Richard Neff, M.D., has been named Flagstaff Medical Center’s 2009 Physician of the Year. Dr. Neff will receive FMC’s 16th annual Healing Excellence and Leadership (HEAL) award at a ceremony on Monday, March 30, as part of FMC’s celebration of National Doctors’ Day.

Each year, FMC presents the HEAL award to a physician on its active staff who exemplifies the mission, vision and values of FMC by working in partnership with the hospital to provide excellent healthcare services to patients and the community. This year, 34 physicians were nominated for the award by FMC staff, physicians, volunteers and board members.

In nomination forms, Dr. Neff’s compassion and the respect he shows for patients, families, staff and colleagues was expressed. “Dr. Neff is always pleasant,” said Lillian Harvey, P.C.T., Intensive Care Unit. “He is great with patients and family, and always takes the time to explain procedures and answer any medical questions. He is awesome.”

Dr. Neff has worked as a hospitalist at FMC since August 2006. Hospitalists are family medicine physicians who are based in the hospital to care for inpatients. To ensure a continuum of care, hospitalists work with the primary care physician regarding a patient’s diagnosis, medications and any follow-up plans prescribed at the time of discharge.

Dr. Neff earned his medical degree in 2000 from MCP-Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Penn. He completed his residency in family medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 2003.  

“I am honored I was selected to receive this award,” Dr. Neff said. “I am very happy to be working at FMC and with so many great people. In addition to my wife, whose love, support and understanding is critical, there are so many people who individually and together make my job look easy. From housekeepers and cooks to P.C.T.s, nurses and social workers, pharmacists, administration, the IT staff as well as my fellow doctors, all of us are working together toward a common goal. I am proud to be part of a team that takes such pride in its work.”

Previous HEAL recipients include Andrew Aldridge, M.D; Tamara Johnson-Baack, M.D.; Jeffrey Christenson, M.D.; Edgar Clark, M.D.; John Durham, M.D.; Theodore Lewis, M.D.; Jerry Mohr, M.D.; John Mougin, M.D.; Brad Noblett, M.D.; Mark Peterson, D.O.; Stephen Ritland, M.D.; Kenneth Salce, M.D.; Harnath Singh, M.D.; John Steenbarger, M.D., and Dan Wesche, M.D.