Past IAFP Awards Recipients

Illinois Academy of Family Physicians

Family Physicians of the Year

1989 – Mark Kanaris, M.D. (now deceased)
1990 – Elizabeth Korte, M.D. - Carthage
1991 – Carla Samson, M.D. - Belleville
1992  -  Michael Fremgen, M.D. - Geneva
1993 – George Mitchell, MD - Marshall (now retired)
1994 – Jerome J. Epplin, MD - Litchfield
1995 – Maria Brown, DO - Chicago
1996 – Greg Stoner, MD - Peoria
1997 – Paul Bennett, MD - Carbondale
1998 – Edward A. Blumen, MD -- Glenview
1999 – Secundino E. Rubio, MD - Salem (now retired)
2000 – David L. Reese, MD - Freeport
2001 – Arvind K. Goyal, MD - Rolling Meadows
2002 – John Sage, MD - Arlington Heights
2003 – David A. Harmon, MD –Jerseyville
2004 – Steven A. Armbrust, MD – Wheaton
2005 -  Calvin Fischer, DO – Hoffman Estates
2006 – Dale W. Blaise, MD – Murphysboro
2007 – Jim Valek, MD – Evergreen Park
2008  - William F. Hays, MD – Herrin
2009 – Risha Raven, MD – Polo
** 2009 – Susan Naegele, AAFP Humanitarian of the Year
2010 – Michael Brewer, MD – Springfield
**Lee Sacks, MD AAFP Physician Executive of the Year
2011 – Larry Jones, MD – Harrisburg
**Christopher Guerrero, MD – AAFP Humanitarian of the Year
2012  Ken Nelson, MD – Westchester
**  Lee Sacks, MD AAFP Philanthropist of the Year
2013 Joseph Welty, MD – Dixon
** Paul S. Luning, MD – Oak Park, AAFP Distinguished Service Award
2014  - Gary Stuck, D.O. – Oak Lawn
2015 – Elba M. Villavicencio, MD – Gurnee
2016 – Stephen C. Pilcher, MD, FAAFP - Bloomington 
2017 – Rahmat Na’Allah, MD – Peoria
2018 – Thomas D. Huggett, MD, MPH – Chicago
2019 - Brian Chicoine, MD - Advocate Adult Down Syndrome Center, Park Ridge
2020- Alyssa Jeanne Vest Hart, DO - Hinsdale Family Medicine 
2021 - Marian R. Sassetti, MD, FAAFP - Lake Street Family Physicians, Oak Park
2022 Joseph Ross, MD - Rockford
2023 None
2024 None

Family Medicine Teacher of the Year Award winners

1990 – Fred Z. White, M.D. Peoria
1991- Jerry Kruse, M.D. – Quincy
1992 – Gerald E. Boyd, M.D – Rockford
1993- William A. Schwer, MD – Chicago
1994 – David Tractenbarg, MD – Peoria
1995- Joshua Freeman, MD – Chicago
1996- John G. Bradley, MD –     SIU Decatur
1997- Janice Benson, MD – Chicago, Cook Co. FMR
1998- Larry Herron, MD – Lawrenceville, SIU School of Medicine
1999- Michael Ahern, MD - Galva
2000 – Amber Barnhardt, MD –     SIU Springfield
2001 -  Manthani J. Reddy, MD – Chicago, Cook Co. FMR
2002 – Stuart Goldman, MD – Park Ridge,  Lutheran General FMR    
2003 – Pawan Sethi, MD – Chicago, Resurrection FMR
2004 -  Thomas Golemon, MD – UICOM-Peoria FMR
2005 – Michael Friedman, MD – Chicago, St. Elizabeth’s FMR
2006 – Margaret Kirkegaard, MD – Downers Grove
    Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and Hinsdale FMR
2007 – Full time- Greg Kirschner, MD – Lutheran General FMR
Part time – Adam Bennett, MD – Chicago, Northwestern Univ. 
2008 – Full time – Robert Ewart, MD – SIU Springfield
    Part time – Michael Mendoza, MD, MPH – Univ. of Chicago
2009 – Full-time:  Kelvin Wynn, MD – Univ. of Illinois – Peoria FMR
2010 – Full Time Abbas Hyderi, MD - UIC
    Part Time:  Christopher Guererro, MD – Sts. Mary and Elizabeth
2011 – Full time:  Mari Egan, MD – University of Chicago
    Part time:  Greg Milani, MD – Rush-Copley FMR
    
2012 – Full Time – Evelyn Figueroa, MD - UIC FMR
2013   Full Time- Careyana Brenham, MD – SIU Springfield FMR
2014  - Full-time:  Sajjini Thomas, MD Presence Resurrection FMR 
Volunteer:  Alisha T. Thomas, MD – PCC Wellness Austin (Also AAFP Exemplary Teacher for 2015)
2015:     Richard VV Stringham, UIC (employed faculty)
2017:    Cynthia Waickus, MD, Rush (employed) – (AAFP Exemplary Teaching Award in 2018)
2018 – Ariel Leifer, MD – University of Illinois at Chicago
2019 - Sonia Oyola, MD - University of Chicago - Pritzker School of Medicine
2020- Carl E. Lambert, Jr., MD, FAAFP - Rush Medical College 
2021 - Pooja Saigal, MD - University of Chicago - NorthShore Family Medicine Residency
2022 - Brandyn Mason, DO  - Carle Family Medicine Residency
2023 - Rhonda Verzal, MD - University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford Family Medicine Residency
2024 Johnny Tenegra, MD, FAAFP - SIU Decatur Family Medicine Residency

Vincent D. Keenan Award for Servant Leadership
2022 - Janet R. Albers, MD, MPH, FAAFP - SIU School of Medicine
2023 - Arvind K. Goyal, MD, MPH, FAAFP - Illinois Medicaid program
2024 - Steven K. Rothschild, MD - RUSH University