Public Health Award

A diverse healthcare workforce assists a patient.

Recognizing important contributions family physicians make to improving community health at the national, state or local levels.

What does the award recognize?

Whether they are addressing complex issues like infectious disease outbreaks or helping spread the word about more routine items such as wellness visits and vaccinations, family physicians make a significant difference in public health. On a daily basis, they tackle the challenges that affect the health of their communities while providing high-quality care.

  • A career dedicated to leadership in a traditional public health organization (local or state health department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health foundations, etc.), or

  • Going beyond patient care responsibilities to advocate for the health of the public, engage their community, or provide leadership to help resolve major public health issues or epidemics, or

  • Work to enhance health equity, and promote diversity and inclusion, or

  • Work to achieve the “triple aim” (improving the health of populations, improving patient experience, and reducing per capita costs).

Award details

The AAFP is looking for members who went above and beyond their typical job responsibilities, and demonstrated leadership, innovation, and advocacy to improve patient and community health.

To be considered, applicants must:

  • Be a current member of the AAFP.
  • Complete online nomination form (self-nominations are welcome) that describes the nominee’s contribution to at least one of the four described areas.
  • Submit a nomination statement that chronicles the nominee’s experience in public health leadership and provides clear examples of his or her work.

2026: Lisa Villarroel, MD, FAAFP

2025: Arvind Goyal, MD, MPH, MBA, CPE, FAAFP, FACPM

2024: Fern Hauck, MD, MS, FAAFP

2022: Monica Hahn, MD

2021: Laura Parajon, MD

2020: Award not given

2019: Warren Ferguson, MD

2018: Jonathan L. Temte, MD, PhD

2017: Award not given

2016: Award not given

2015: Theodore E. Wymyslo, MD

2014: Paul E. Jarris, MD, MBA

2013: David S. Buck, MD

2012: Philip Po-wen Huang, MD

2011: Rob S. Crane, MD

2010: Tamra K. Deuser, MD

2009: Rani G. Whitfield, MD

2008: Janet P. Realini, MD

2007: L. Allen Dobson, Jr., MD

2006: Susan Schooley, MD

2005: Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH

2004: Bruce Nedrow Calonge, MD

2003: Kathleen E. Toomey, MD, MPH

2002: Richard David Feldman, MD

2001: Louis A. Kazal, Jr., MD

2000: Mary Elizabeth Roth, MD, MSA

1999: David A. Carlyle, MD

1998: Luke L. Burchard, MD

1997: Michael W. Barrow, MD

1996: Coleen Kivlahan, MD, MSPH

1995: Jeffrey J. Cain, MD

1994: Neil S. Calman, MD

1993: Alan Blum, MD

1992: Edward N. Brandt, Jr., MD, Ph.D.