The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians selected
Jennie Orr, M.D., of Hastings, as its 2009 Family
Physician of the Year.
View Video
Honoring Dr. Orr (Windows Media Video File)
View 2009 Family Physician of the Year
News Release
Link to Orr News Release from Allina Medical Clinic
View Dr. Orr's
Acceptance Speech
Full Name: Jennie Orr, M.D.
Practice: Allina Medical Clinic in
Hastings, MN
Years in Practice: 28
Medical School: Michigan State
University
Residency Program: Cedar Rapids, IA
Medical Education Program
Family Life: Married to Dan Thomas. The couple has
two adult children.
Volunteer Experience and Community Involvement (in
last five years): Dr. Orr is on the Advanced
Life Support in Obstetrics National Advisory Faculty and
has taught classes in Qatar and Nepal. She has
volunteered for many medical mission trips to places
like Bangladesh, Guatemala and India where she works
with OB patients. She has also trained overseas
practitioners how to use ultrasound machines and do
c-sections. She also volunteers with the school
district and iis an active member of St. Philips
Lutheran Church in Hastings.
A Quirky Fact About Dr. Orr: She had
a full 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Hobbies: Travel, scrapbooking, spending time with family.
Excerpts from an interview with Dr. Orr:
Why did you select family medicine as your
specialty?
Jennie Orr, M.D.: I didn't want to have a little
area that I wasn't supposed to go outside of. I
like the idea that everything is in my domain and yet I
don't have to be the absolute expert.
Why do you enjoy most about family medicine?
:
"One of the things that makes this practice so fun is
that I've taken care of some of these people for 28
years. That connection with multiple generations
of families and having some background and history with
them it helps them to trust me and share things with me
that they might be reluctant share with a stranger."
You admit that sticking to a schedule is not one
of your strengths. Why is that?
Jennie Orr, M.D.: "Certainly the thing
they don't ask me to teach at the residency is time
management. I do my best, but I'm not always very
good at staying on time. People appreciate that
I'm not just trying to push them through. Somebody
taught me early on to focus on the person in front of
you while they're in front of you so that's what I do."
What would you like to say to your patients?
Jennie Orr, M.D.: "It's been a privilege to
be part of their lives and that I'm very gratified by
their trust in me to keep coming to see me and that my
biggest job is to be their coach and to encourage them
to take care of themselves.
What patients, community members and colleagues have to say:
Donald McGinnis/Patient:
"She said we could call her anytime. We called
her at 2 a.m. and at 4 a.m. She could always find
time to come."
Dorothy Endres/Patient: "She's very kind and
thorough and loving and she really cares about me.
I love her too."
Dawn Haynes/Patient: "She just has so
many of those characteristics that you would want in a
physician and just in a friend."
Tracy Pfiefer/Clinic Manager: "She covers many
areas in the clinic including c-section call, regular
family practice. She donates time to a
free-clinic. She just really extends herself in
whatever ways she feels would be beneficial to others."
Susan Otterness/Patient: "She was very
caring. She called me at home several times.
She wasn't afraid to reach out and give me a hug at my
appointments and she always asked me how I was doing
emotionally and spiritually."
Jeanne McGree/Patient:: "She will listen
until you're satisfied that she's heard it all and given
you the best advice possible."
