Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) has selected Anthony Lussenhop, M.D., of Alexandria, as the 2011 Family Physician of the Year. This award is presented annually to a family physician who represents the highest ideals of the specialty of family medicine, including caring, comprehensive medical service, community involvement and service as a role model.

Family physicians from across the state were nominated for the award by patients, community members, and colleagues. Three finalists were selected from the field of nominees. After reviewing dozens of nomination letters, the MAFP Board of Directors chose Dr. Lussenhop as the winner. The award was presented to him during the MAFP All-Member Celebration on Thursday, April 14, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel in downtown St. Paul.

Dr. Lussenhop practices at the Alexandria Clinic in Alexandria, MN. He has been a family physician in the community for almost 15 years and also serves as the clinic’s medical director. Dr. Lussenhop attended medical school at the University of Minnesota and did his residency at the Duluth Family Medicine Residency Program. He spent his first three years after residency practicing at the La Clinica Del Valley in Rocky Ford, Colorado, before moving to Alexandria in 1997.

Those who nominated Dr. Lussenhop describe him a caring family physician who goes above and beyond to help his patients. “If there is an issue, he will take his own time in the evening or on the weekend to call and check on you,” said patient Jennifer Lorentz.

Dr. Lussenhop is admired for his wealth of knowledge, excellent communication skills and compassion. In a letter to the MAFP, patient Alice Halvorson wrote “He takes plenty of time with me. I never feel rushed.”

Along with a full patient schedule and administrative duties, Dr. Lussenhop helps to educate future medical students by serving as a preceptor for the Rural Physician Associate Program. He is also active at his church, sits on hospital committees, serves on the Vikings Saving Bank Board of Directors, and during the winter months, he works as a ski patroller at Andes Tower Hills.

Dr. Lussenhop and his wife, Sue, live in Alexandria with their four children ages 10, 13, 15 and 16.

Alexandria resident Hardy Huettl summed it up best. “He’s the complete package you might say. A great doctor, citizen and father,” said Huettl.

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The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians is a professional association of approximately 3,000 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students organized to support and promote family physicians as they provide quality, comprehensive and on-going medical care for patients of all ages. The MAFP is the largest medical specialty organization in Minnesota and is a state chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with more than 94,000 members.