaska Academy of Family Physicians. The winner is truly the best of the best. The criteria for this award are (1) to be a compassionate, caring family physician, (2) have engaged in community involvement that enhances the quality of life in his/her home area, and (3) provides a credible role model as a healer and human being to his/her community, and as a professional in the science and art of medicine to colleagues, other health professionals, and especially to young physicians in training and medical students.

The Alaska Academy of Family Physicians is a state chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians which was founded in 1947; the AAFP represents more than 100,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the AAFP and about the specialty of family medicine, please visit www.aafp.org. For more information about health care, health conditions, and wellness, please visit www.familydoctor.org.

 


Each year the Alaska Academy of Family Physicians chooses from among its' members an Alaska Family Physician of the Year. The award is announced at the Annual Meeting of the Academy.

The Academy is presently soliciting for nominations of Family Physicians who have made a significant contribution to their Patients and Communities. The public is encouraged to submit nominations to the Academy for consideration. Nominations are due no later than May 1. Nominations should be submitted to the Alaska Academy of Family Physicians, P. O. Box 231793, Anchorage, AK 99523, fax 530 326-5612 or e-mailed to akafp@gci.net

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