The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) annually accepts nominations for the Family Physician of the Year, Family Medicine Educator of the Year, Resident Leadership Award, and the Friend of Family Medicine award.
This spring, the OAFP Awards Workgroup diligently reviewed several candidate applications and were extremely impressed by the slate of nominees. The Workgroup congratulates all who were nominated—a notable achievement in and of itself, and thanks the members who took the time to recognize their colleagues. The OAFP congratulates the following individuals for being chosen for their respective awards:
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.
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.
The OAFP is grateful to be comprised of outstanding family physicians, educators, and residents; and supported by teams of professionals committed to advancing the family medicine workforce. Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients!