Montana Academy of Family Physicians

Family Physician of the Year

2011 WINNER: Gregory A. Rice, M.D. - Libby

Doctor Rice has been a Family Medicine physician in Libby since 1977 and he has been precepting residents in his office since he arrived. He has helped initiate a culture of teaching in Libby which is crucial as we replace those in practice with the next generation of physicians.

Students and residents who have been lucky enough to spend time in Libby have nothing but glowing praise when describing Doctor Rice and his teaching and mentoring abilities.

Dr. Rice has really been the heart and soul of medical care in Libby over the past 33 years. He is the quintessential small town Family Medicine physician, providing not only excellent clinical care but looking out for the public health of the community by working with public health, family planning, St. John's Hospital and many others.

Doctor Rice has been active in all aspects of healthcare in the South Lincoln County area. He continues to have an active practice which includes obstetrics with C-sections. He has served as the Chief of Staff of St. John's Hospital several times over his tenure.

	2010: Richard Sargent, M.D. – Helena Richard Sargent, MD received his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Idaho and went onto receive is MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Sargent completed his Family Practice Residency in Boise, Idaho where he was Chief Resident. Dr. Sargent is Vice Chairman of the Montana Tobacco Advisory Board and was a leader in the effort to pass Helenas Clean Indoor Air Ordinance in 2002. He was a spokesman for the Montana tobacco control initiative in 2002 and tobacco tax initiative in 2004 . He presented his findings on the reduction in heart attacks associated with Helenas clean indoor air ordinance to the American College of Cardiology Scientific Assembly in April, 2003 and published the final article in the British Medical Journal in April 2004. He has also spoken on Health Effects of Second Hand Smoke, Economic Effects of Clean Indoor Air Ordinances, Cessation Methods, Tobacco use in Pregnancy, Fetal Effects of Tobacco Exposure and Tobacco Use and Mental Illness. In September 2006 the American Cancer Society awarded him their national advocacy award, named for Dr. Ted Marrs, for his work on tobacco control. Dr. Sargent has been in private practice in Helena, Montana for since 1991 and chairman of Quality Assurance for six of those years. He is married and has three children.

	2009: Frank C. Michels, M.D. – Billings Doctor Michels has practiced medicine within the St. Vincent Healthcare organization since 1989. He is a dedicated physician who is valued both professionally and personally by his patients and his colleagues. Dr. Michels has been a leader both within St. Vincent Healthcare and the greater community throughout his career. His work related to the development of the Montana Family Practice Residency Program in the early 1990’s has influenced the delivery of primary care throughout the state of Montana and helped to stabilize the number of family practice physicians who now serve our area. Doctor Michels was instrumental in the development of West Grand Family Medicine, a well respected family practice clinic in the St. Vincent Healthcare system. He continues to practice at West Grand and advocate for high quality, high touch family practice and obstetric care for all patients.

	2008: Ronald A. Miller, M.D. – Whitefish During 36 years behind a stethoscope in the same small town, a family doctor has a pretty good chance of witnessing the parade of generations. Dr. Ron Miller has been in the front lines for many Whitefish families — and counts that participation as a great joy. “Relationships,” he said without missing a beat, when asked to consider the favorite part of his practice. “I’ve had patients that I delivered their children, and now I’ve delivered that child’s baby.” At one point Dr. Miller did it all, serving as the go-to doctor for all of a family’s planned and unplanned medical needs. But he gave up emergency-room medicine two years ago. Four years back, he quit doing obstetrical work. Dr. Miller, a native of Washington’s Tri Cities area, did his undergraduate work at Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma then went through medical school at University of Washington in Seattle. His residency and training, and finally the start to his career, came in Whitefish. “I liked the mountains, I liked the Flathead,” he recalled. “And they needed a physician in their group.”

	2007: Mark W. Zilkoski, M.D. – Wolf Point Mark has been working in Wolf Point for many years, serving his community, teaching residents and medical students, and doing all of those other things that you expect of someone who has their name come up in discussions regarding an award like this. Physicians who work with Mark have described him as possessing the most important traits in working with patients. Things like compassion, work ethic, dedication, caring, and dependability. Those attributes are the things that make Mark a great physician. .

	2006: John S. Patterson, M.D. – Bozeman John is a caring, knowledgeable and dedicated physician. He continues to practice the full spectrum of Family Medicine, including OB; office, hospital and nursing home practices; surgery assisting; serving medical missions overseas and teaching medical students. It is not unusual for him to treat three generations of a family, yet he still accepts new patients. John exemplifies the quintessential Family Physician, and it is an honorable reflection on all Montana Family Physicians to present John as one of our finest.