San Antonio Family Physician Receives Highest Honor From American Academy of Family Physicians

WASHINGTON – James C. Martin, M.D. a practicing family physician in San Antonio, Texas has been awarded the John G. Walsh Award for Lifetime Contributions to Family Medicine by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The award was one of 10 presented for exceptional achievement in the field of family medicine. Held Sept. 27 – Oct. 1, the AAFP’s Scientific Assembly is one of the largest gatherings of primary care physicians in the country.

Established in 1973, the John G. Walsh Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the AAFP. Designed to recognize long-term commitment, rather than any single significant contribution, the Walsh award is given on the basis of dedicated, effective leadership toward furthering the development of family medicine. The Walsh award is not an annual award, but is given at the discretion of the AAFP board of directors.

After 20 years in private practice, Martin currently works in a multi-specialty group practice and serves as program director for the Family Medicine Residency Program at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care, San Antonio. Martin is also a clinical professor with the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.

Arguably most notable of Martin’s many contributions to the family medicine specialty was his work to reinvigorate and transform the discipline through the Future of Family Medicine Project. As chair of the Project, Martin spearheaded the two-year initiative undertaken by seven family medicine organizations to develop a blueprint for improved, patient-focused care in the 21st century. The final report identified bold new measures needed to improve health care and restructure the delivery of primary care to better meet the needs of Americans. It also identified challenges for the family medicine specialty, calling for systemic changes to clinical practice, medical education and the U.S. health care system.

The report, which was published in March 2004, outlined a new model of care which Martin is currently working to bring to family medicine practices across the country as board chair of TransforMED, an AAFP initiative focused on transformative practice redesign. In this new capacity, Martin continues to blaze trails, working with TransforMED to provide ongoing consultation and support to physicians looking to transform their practices to the new model of care based on the concept of a relationship-centered personal medical home.

Martin’s dedication to the advancement of the specialty includes many years of service and leadership at the AAFP. He previously served one-year terms as board chair, president and president-elect of the AAFP, and three years as a member of the board of directors. A member of the AAFP since 1976, Martin has served on numerous AAFP commissions and committees addressing issues such as health education, legislative and government affairs, and membership. Martin was a member of the Task Force on Universal Coverage.

“Dr. Martin exemplifies all the best that this award represents and indeed he typifies what the specialty of Family Medicine is all about,” said Dr. Larry Fields, board chair of the AAFP.

A board-certified family physician, Martin earned his medical degree in 1973 from the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio. He completed a three-year family medicine residency at Bexar County Hospital and served as the administrative chief resident in 1976. The AAFP has awarded him the degree of fellow for distinguished service and continuing medical education. Martin was recognized as the Outstanding Medical School Alumnus in 1992. He is past president of the American Board of Family Medicine and served on the Quadri Specialty Leadership Consortium with the organization. He is a past family medicine representative to the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Martin has written and lectured on family medicine topics ranging from cardiovascular disease and asthma, to the doctor-patient relationship and the philosophy of primary care education.

He has presented local, state and federal testimony on a variety of legislative advocacy issues including Medicare and Medicaid, medical education and health care system reform.

The late Dr. John Walsh, for whom the award is named, devoted his entire career to family medicine. He distinguished himself by becoming the first person ever to hold the presidency of three major family medicine organizations: the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Board of Family Medicine and the Family Health Foundation of America.