Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians

Family Physicians Name St. Cloud Doctor 2010 Teacher of the Year

April 26, 2010

Mark Becker, M.D., St. Cloud, received the 2010 Teacher of the Year Award from the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP).

Dr. Becker is an associate director at the U of M/St. Cloud Hospital Family Medicine Residency. Prior to teaching at the residency, he was in the Indian Health Service working at Leech Lake Indian Reservation for almost 20 years.

The Teacher of the Year Award was first handed out in 1973. It is given to an outstanding teacher of family medicine in either an academic or practice setting. Candidates are nominated by students and colleagues. Nominators are asked to describe the candidate’s special teaching qualities and his or her impact on students and/or residents.

Those who nominated Dr. Becker describe him as an enthusiastic, energetic, professional and knowledgeable teacher. They say he treats residents with respect, is always available and is a great problem solver.

In one letter, a nominator wrote “Dr. Becker recognizes the talent in individual residents and motivates the skill within the resident so they can be excellent future physicians.” Another wrote, “I could feel the encouragement radiating from his teaching.”

Dr. Becker was recognized during the MAFP Spring Refresher at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel on April 15, 2010.

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians is a professional association of approximately 3,000 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students established to assist family physicians in providing quality medical care in Minnesota. The MAFP is the largest 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 90,000 members.