Awards and Scholarships
KAFP and the KAFP Foundation are thrilled to announce our awards nominations for 2026 are now open! Nominations will close for all categories on March 20, 2026. All recipients will be asked to participate in our Awards and Recognition ceremony during the Fam Med Forward social event.
KAFP Awards
The following awards are sponsored by the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians to recognize the outstanding work of our members within their practices, for their patients and in their communities.
KAFP Foundation Awards & Scholarships
The following awards and scholarships are sponsored by the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation to recognize the outstanding achievements of Kansas family medicine residents and students.
While KAFP automatically submit its award recipients as nominations for similar national award categories, like Family Physician of the Year, Exemplary Teaching, and Humanitarian awards, AAFP offers many additional opportunities to recognize family physicians, educators, residents and students. You can learn more about national awards here.
Congratulations to the following members who have been recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians for national achievement.
AAFP FAMILY PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR
1996 – Don Goering, MD (Coldwater)
2007 – Paul H. Davis, MD (Wichita)
2005 – Earl Merkel, MD, FAAFP (Russell)
2003 – Rick Rajewski, MD, FAAFP (Hays)
AAFP EXEMPLARY TEACHING AWARD
1996 – Don Goering, MD (Coldwater)
2021 – Shelly Gruenbacher, MD (Quinter)
2020 – Edward Lind, MD, FAAFP (Derby)
2018 – Todd Miller, MD (Wichita)
2017 – Stephen Hawks, DO (Wellington)
2012 – Mary Beth Miller, MD (St. Francis)
2011 – David Netherton, MD, FAAFP (Wichita)
2009 – Barbara Coats, MD (Wichita)
2008 – Cathy Woodring, MD (Wichita)
2005 – Larry Anderson, MD, FAAFP (Wellington)
2003 – Steve Penner, MD (Wichita)
2001 – C. Joseph O’Donnell, DO (Wichita)
2000 – Ronald C. Brown, MD, FAAFP (Wichita)
1999 – Diane Nightengale, MD, FAAFP (El Dorado)
1998 – Charles Stephens, MD, FAAFP (Minneola)
THOMAS W. JOHNSON AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FAMILY MEDICINE EDUCATION
2014 – Perry Pugno, MD (Delaware, OH)
2013 – Dan Ostergaard, MD (Olathe)
2008 – Norman J. Kahn, MD (Prairie Village)
OUTSTANDING PROGRAM DIRECTOR AWARD FROM AAFP/AFMRD
2009 – Paul Callaway, MD (Wichita)
