Awards Program
As part of our mission the Foundation recognizes the outstanding contributions of our members to post-acute and long-term care medicine with the following annual awards:
- Clinician of the Year Award
- Medical Director of the Year Award
- William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service
- James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education
Each award has its own nomination and selection criteria and procedures. Please visit each individual award for more information.
Accepting applications for 2026 Awards Now – September 15.
2026 Award Winners will be announced at PALTC26 – PALTmed’s Annual Conference , Spring 2026.
2026 Nominations are open now and run until September 15, 2025.
Clinician of the Year Award
2025 Clinician of the Year Award
Dr. Howard J. Finger, DO
The Clinician of the Year Award is the newest of the Society honors, designed to recognize interdisciplinary team members in PALTC settings. It specifically honors a licensed healthcare practitioner who is directly involved in treating and caring for people in this care setting and embodies care excellence.
The recipient of this year’s award is Howard J. Finger, DO. Dr. Finger is an attending physician, clinical ethics consultant, and UM/QA physician advisor at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler and Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility, where he is also president of the medical staff. He is a member of the PALTmed Ethics Subcommittee and the Empire State Bioethics Consortium (ESBC), having served on its Board of Directors from 2021 to 2024. In addition, he was co-chairperson of the New York City Health + Hospitals Bioethics Council from 2019 to 2022.
But Dr. Finger is more than just an accomplished physician. In the true spirit of the Clinician of the Year honor, he is a team leader and player who thrives on collaboration and interdisciplinary engagement. “This award, I believe, is more reflective of what my colleagues and I have been able to achieve as a team rather than a single effort on my part,” he said. “I am fortunate to have outstanding colleagues.”
PAST WINNERS
Recipients of the Clinician of the Year Award
2024 Lisa Lind, PhD, ABPP
2023 Vikas Reddy, MD
2022 Nicole Brandt, PharmD, MBA, CGP, BCPP
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
- PALTmed member in good standing
- Licensed practitioners providing direct care in PALTC settings including physicians, advanced practice providers, mental health practitioners, social workers, physical or occupational therapists (ie. Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, PharmD).
- Settings of practice including skilled nursing facility, private practice/practice management group, assisted living, or Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION
You may nominate an individual for the 2026 Clinician of the Year award by completing the information requested below. Nominations for the Clinician of the Year award are due September 15, 2025.
Nomination letters should be submitted in a Word document, double-spaced using Arial font size 11, not to exceed 3 pages. Once complete, you may upload this with the nominee’s current Curriculum Vitae (CV) on the nomination site at paltcfoundation.org.
To aid you in the preparation for your nomination, it is recommended that you contact the nominee to inquire into the specific activities or examples as required in clinical skills, collaboration, advocacy, and leadership, and to obtain their
current CV.
- Narrative & Nominee Professional Information (Required): Please list address the categories listed below with specific examples thathighlight why this person should be selected.
- Clinical skills– competence through continuing education, including ethical and social issues, exemplary
interaction with patients/residents and families - Collaboration with other members of the team
- Advocacy
- Leadership
- Please include quotes or information from others in support of your nomination.
CLINICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD APPLICATION
*Required: You may nominate an individual for the 2026 Clinician of the Year Award by completing the information requested below.
Clinician of the Year 2026 Nomination Form
Medical Director of the Year Award
2025 Medical Director of the Year Award
Dr. William Carl Mercer, MD, CMD
The Medical Director of the Year Award recognizes those individuals whose vision, passion, leadership, knowledge, and commitment succeed in taking patient care to exceptional levels of quality, excellence, and innovation.
Dr. William Carl Mercer, MD, CMD, is the recipient of the 2025 Medical Director of the Year Award. Dr. Mercer has been a family physician and medical director in Wheeling, WV, for over 30 years. Currently, he is the medical director of the Continuous Care Center, a post-acute and long-term care organization. He is also a volunteer physician for Project Hope, a street medicine program he founded for the homeless in Wheeling in 2006. There, he works with other volunteers to provide medical care for the homeless.
His work with Project Hope has had an impact throughout the state. In a letter supporting Dr. Mercer’s nomination, Joe Manchin, former U.S. senator from West Virginia, said, “Dr. Mercer is instrumental in helping improve the quality of life of those residing in long-term care in Ohio County.”
This award is a source of honor and validation for Dr. Mercer, a long-time Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed) member. “I learned early in my career that you can make a difference if you get involved, connect with people, and prioritize efforts to both learn and teach,” he said. “I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, but I didn’t do it on my own. I’ve worked with great people, and I have a great team; so this is truly a win for all of us.”
2024 AWARD WINNER VIDEO
2024 Medical Director of the Year Award Winner: Dallas Nelson, MD, FACP, CMD
PAST WINNERS
Recipients of the Medical Director of the Year Award
2024 Dallas Nelson, MD, FACP, CMD
2023 Rani Rao, MD, FMCP, CMD
2022 Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD
2021 Leslie Beth Eber, MD, CMD
2020 Fred Feinsod, MD, CMD
2019 Charles Crecelius MD, PhD, CMD
2018 Eric Hasemeier, DO, MBA, CMD
2017 Joshua Schor, MD, CMD
2016 David A. LeVine, MD, CMD
2015 Patricia A. Chace, MD, CMD
2014 Sandra Liliana Oakes, MD CMD
2013 Rocco Vivenzio, MD, CMD
2012 Noel DeBacker, MD, CMD
2011 Sabine von Preyss-Friedman, MD, CMD
2010 Robert Schreiber, MD, CMD
2009 Rebecca L. Ferrini MD, MPH, CMD
2008 J. Kenneth Brubaker, MD, CMD
2007 Timothy Malloy, MD, CMD
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
- A physician in good standing with the community and profession
- A PALTmed member
- A Certified Medical Director (CMD)
- An experienced medical director (3 or more years)
- An experienced attending physician in a nursing facility(ies)
- A proven team leader
- A proven clinical leader
- Involved in community activities
- An effective educator
HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION
You may nominate an individual for the 2026 Medical Director of the Year award by completing the information requested below. Nominations for the Medical Director of the Year award are due September 15, 2025.
The nomination letter should be submitted in a Word document, double-spaced using Arial font size 11, using this form as a guide to complete and not exceed three pages. Once complete, you may upload this with the nominee’s current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Narrative:
- Experience in Years
- Service History – Facilities served and dates of service as medical director.
- Include quotes or information from other facility leaders (e.g., Administrator and DON) in
support of your nomination application. - Incorporated psych-emotional components (e.g., How he/she makes staff, colleagues, and
patients feel)
Describe in detail activities and examples of success with measured outcomes when available in each of the categories.
- Medical Director Activities –: team leader, clinical leader, staff education, and community involvement
- Team leadership – e.g. established a wound care team
- Clinical leadership – e.g. implemented practice guidelines on falls prevention
- Education of facility staff – e.g. in-service topics, state or national presentations
- Community involvement – e.g. represents and supports the facility in the broader medical community, holds monthly advance directives clinics at the local senior center
To aid you in the preparation for your nomination it is recommended that you contact the nominee to inquire into the specific activities or examples as required in clinical skills, collaboration, advocacy, and leadership, and to obtain their CV.
Before you get started, consider the following:
- Review PALTmed’s Role and Responsibilities of the Medical Director and compile examples of how your medical director fulfills these.
- Cite examples of how your medical director collaborates with the interdisciplinary team.
- Gather examples of the everyday contributions he/she makes as well as extraordinary and exceptional contributions.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD APPLICATION
*Required Fields
You may nominate an individual for the 2026 Medical Director of the Year Award by completing the information requested below.
Medical Director of the Year 2026 Nomination Form
William Dodd Founder’s Award
2025 William Dodd Founder’s Award
Dr. Victoria Walker, MD, FAAFP, CMD
The William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service recognizes significant contributions to building the Society’s organizational strength, image, and mission by promoting the development of competent, compassionate, and committed health care practitioners. It is named for the Society’s founder, William Dodd, MD, CMD, who also served as the organization’s first president in 1978.
Victoria Walker, MD, FAAFP, CMD, is the recipient of the 2025 William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service. Currently, Dr. Walker is medical and clinical officer at Avel eCare Senior Care program, where she directs patient care for a telemedicine program that serves older adults and oversees the clinical team while collaborating with program leadership on strategic directions and optimization of a multi-state telemedicine program. She is also clinical associate professor at the Sanford School of Medicine, the Avera Health medical director for long-term care, and serves as the medical director for Morningside Heights in Marshall, MN. She is an active member of PALTmed and has held a variety of leadership positions in the organization, including chair of the Public Policy Committee, and is co-chair of the new Leadership Program.
Although Dr. Walker didn’t know Dr. Dodd, she was clearly inspired by his legacy of vision and fearless leadership. However, she feels that many people lead in their own way. She said, “Leadership is about being fearless and inspired about how you can impact the world and other people in a positive way. You don’t need a leadership title or position to take on this role.” About the award, she said, “It means a lot to be recognized by people I really respect, people who have been mentors and leaders in their careers and lives.”
2024 AWARD WINNER VIDEO
2024 William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service Winner: Alice Bonner, PhD, RN, FAAN
PAST WINNERS
Recipients of the William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service
2024 Alice Bonner, PhD, RN, FAAN
2023 Arif Nazir, MD, CMD
2022 Michael Wasserman, MD, CMD
2021 Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP
2020 Keith Rapp, MD, CMD
2019 David Smith, MD, CMD
2018 Paul Katz, MD, CMD
2017 Jonathan Musher, MD, CMD
2016 Karyn Leible, MD, CMD
2015 J. Kenneth Brubaker, MD, CMD
2014 Jeffrey Burl, MD, CMD
2013 Paul Drinka, MD, CMD
2012 Steven Levenson, MD, CMD
2011 William D. Smucker, MD, CMD
2010 Charles Crecelius, MD, PhD, FACP, CMD
2009 Daniel Haimowitz, MD, FACP, CMD
2008 Charles A. Cefalu, MD, MS
2007 Daniel Osterweil, MD, MscEd, CMD
2006 Leonard Gelman, MD, CMD
2005 James E. Lett II, MD, CMD
2004 Randall Huss, MD, CMD
2003 Dennis Stone, MD, MBA, CMD
2002 Keith Krein, MD, CMD
2001 Cheryl Phillips, MD, CMD
2000 Eric Tangalos, MD, CMD
1999 Monte J. Levinson, MD, CMD
1998 Nicholas Owen, MD, CMD
1997 William Dodd, MD, CMD
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
- A physician, physician assistant, or advanced nurse practitioner in good standing with the community and profession.
- Active in the field of post-acute & long-term care.
- PALTmed member in good standing.
- Not a current officer on the PALTmed or Foundation boards.
HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION
You may nominate an individual for the 2026 William Dodd Founder’s Award by completing the nomination form. The 2026 Dodd award will be presented at PALTC26 – PALTmed’s annual conference.
Nominations for the William Dodd Founder’s Award are due September 15, 2025.
Nomination letters should be submitted in a Word document, double-spaced using Arial font size 11, using this form as a guide to complete and not to exceed 2 pages. Once complete, you may upload this with the nominee’s current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Narrative: Provide specific contributions and examples that the nominee has made to build the organizational strength, image, and mission of PALTmed, and advance the Association’s goals to improve care delivered to patients throughout the long-term care continuum. Include quotes or information provided by others in support of your nomination as appropriate.
To aid you in the preparation for your nomination it is recommended that you contact the nominee to inquire into the specific activities or examples as required in this nomination and leadership, and to obtain their CV.
WILLIAM DODD AWARD APPLICATION
*Required Fields*
You may nominate an individual for the 2026 William Dodd Founder’s Award by completing the information requested below.
William Dodd Founders Award 2026 Form
James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education
2025 James Pattee Award
Dr. Daniel Haimowitz, MD, FACP, CMD
The James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education recognizes significant contributions to enhance PALTmed’s educational structure and framework, to advance education specific to PALTC practice, and to promote PALTmed leadership via educational endeavors within the LTC continuum. It was established to honor James Pattee, MD, CMD, the father of the PALTmed Certification Program and the Core Curriculum program.
Dr. Daniel Haimowitz, MD, FACP, CMD is the 2025 recipient of the James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education. Dr. Haimowitz currently practices in several PALTC settings in Pennsylvania, including Pickering Manor in Newtown, Living Branches in Lansdale and Souderton, Legacy Gardens in Bristol, and Arden Courts of Yardley. He has been active in PALTmed and its Pennsylvania chapter for many years, serving on the board of both organizations as well as on a wide variety of committees. In addition, he was the 2009 recipient of the William Dodd Founder’s Award.
While Dr. Haimowitz is honored to receive the Patee Award, he humbly sees himself as a “worker bee.” He explains, “I’m interested in a lot of different things, and I appreciate new opportunities to challenge myself. It’s a pleasure to be active in PALTmed and other organizations, and I gain as much as I give. It’s really hard for me to say ‘no’ when I’m asked to work on a committee or project.”
2024 AWARD WINNER VIDEO
2024 James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education – Charles Crecelius, MD, PhD, FACP, CMD
PAST WINNERS
Recipients of the James Pattee Award for Exellence in Education
2024 Charles Crecelius, MD, PhD, FACP, CMD
2023 Philip Sloane, MD, MPH and Sheryl Zimmerman, Phd
2022 Peter Jaggard, MD, CMD, FACP
2021 Michele F. Bellantoni, MD, CMD
2020 Robert Kaplan, MD, CMD
2019 Naushira Pandya, MD, CMD
2018 Jeffrey B. Burl, MD, CMD
2017 Matthew S. Wayne, MD, CMD
2016 Verna Reynolds Sellers, MD, CMD
2015 Jonathan Evans, MD, MPH, CMD
2014 Heidi White, MD, MHS, MEd, CMD
2013 Leslie S. Libow, MD, CMD
2012 Paul Katz, MD, CMD
2011 John E. Morley, MB, BCH
2010 Cari Levy, MD, PhD, CMD
2009 Cheryl L. Phillips MD, CMD, AGSF
2008 Leonard Gelman, MD, CMD
2007 Daniel L. Swagerty, MD, MPH, CMD
2006 Catherine Kiley, DO, CMD
2005 David Brechtelsbauer, MD, CMD
2004 Janice Knebl, DO, CMD
2003 Michael Maddens, MD, CMD
2002 Jonathan Musher, MD, CMD
2001 Alva Baker III, MD, CMD
2000 David A. Smith, MD, FAAFP, CMD
1999 Larry Lawhorne, MD, CMD
1998 Steven A. Levenson, MD, CMD
1997 James Pattee, MD, CMD
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
- A physician, physician assistant or advanced nurse practitioner in good standing with the community and profession.
- Active in the field of post-acute & long-term care.
- PALTmed member in good standing.
- Not a current officer on the PALTmed or Foundation boards.
HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION
You may nominate an individual for the 2026 James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education by completing the nomination form. The 2026 Pattee award will be presented at PALTC26 – PALTmed’s Annual Conference.
Nominations for the James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education are due on September 15, 2025.
Nomination letters should be submitted in a Word document, double-spaced using Arial font size 11, using this form as a guide to complete and do not exceed 2 pages. Once complete, you may upload this with the nominee’s current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Narrative: Provide specific contributions and examples that the nominee has made to advance the educational goals of PALTmed, and as a leader in PALTC education across the PALTC continuum. Include quotes or information provided by others in support of your nomination as appropriate.
To aid you in the preparation for your nomination it is recommended that you contact the nominee to inquire into the specific activities or examples as required in this nomination and leadership, and to obtain their CV.
JAMES PATTEE AWARD APPLICATION
*Required Fields
You may nominate an individual for the 2026 James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education by completing the information requested below.