The Robert Graham Family Physician Executive Award
The Robert Graham Family Physician Executive Award honors AAFP members whose executive skills ensure their organization delivers high-quality health care. Their focus on health care excellence also demonstrates that family physicians improve the overall health of the nation.
The winner receives flight and accommodations for up to two nights to receive the award in person at the AAFP Congress of Delegates.
Award details
The Robert Graham Family Physician Executive Award is open to members with at least five years experience in an executive leadership position who have documented executive skills in health care organizations through:
Encouraging innovation in health care financing, organization and/or delivery.
Contributing to excellence in the provision of high-quality health care.
Improving patient safety and well-being.
Fostering the tenets of family medicine.
Typical health care organizations include, but are not limited to:
Integrated delivery systems
Local, state and federal government agencies
Commercial health insurance companies
Quality improvement entities
Large medical groups
Although this award is not intended to recognize leaders in academia, candidates whose professional duties include limited clinical or academic responsibilities are eligible.
Previous winners of this award are not eligible to receive it again.
Questions?
Email awards@aafp.org.
About Robert Graham, MD
Created in 1999, the Robert Graham Family Physician Executive Award is named for Robert Graham, MD, who served as AAFP executive vice president from 1985 to 2000. Dr. Graham dedicated his career to improving health care access and promoting family medicine principles. His long-term dedication and commitment to the family medicine specialty and health care as a whole is the principal foundations of this award.
2026: Cristen Page, MD
2025: None
2024: Christopher Crow, MD, MBA
2023: None
2022: Timothy Switaj, MD
2021: James M. Clower, MD
2020: None
2019: Theodore Wymyslo, MD
2018: Clive K. Fields, MD
2017: Norman H. Chenven, MD
2016: Nick W. Turkal, MD, FAAFP
2015: Nathan Paul Newman, MD, FAAFP
2014: David H. Filipi, MD, FAAFP
2013: None
2012: Brue Flareau, MD, FAAFP, FACP, CPE
2011: None
2010: Lee Bernard Sacks, MD, FAAFP
2009: John M. Little Jr., MD, MBA, FAAFP
2008: John M. Montgomery, MD, MPH, FAAFP
2007: Mary Jo Welker, MD, FAAFP
2006: Roland A. Goertz, MD, MBA
2005: Larry Green, MD
2004: B. Nedrow Calonge, MD, MPH
2003: Robert E. Neese, MD
2002: Marc L. Rivo, MD, MPH
2001: Brigadier General Kenneth L. Farmer Jr., MD
2000: Nancy Wilson-Ashbach, MD, MBA
1999: Robert Graham, MD