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.

Clinician of the Year Award

The 2022 Clinician of the Year award winner will be announced at PALTC22- AMDA’s Annual Conference in Baltimore, March 10-13, 2022. For details on the conference, visit www.paltc.org.
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
- AMDA 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.
- 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
Nominations should include 3-5 activities/examples in each of the following categories:
- clinical skills
- collaboration
- advocacy
- leadership
Before you get started, consider the following about the nominee:
- High level of professional competence through continuing education, including ethical and social issues
- Recognized as a strong advocate for patients/residents
- Excellent collaborator with other members of the team and recognized as a role model by their peers
- High level of exemplary interaction with patients/residents and families
- Community involvement in community medical services, professional organizations, and/or other contributions to the community.
CLINICIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM
*Required
You may nominate an individual for the 2022 Clinician of the Year Award by completing the information requested below. To aid you in the preparation for your nomination it is recommended that you contact the nominee and ask them to provide you with 4-6 specific activities that showcase the following characteristics of the nominee in the following areas: clinical skills, collaboration, advocacy and leadership.
Clinician of the Year Award Nomination Form
PLEASE NOTE: The nomination period for the 2022 Clinician of the Year Award has closed. Please check back in mid-July for information on the 2023 award.
“The breadth and depth of his knowledge were legendary, and they lent well to his character trait of speaking softly with incredible authority….now generations of medical directors and countless patients who have benefited from his role modeling and mentorship have this legacy from which to push on and further his ideals.”
Medical Director of the Year Award

2021 Medical Director of the Year Award
Leslie Beth Eber, MD, CMD
PAST WINNERS
Recipients of the Medical Director of the Year Award
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
The Foundation for PALTC Medicine asks nursing facilities and their interdisciplinary leaders to identify outstanding medical directors. The Medical Director of the Year Award recognizes individuals whose vision, passion, leadership, knowledge, and commitment to taking patient care to exceptional quality, excellence, and innovation levels.
The 2022 Medical Director of the Year will be announced at PALTC22 – AMDA’s annual conference in Baltimore, MD. For details on the conference, visit www.paltc.org.
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
- A physician in good standing with the community and profession
- An AMDA member in good standing
- 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 2022 Medical Director of the Year award by completing the information requested below. Nominations for the Medical Director of the Year award are due November 12, 2021.
Nominations should include 4-6 activities/examples in each of the following categories:
- 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. Hold monthly advance directives clinics at local senior center
The nominations from previous winners included the following characteristics:
- Offered multiple examples of activities that demonstrated excellence in each category
- Nominations supported by multiple facility leaders (e.g., Administrator and DON)
- Included quantifiable examples of success with measured outcomes (e.g. Implemented a program that reduced falls by 18%)
- Incorporated psycho-emotional components (e.g., How he/she makes staff, colleagues, and patients feel).
Before you get started, consider the following:
- Review AMDA’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 interacts with the interdisciplinary team
- Gather examples of the regular contributions he/she makes as well as those times they were exceptional.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM
*Required Fields
You may nominate an individual for the 2022 Medical Director of the Year Award by completing the information requested below. To aid you in the preparation for your nomination it is recommended that you contact the nominee and ask them to provide you with 4-6 specific activities that showcase the following characteristics of the nominee in each of the following areas: team leader, clinical leader, education of facility staff and community involvement.
Medical Director of the Year Award Nomination Form
2021 AWARD WINNER VIDEO
James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education Michele F. Bellantoni, MD, CMD
“As a lifelong educator, each year the students bring the joy of medicine as fresh eyes every time they ask me why.” – Michelle
PLEASE NOTE: The nomination period for the 2022 Medical Director of the Year Award has closed. Please check back in mid-July for information on the 2023 award.
“This year our community did not only rise up to meet this unfathomable challenge but we demonstrated what dedication, compassion and expertise in PALTC medicine looks like in a crisis.“
“The facility and I are honored to have Dr. Eber as our Medical Director. She continually helps not only the facility grow, but me as well. She is a great partner to have at our facility!“
William Dodd Founder’s Award

Founder, William Dodd

2021 William Dodd Founder’s Award
Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP
PAST WINNERS
Recipients of the William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service
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
The William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service recognizes significant contributions by those individuals who build the organizational strength, image, and mission of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. These individuals promote medical direction and healthcare provider services in long-term care by enhancing the reputation of AMDA and advancing the Society’s goals to improve the care delivered to patients throughout the long term care continuum.
This prestigious honor is awarded in memory of the work of AMDA founder William Dodd, MD, CMD. He recognized that residents of nursing homes often have complex medical problems and that practitioners needed to establish the standards of management and clinical care for these residents.
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
- AMDA member in good standing
- Not a current Officer on the AMDA, ABPLM or Foundation boards.
HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION
You may nominate an individual for the 2022 William Dodd Founder’s Award by completing the nomination form. The 2022 Dodd award will be presented at PALTC22-AMDA’s annual conference next March in Baltimore, MD.
Nominations for the William Dodd Founder’s Award were due November 12, 2021.
Before you get started, in 250 words or less, please consider specific contributions the nominee has made to build the organizational strength, image, and mission of AMDA and advance the Society’s goals to improve the care delivered to patients throughout the long-term care continuum.
WILLIAM DODD FOUNDER'S NOMINATION FORM
*Required Fields
The William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service recognizes significant contributions by those individuals who build the organizational strength, image, and mission of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. These individuals promote medical direction and healthcare provider services in long-term care by enhancing the reputation of AMDA and advancing the Society’s goals to improve the care delivered to patients throughout the long term care continuum.
William Dodd Founders Award Nomination Form
2021 AWARD WINNER VIDEO
2021 AWARD WINNER | The William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP
PLEASE NOTE: The nomination period for the 2022 William Dodd Founder’s Award has closed. Please check back in mid-July for information on the 2023 award.
“Although I never met Dr. Dodd he believed in the importance of the interdisciplinary team in PALTC. I am truly honored to be the first non-physician to receive this prestigious award.“
“I can not imagine anyone more deserving of the Dodd award in our organization. Dr. Resnick supports collaboration among the PALTC team and is recognized beyond AMDA for her leadership.“
James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education

James Pattee

2021 James Pattee Award
Michele F. Bellantoni, MD, CMD
PAST WINNERS
Recipients of the James Pattee Award for Exellence in Education
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
The James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education was established in 1997 to honor James Pattee, MD, CMD, the father of the AMDA Certification Program and the Core Curriculum program, and a founder of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute & Long-Term Care Medicine.
His vision for medical direction and his development of the first medical direction curriculum eventually led to AMDA’s Core Curriculum. While conducting these courses he was exposed to the concepts of management and leadership, and he emphasized these concepts in his courses. “You are shaping the culture [of the facility] by your daily interactions with the staff, your decisions, your clinical skills.” It has been said that Dr. Pattee single handedly trained and motivated an entire generation of a new entity — the profession of medical direction.
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 medicine
- AMDA member in good standing
- Not a current officer on the AMDA, ABPLM or Foundation boards.
HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION
You may nominate an individual for the 2022 James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education by completing the nomination form. The 2022 Pattee award will be presented at PALTC22 – AMDA’s Annual Conference next March in Baltimore, MD.
Nominations for the James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education were due on November 12, 2021.
Before you get started, in 250 words or less, please consider specific contributions that the nominee has made to advance the educational goals of AMDA, and as a leader in PALTC education across the PALTC continuum.
JAMES PATTEE AWARD NOMINATION FORM
You may nominate an individual for the 2022 James Pattee Award for Excellence in Eduction by completing the information requested below.
Nominations for the 2022 Pattee Award are now open through November 12, 2021.
James Pattee Award Nomination Form
2021 AWARD WINNER VIDEO
James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education Michele F. Bellantoni, MD, CMD
PLEASE NOTE: The nomination period for the 2022 James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education has closed. Please check back in mid-July for information on the 2023 award.
“As a lifelong educator, each year the students bring the joy of medicine as fresh eyes every time they ask me why.“
“Michele has served on many committees and most recently has led AMDA’s Annual Program Committee which continues to grow and improve in the quality of education provided to our members.“