April 24, 2013 -- John Saultz, M.D., Chairman of Oregon Health & Science University’s Department of Family Medicine, was named the 2013 Oregon Family Doctor of the Year by the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Saultz was honored at the Annual Spring CME Weekend of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) on Saturday, April 13 at Salishan Lodge in Gleneden beach. Dr. Saultz’s wife, children and grandchildren were on hand for the surprise announcement.
The award recognizes physicians who provide compassionate, comprehensive family medicine on a continuing basis; are involved in community affairs; and who provide a credible role model professionally and personally to their community, other health professionals and residents and medical students.
Dr. Saultz, who has been OHSU’s Department of Family Medicine Chair for the past 15 years and has been practicing family medicine for the past 34 years, received numerous letters of endorsement from patients, colleagues, friends, and medical students who have worked with him during the past three decades.
The following testimonials from Dr. Saultz’s colleagues sum up how he represents the best in family medicine: “He is an exemplary family physician who has developed a world class family medicine training program that serves as a model for the rest of the nation and he has been both the academic and inspirational leader for our profession. He is a true leader, an inspiration to so many of us, and an articulate spokesman who relishes a challenge and never backs away from one.”
“Every day, Dr. Saultz lives out his commitment of what it means to be a family physician. He does this through his individual patient care; his educational commitment to residents, students, and fellow family physicians; as well as his scholarly activities that serve as the intellectual fabric of what we do on a day-to-day basis.”
“His patients continually express their appreciation for the wonderful care that he provides to them; Dr. Saultz never makes his patients feel disrespected or rushed and is always thorough in providing medical care with compassion, kindness and honesty.”
“Beyond being an incredible family physician to his patients, Dr. Saultz is deserving of this award for his leadership in transforming our discipline. The rest of the country looks to our state and our department as leading the way in family medicine and practice transformation due in large measure to Dr. Saultz’s extraordinary skill and vision. He has recruited a remarkable group of faculty, forged strong connections throughout the state, and built exceptional clinical, educational and research programs in the department.”
Dr. Saultz’s name will be submitted to the American Academy of Family Physicians in nomination for the American Family Doctor of the Year.
The Oregon Academy of Family Physicians is the largest medical specialty society in Oregon and represents more than 1,400 family physicians, residents, and medical students throughout the state. The mission of the OAFP is to advocate for family physicians and assist them in providing for the health of their patients and communities.
