AMA Foundation Honors Compassionate Physicians With Excellence in Medicine Awards

CHICAGO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation will honor five physicians with awards representing the highest ideals of medical service in providing care to underserved and uninsured patients. These physicians are recognized for their altruism, compassion, and leadership. The physicians will be presented with awards during the eighth annual Excellence in Medicine Awards dinner on March 1, 2010 in conjunction with the AMA National Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C.

"These five Excellence in Medicine Award recipients embody what it means to be a physician," said AMA Foundation President Richard Hovland. "By compassionately sacrificing their time and effort to help underserved, uninsured and disadvantaged populations, these physicians show us that one person can truly make a difference. They are role models for us all."

Two physicians will receive the Pride in the Profession Award, two physicians will receive the Jack B. McConnell, MD Award for Excellence in Volunteerism and one physician will receive the Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine. The awards are presented in association with Pfizer Inc.

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

Judith T. Broder, MD

Psychiatrist

The Soldiers Project, Los Angeles, Calif.

Many people in the military are apprehensive to seek help for issues such as PTSD, depression and family problems through military channels, for fear it could adversely affect their careers. Judith Broder, MD launched The Soldiers Project, offering mental health services for the military and their families. All treatment is offered without charge and is completely confidential. Currently, there are 400 licensed therapists participating in the program, and in Southern California alone, over 300 people have consulted these therapists. The program has expanded to Seattle, Chicago, New York City, Sacramento and San Diego.

Javier Davila, MD

Internist and infectious disease specialist

American Indian Healing Center, Whittier, Calif.

It is a common misconception that the health care needs of the American Indian community are met through government programs. In fact, urban American Indians are among the most medically underserved group in the nation. Javier 'Hawk' Davila, MD recognized this need and founded the American Indian Healing Center (AIHC) in 2000, providing health care to disadvantaged American Indians in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Today, AIHC serves as a medical home to over 1,500 individuals, providing primary care and health education.

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

Zaven S. Ayanian, MD

Internist

Parker Family Health Center, Red Bank, New Jersey

In 2000, as the second physician volunteer to be recruited to launch the Parker Family Health Center, Zaven Ayanian, MD has been there from the beginning. The free clinic evolved from a walk-in clinic open two nights a week into a six-day-a-week comprehensive health care source. Now, after nine years of volunteerism, Dr. Ayanian has helped to build an organization that provides 10,000 patient visits annually with support from 200 volunteers.

Robert G. Kendall, MD

Neurosurgeon

Our Health, Inc., Winchester, Va.

Robert Kendall, MD is the catalyst behind Our Health, Inc., which provides coordinated, collaborative, high quality health care to disadvantaged populations. The Our Health model provides 'one stop shopping' for low income, uninsured and underinsured citizens of Frederick and Clarke Counties and the city of Winchester. Started in 1999, twenty-nine different agencies are linked together through Our Health. The result is astounding - this network, including 25,000 square feet of office space and a green activity area, serves 15,000 people annually.

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

Richard Bransford, MD

Surgeon

Bethany Kids at Kijabe, Kijabe, Kenya

Richard Bransford, MD has spent a lifetime in service transforming the lives of disabled children of Africa. In 2004, he and a colleague founded Bethany Kids Center at Kijabe Hospital, which has become known throughout Africa as a referral center for disabled children. At fourteen outreach clinics across Kenya, nurses and doctors assess new and previously treated patients. African trainee doctors work alongside Dr. Bransford's team to learn the special operations for this population.

The AMA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt foundation, is the philanthropic arm of the American Medical Association and is committed to improving the health of Americans through support of quality programs in public health and medical education. Visit www.amafoundation.org.

SOURCE American Medical Association Foundation