Danish Family Physician Receives National Honor From American Academy of Family Physicians

CHICAGO – Allan Pelch, M.D., a retired physician from Herlufmagle, Denmark, was awarded the 2007 Award of Merit by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) at its annual meeting in Chicago. The AAFP’s Scientific Assembly, one of the largest gatherings of primary care providers in the country, was held Oct 3-6, 2007.

The American Academy of Family Physicians’ Award of Merit recognizes individuals who have rendered exceptional individual efforts in the service of the medical profession.

For the past two decades, Pelch has been instrumental in ensuring that the AAFP exists as an organization without borders.

Pelch first came to the United States in 1955. After two years of military service, he attended Georgetown University as a pre-med student. He went on to conduct graduate work at George Washington University before returning to Denmark in 1965 and enrolling at the University of Copenhagen Medical School, earning his medical degree in 1971. After completing his residency at various hospitals in Sweden and Denmark, he began his family practice in 1973.

At the 1988 AAFP Scientific Assembly and Wonca World Conference, Pelch arrived from Denmark as part of a new group of physicians which he founded and organized. The Scandinavian Delegation of Family Physicians was founded by Pelch as a way to introduce his colleagues to the American Academy of Family Physicians and the practice of family medicine in the United States. He then began working with AAFP officials on ways to increase attendance of international physicians at the AAFP Scientific Assembly.

For nearly 20 years, Pelch has actively invited, recruited and organized the travel of hundreds if not thousands of Scandinavian family physicians, as well as those throughout Europe, to attend the AAFP’s Scientific Assemblies. Each year he produces and distributes 9,000 brochures promoting this annual meeting.