The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) is pleased to announce that Hiten Patel, MD, of Columbus, OH, will receive its 2020 Resident Leadership Award.
The OAFP presents the Resident Leadership Award to an individual who has exhibited leadership in the OAFP and shows dedication to promoting family medicine, practices a high degree of professionalism, and possess immense promise as a family physician.
Dr. Patel received his medical degree from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and is currently the chief resident at The Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program in Columbus.
When asked what he’s most passionate about in regards to family medicine, he explained his ability to be more than just a physician. “I have the ability to impact my patients’ lives in countless ways by practicing medicine, advocating, volunteering, teaching future physicians, innovating, and by being there for them when they need support the most,” said Dr. Patel.
During residency, Dr. Patel was chosen among a select few across the country to participate in the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation’s Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute for which he completed a project on patient portal utilization and cancer screening rates. He now serves as a faculty advisor for the medical student organization Family Medicine Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS). More recently, he created a resident e-visit initiative which helped create a process for residents to complete e-visits during the pandemic.
“Dr. Patel has demonstrated his excellence as a resident leader during our recent COVID-19 pandemic,” said W. Fred Miser, MD, MA, director of the OSU Family Medicine Residency Program. “He was instrumental in pushing forward our telehealth capabilities for our residents, first with telephone medicine and now with video visits.”
“Dr. Patel has been influential not only to his current residency program, but also to OSU at large.” said Jan Westphal, MD, associate program director of clinical operations for the OSU Family Medicine Residency Program. “His passion for point of care ultrasound helped fuel the development of a formal Ultrasound Fellowship for primary care residents. Dr. Patel will complete that fellowship this upcoming year.”
In addition to his chief resident responsibilities, he is earning his Masters in Public Health at OSU and plans to graduate later this year.
“Residency has allowed me to grow substantially and has prepared me for my future career,” said Dr. Patel. “I am humbled and grateful for this recognition.”
To learn more about the Resident Leadership Award, please visit the OAFP website.