MAFP Announces 2004 Family Physician of the Year

May 26, 2004

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) has named Dr. Dennis Peterson of Willmar as its 2004 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.   

Twenty-three 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. Peterson as the winner. 

Dr. Peterson practices at the Family Practice Medical Center in Willmar.  He’s been a family physician in the community for 12 years.  Dr. Peterson is married and has a son and two daughters.  He grew up in Canby, Minnesota, and received his undergraduate degree from Hamline University in St. Paul.   Dr. Peterson attended medical school at the University of Minnesota in Duluth and Minneapolis and did his residency with the Duluth Family Practice Program.  He currently serves as Board Chair for the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians.  He received a national volunteer teacher award in 2002 for his work with family medicine medical students and residents.

Patients who nominated Dr. Peterson say he is extremely kind and very competent.  “It’s great to know that we all trust him and respect him and know that he’s a family man himself,” said patient Julie Johnson of Willmar.

Others praised his listening skills, his devotion to his work and his positive attitude.
An nurse who works with Dr. Peterson, Mitzi Rein, said she can’t imagine her days without him.   “He gives 100-percent all the time.  He enjoys his job, he enjoys his patients and he enjoys life," she said.

The MAFP presented the 2004 Family Physician of the Year Award to Dr. Peterson during its annual President’s Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday, May 20, 2004.

During his acceptance speech, Dr. Peterson said, “It is because I believe in the importance of the family that I chose this specialty.  My greatest joy in my practice is the families I work with.”

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians is a professional association of approximately 2,900 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students organized to assist family physicians in providing quality medical care in Minnesota.

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