MAFP Announces 2003 Family Physician of the Year

April 16, 2003

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) has named Dr. Paul Van Gorp of Long Prairie as its 2003 Family Physician of the Year Award winner.

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.

Thirty-nine family doctors across Minnesota were nominated for the award by community members, co-workers and patients. Six finalists were selected from the field of nominees. After reviewing dozens of nomination letters, the MAFP Board of Directors chose Dr. Van Gorp as the winner.

Dr. Van Gorp practices at the CentraCare Clinic in Long Prairie. He’s been a family physician in the community for more than 25 years. Dr. Van Gorp is married and has three daughters. He attended medical school at the University of Minnesota Medical School and did his residency with St. Paul/Ramsey. He is a past president of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, the current MAFP Foundation President, as well an American Academy of Family Physicians delegate.

Patients who nominated Dr. Van Gorp praised his medical abilities, his listening skills and kindness. They said they had the highest respect for him as a person and a physician.
The MAFP presented the 2003 Family Physician of the Year Award to Dr. Van Gorp during its annual President’s Dinner at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel in downtown St. Paul on Thursday, April 10, 2003.

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians is a professional association of approximately 2,700 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students organized to assist family physicians in providing quality medical care in Minnesota. 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 93,000 members.