Meet the 2008 Minnesota Family Physician of the Year

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians selected Erik Kanten, M.D., of Crookston, as its 2008 Family Physician of the Year. View 2008 Family Physician of the Year News Release Full Name:  Erik Kanten Practice:  RiverView Clinic in Crookston, MN Years in Practice:  20 Medical School:  University of Minnesota Residency Program:  University of North Dakota - Grand Forks Family Life:  Married to Judie Kanten.  The couple has four children. Community Involvement (in last five years):  Team physician for Crookston high school; Medical Director for Villa St. Vincent Long Term Care facility; Medical Director for Fertile Ambulance, Director for Technology Services at Trinity Lutheran Church. Hobbies:  Travel, hiking, photography, woodworking, spending time with family. Excerpts from an interview with Dr. Kanten: Is family medicine as meaningful for you today as it was when you started? Erik Kanten:  "Even more meaningful.  I enjoy taking care of the whole family.  All the way from delivering a new life to holding someone's hand as a grandparent dies.  Just being there for my patients and providing them with what they need at the time is rewarding." Why are you willing to drive back from the family lake cabin or an out-of-town game to deliver a baby? Erik Kanten:  "I don't like missing a delivery.  That really bothers me when I miss one so I always try to be there.  You follow them for 8-9 months and then to miss the big celebration...  I don't like doing that." Why do you feel it is important to volunteer outside of the clinic? Erik Kanten:  "Just being part of the community.  Just giving back what they've given you.  Crookston has been a very good community to me." What patients, community members and colleagues have to say: Paul Reese, P.A./Co-worker:  "He takes that extra time and goes that extra step that puts him above the rest." Kristy Morris Leas/Community Member: "He's the whole package.  He doesn't just practice medicine at the clinic or at the hospital.  He practices it 24 hours a day." Pat Lenertz/Patient:  "He is a great physician.  Loving, caring.  And he is also a loving, caring person." Larry Anderson/District Athletic Trainer:  "He is a wonderful and very important part of our athletic program." Megan Hulst/Patient:  "I stuck with Dr. Kanten because he promised he wouldn't give up.  He was incredibly reassuring during a very scary time in my life. Joy Johnson/RiverView VP:  "He recognizes that the community as a whole are his patients.  He sees himself as a community provider." Anne Rasmusson/Community Member:  "He's a very quiet individual who just quietly goes about doing very good things for a lot of people."