On August 15, Gary LeRoy, MD, FAAFP, of Dayton, OH, was honored with the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians’ (OAFP) Torchlight Leadership Award during its virtual Annual Membership Meeting.
The Torchlight Leadership Award honors a leader who best champions the mission and vision of the OAFP. As an active leader of the Academy since 1998, Dr. LeRoy has served as president, vice president, treasurer, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) delegate and Board member, and as chair of various committees prior to being installed as president of the AAFP in 2019.
During Dr. LeRoy’s presidency, the world was faced with the unprecedented reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. LeRoy led the AAFP through uncertainty and was a voice for family medicine in Washington, D.C., as national leaders established an action plan for the healthcare crisis. From advocating for physician safety during the personal protection equipment shortage, to reassuring the public about the efficacy of telehealth, Dr. LeRoy served as a stronghold for primary care.
Dr. LeRoy made it a priority throughout 2020 to help spark hope and inspiration for family physicians during the solemn months of the pandemic by publishing chapters of his own book, “Quotes from the Edge of Nowhere: The Art of Noticing Unnoticed Life Wisdom.” These chapters were shared weekly in the Weekly Family Medicine Update and are archived on the OAFP website.
Dr. LeRoy is the current Board Chair of the AAFP, but has been a Board member since 2015. During his first year on the Board, he worked together with his peers to create an executive position charged with strengthening diversity within the AAFP’s leadership and staff. These efforts resulted in the establishment of the Office of Diversity and Health Equity, which launched the EveryONE project, a toolkit that helps family physicians and their practices teams address social determinants of health.
As a child, Dr. LeRoy always wanted to be a superhero. He even created an imaginary alter ego, Marvelmoon, who desires to make the world a better place. Now, his fictional hero is embodied in his love of family medicine and passion that drives him to serve.
Dr. LeRoy embodies the characteristics and values of a family physician leader and the OAFP is honored to present him with the Torchlight Leadership Award.
Congratulations, Dr. LeRoy!
I recall when Gary joined the OAFP. He was a bright young man with a promising future which he has more than fulfilled. His presence has provided great impetus to the diversity which OAFP and other state and national medical groups have looked to for years. Congratulations, Gary, on your good works and the excellent example that you have provided all of us. Congratulations and many thanks.
Frank Colón