AMA Foundation Honors Compassionate Physicians with Excellence in Medicine Awards

CHICAGO, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation recently granted six physicians with awards representing the highest ideals of medical service in providing care to underserved and uninsured patients. Presented in association with Pfizer Inc., the Excellence in Medicine Awards honor the heroes of the medical profession.  The recipients are recognized during an awards dinner on February 8, 2011, in conjunction with the AMA National Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C.  

"These Excellence in Medicine Award recipients are truly awe-inspiring," said AMA Foundation President Barney Maynard, MD.  "They show everyone, inside and outside the medical community, the tremendous impact that one person can make in the world.  They inspire us all to do more."

The 2011 awardees

The Pride in the Profession Award honors physicians who aid underserved populations in the U.S.

Rodney Hood, MD, San Diego, CA

Dr. Hood cofounded the Multicultural Primary Care Medical Group, which ensures quality health care to all segments of the community, increases awareness of appropriate treatments for diverse and vulnerable populations and increases diversity within the medical field.  Additionally, he has worked on a national level, through organizations such as the National Medical Association, to improve the systems that will reduce health disparities.

Charles Moore, MD, Atlanta, GA

In six years, Dr. Moore has led the Health Education Assessment and Leadership Community Clinic from providing free medical screenings out of his personal vehicle to a 16,000 square foot medical facility that will begin construction in early 2011.  He has recruited physicians and medical students to help with this effort, and the clinic has grown to become a medical home that serves 6,000 patients each year.

The Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine honors physicians for outstanding international service.  

Kathleen Casey, MD, Chicago, IL

After a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy, Dr. Casey's desire to continue her service led to the creation of Operation Giving Back.  This program has placed countless surgeons in underserved areas throughout the world, has supported more than 100 nonprofit organizations that serve needy patients and has enhanced the capacity of the U.S. to respond globally to humanitarian crises.

Mildred Olivier, MD, Chicago, IL

Dr. Olivier leads regular medical missions to Haiti 2-3 times a year, bringing medical equipment, her skills, other practitioners and training programs for the local Haitian doctors.  An estimated 17,000 patients have been helped by Dr. Olivier, her colleagues and others she helped train.  

Terrie Taylor, DO, East Lansing, Mich. & Malawi, Africa

Through the Malaria Research Project, Dr. Taylor has been studying the disease, primarily in children, for more than 25 years.  She spends six months each year living in Malawi, performing clinical research, training physicians and medical students and studying the impact of the disease on the brain.  

The Jack B. McConnell, MD Award for Excellence in Volunteerism honors senior physician volunteers who increase access to health care in the U.S.

Robert Bowers, MD, Chattanooga, Tenn.

An activist his entire career, Dr. Bowers has continued his commitment to increasing access to care by serving as the Medical Director of Volunteers in Medicine, Chattanooga (VIMC).  In this volunteer position, Dr. Bowers played a key role in establishing the clinic's medical policies, securing medical equipment, implementing electronic medical records and recruiting volunteers. VIMC has logged over 28,000 patient visits.

The AMA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt foundation, improves the health of Americans through support of quality programs in public health and medical education.  Visit www.amafoundation.org.

SOURCE American Medical Association Foundation