Careers

Congratulations to the 2018 Winners!

Andrew J. Wright, MD

2018 Family Physician of the Year

Andrew J. Wright, MD

Andrew Wright, MD practices full-scope family medicine at Richland Medical Center in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Dr. Wright has served the community of Richland Center for over a decade. In addition to his clinical practice Dr. Wright serves as a Clinical Adjunct Assistant Professor for the UW-Madison Family Medicine Residency Program and rural family medicine preceptor, and is also a member of the Wisconsin Research Education Network steering committee.

Dr. Wright describes his calling as a family physician as follows: "I am guided by three principles in caring for persons as a family physician. First, each person, regardless of age, ability, criminal record, appearance, or even smell has an inherent dignity that cannot be stripped away. I try to honor that mutual dignity, for I have it too, in each encounter. Secondly, the good I do for each patient is a part of the larger common good. This guides me not only in the patient encounter, but in my desire to teach students and residents, and participate in the Quality Assurance committee and Obstetrics committee and get certified in Addiction Medicine and . . . Finally, my job as a family physician is a call, a vocation, that is much more than a career. It is who I am, even as I balance life at work, at home, or out in the community. To be a doctor is to be a teacher; to be a physician is to be a healer. I have embraced this as my vocation in my time on earth."

Dr. Wright is the consummate family physician, providing his community and patients with comprehensive and caring medical service and serving as a role model to his community, patients, colleagues, and physicians in training.

Dr. Wright's commitment to his patients and family medicine is perhaps best summed up by Monica M. Maronich,  Administrator or Richland Medical Center. "Dr. Wright takes care of all patients and seems to truly enjoy the scope of his practice panel; no matter age, ethnicity, or economic status."

Congratulations Dr. Wright!

Melissa M. Stiles, MD

2018 Family Medicine Educator of the Year

Melissa M. Stiles, MD

Melissa M. Stiles, MD is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH) in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. She also serves as a Volunteer Faculty Physician at the UWSMPH Medic Clinics.

Throughout her career Dr. Stiles has served a variety of faculty roles within the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (UWDFMCH). These roles include time as the Associate Director of the Madison Family Medicine Residency Program and director of the Madison residency program's Belleville Clinic, and more recently as the Director of Faculty Development for the UWDFMCH. Dr. Stiles has also served in various national positions for the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.

Stiles' colleague Thomas Hahn, MD had this to say about her work as an educator of medical students and family medicine residents: "Melissa is truly one of the most versatile educators I have ever known." "As a teacher in the clinical setting, I was impressed by Melissa's ability to both be nurturing, but also to constantly challenge learners by encouraging self-directed learning. In the in-patient setting where teaching can be overlooked, Melissa regularly took time to teach about clinical pearls in an evidence-based approach."

Congratulations Dr. Stiles!

Sign up to the
WAFP Email List