Humanitarian Award: Recognizing care from the heart

Young clinician with document checking the throat of little boy sitting on sleeping bag on the floor.

The AAFP’s Humanitarian Award honors family physician heroes who demonstrate outstanding compassion in health care.

What does the award recognize?

The AAFP created this award in 1997 to recognize members for extraordinary and enduring humanitarian efforts both within and beyond the borders of the United States.

Award details

The award is open to members whose work in the United States or globally is enduring and shows extraordinary humanitarian care.

Past award recipients

Image of Marjorie Heier, MD, FAAFP.
2024

Marjorie Heier, MD, FAAFP

The 2024 Humanitarian Award winner dreamed of doing missionary work during college, but she had a family and student loans. Twenty years later, Heier finally made a mission trip to Bolivia with her daughter. She said her experience as a rural doctor helped prepare her for this job.

Read more in Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
Image of of Shawn R. Vainio, MD, FAAFP.
2023

Shawn R. Vainio, MD, FAAFP

This 2023 Humanitarian Award winner took an elective with the Himalayan Health Exchange in medical school. Now he tries to spend one month each year in the region with teams of 20 or more health care professionals.

Read more in Alaska Doc Has Passion for Global Health

2022: None

2021: Evelyn M. Figueroa, MD

2020: Bruce Dahlman, MD, MSHPE, FAAFP

2019: Charles T. Mettetal, MD, FAAFP

2018: Ann E. Evensen, MD, FAAFP

2017: H. Kyle Sheets, MD, FAAFP

2016: David P. Gaus, MD, MPH, TM

2015: Onwura Michael Obiekwe, MD, FAAFP

2014: Linda A. Walsh, MD

2013: Cora Le Ethel Christian, MD, MPH, FAAFP

2012: Emily Cope Harrison, MD, MPH

2011: Christopher M. Guerrero, MD, FAAFP

2010: Paul Joseph Jaster, MD, FAAFP

2009: Susan L. Nagele, MD

2008: Stoney Abercrombie, MD

2007: Susan Black, MD

2006: Kathleen Bliese, MD

2005: Calvin Wilson, MD

2004: Stuart P. Embury, MD

2001: Daniel J. Ostergaard, MD

2001: Alain J. Montegut, MD

1997: Gary Morsch, MD

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