The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians and OAFP Foundation Announce 2026 Award Recipients
September 4, 2026
Contact:
Lauren Heberling
Director of Communications
Each year, the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) and the OAFP Foundation (Foundation) sponsor award programs that aim to recognize family physicians, family medicine educators, mentors, resident leaders, and those who actively support family physicians. Nominations from across the state showcase the important impact each candidate has on their community and how their work upholds the specialty of family medicine.
The OAFP and the Foundation are pleased to announce the following award recipients, nominated and chosen by their community and colleagues, who are believed to go above-and-beyond in their respective careers:
Family Physician of the Year – Joseph Ginty, MD, FAAFP
Dr. Ginty spent 24 years in private practice and a year as a locum tenens physician before stepping into his current role as an associate program director at the OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital (Riverside) Family Medicine Residency program in Columbus, OH. Throughout his career, Dr. Ginty has served as a community preceptor and received numerous teaching awards for his commitment to family medicine education.
“It is my hope that as family physicians, we will lead the way in mentoring students and residents as they begin their journey though medicine.”
Family Medicine Educator of the Year – Douglas Harley, DO, FAAFP
Dr. Harley is a practicing physician at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, a clinical associate director for the Cleveland Clinic Akron General Family Medicine Residency Program, and the vice chair of education for the Primary Care Institute at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He also serves as a clinical professor of family and community medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medicine University (NEOMED) in Rootstown, OH, and an adjunct clinical assistant professor for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA.
“My philosophy regarding family medicine is rooted in the belief that we are the foundation of the healthcare system, serving as personal physicians who provide comprehensive, continuous care across the lifespan.”
Resident Leadership Award Recipient – Lydia Karlsson, MD
Dr. Karlsson is a recent residency graduate from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Family and Community Medicine Program in Columbus, OH, where she served as administrative chief resident, managing academic scheduling, resolving conflicts, acting as the primary liaison between her fellow residents and program leadership, and representing the residency at national conferences to assist in recruitment efforts. Dr. Karlsson’s dedication to medical education, and her ability to build meaningful relationships with her colleagues and patients, solidifies her as a most deserving recipient of this award.
“At the heart of all of this work is a simple belief: meaningful care and meaningful teaching are inseparable, and that both require the same quality of leadership—one that listens, empowers, and stays endlessly curious.”
Friend of Family Medicine – Elizabeth Huff
Elizabeth is the residency coordinator for the Wright State University Rural Family Medicine Residency Program at Family Health Services of Darke County in Greenville, OH. Since 2022, Elizabeth has provided administrative leadership for the program’s recruitment, accreditation, resident education, faculty operations, scheduling, evaluation tracking, and implementation; thus supporting the growth of the rural training pathway and increasing the rural primary care workforce in Ohio. The OAFP thanks Elizabeth for her efforts in building this residency program and her continued dedication.
“Rural communities deserve access to high-quality primary care close to home. I am proud to support a residency program that is helping build the family medicine workforce needed to serve Ohio’s rural and underserved populations.”
Family Physician Mentorship Award – Tamara A. Huson, MD, FAAFP, DABFM
Dr. Huson, a staff physician at Bon Secours Mercy Health in Mason, OH, and a volunteer assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, was selected for her highly intentional approach to the learning environment. Dr. Huson’s mentorship philosophy aligns perfectly with the award’s core values. Students highlighted her ability to create a “culture of curiosity” where it is safe to be wrong or uncertain. One student, Kara Tauer, noted that Dr. Huson did not just teach clinical facts; she instilled a “confident humility” and taught that “medicine is more than just knowledge, but it also relies on connection.”
“Mentorship lives… in the way we teach, the way we encourage, the way we make room for others to grow.”
To learn more about the nomination process, award criteria, or this year’s recipients, please visit the OAFP website.
The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is a statewide, professional association with more than 4,400 members, including practicing physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes, and every disease entity. Family physicians provide comprehensive, continuing care to all members of the family. For more information, visit the OAFP website.
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Editor’s Note
To receive photos of the award recipients, please contact the Director of Communications Lauren Heberling.