Is your family physician Marcus Welby, Dr. Phil and Mother Teresa all rolled into one? The Iowa chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians is looking for nominees for the Iowa Family Physician of the Year Award. Doctor Dave Carlson of Burlington won the honor in 2005 and says he’s eager to help in the process of finding the next top doctor in Iowa.
Carlson says "The sorts of things people have written in about is not only that they like their doctor, but that he or she is competent and caring and involved in the community and hospital matters in terms of seeing people in the hospital as well as in the office and being available either personally or through partners at all times to handle issues as they come up."
Carlson practices at Burlington Area Family Practice Center and is on the medical staff at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington. He says it’s easy to nominate someone for the Iowa Family Physician of the Year. Contact the Iowa chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians via the website " www.iaafp.org " or write to them at: 100 East Grand Avenue, Suite 170, Des Moines, IA 50309. You can also call (515) 283-9377.
The deadline to submit applications is April 16. Criteria for the award include: be in practice for at least seven years, spend at least 50-percent of time in direct patient care, involved in his/her community and civic organizations, maintain an active office practice, no immediate plans to retire or relocate outside Iowa, and is an active member in the IAFP.