The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians is seeking nomination letters from patients to help select the 2011 Minnesota Family Physician of the Year. If you feel your family doctor stands out in your community or clinic, cares for patients in an extraordinary way and deserves to be recognized for a job well done, send a letter or e-mail to tell the organization about your special doctor.

The Family Physician of the Year Award is presented annually to a doctor who specializes in family medicine. This doctor should represent the highest ideals of the specialty. Dr. Richard Wehseler of New London/Spicer was honored in 2010.

Nominations will be accepted in writing through Jan. 5. Nominators should describe the candidate’s outstanding personal and professional qualities and community involvement. Often times a person and group in the community will lead the effort encouraging dozens of patients and colleagues to write on behalf of a particular family physician.

Nomination letters can be sent to the MAFP office located at 600 S. Highway 169 No. 1680, St. Louis Park, MN, 55426, or e-mailed to kthorson@mafp.org. Questions can be directed to the MAFP office at (952)-542-0130 or (800) 999-8198.

All letters and e-mails will be carefully read and considered by a task force of family physicians who will select up to six finalists. The MAFP Board of Directors will choose one physician to receive the 2009 Family Physician of the Year Award. The award will be presented to the recipient in April.

Nominees must be members of the MAFP. While a majority of family doctors in the state are members, feel free to call or email if you would like to check on your physician’s membership status before submitting a letter. To read about the award online, visit www.mafp.org/awfamphysician.asp.