The San Antonio Market’s chief medical officer received a top honor from the American Academy of Family Physicians for his outstanding contributions as a physician leader.
The AAFP presented the Robert Graham Physician Executive Award to U.S. Army Col. Timothy Switaj during a ceremony Sept. 20 for his achievements in family medicine and safe, quality care. Switaj is the first military recipient of this prestigious award.
“I am truly humbled to have received this award,” said Switaj, also the market assistant director for medical affairs. “There are tens of thousands of family medicine physicians out there doing great work. I sincerely appreciate my chapter, the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians, for nominating me, as well as the support of all my family and friends.”
As market CMO, Switaj has oversight of all clinical operations and medical affairs within the city’s military medical facilities, with a focus on primary care optimization, clinical quality management, health care informatics, virtual health, patient experience, and education and training.
Switaj was recognized not only for his leadership within the San Antonio market, but also for his work as the Patient Centered Medical Home Advisory Board chairman for the Defense Health Agency, through which he is helping to lead optimization and reform efforts for primary care across the Military Health System.
“I cannot take full credit for these accomplishments as if it was not for the support of my staff, being willing to try new things, my peers and family for support, and my leadership for allowing me the latitude to test new ideas, none of it would be possible,” he said.
According to the AAFP, the award is “reserved for academy members whose executive skills in health care organizations have contributed to excellence in the provision of high-quality health care and demonstrated that family physicians can have an impact on improving the overall health of the nation.” Nominees for the award also must demonstrate excellence in fostering patient safety and well-being, and innovation in health care organization and delivery.
The award is named in honor of Dr. Robert Graham, AAFP executive vice president from 1985 to 2000. Graham dedicated his career to improving health care access and fostering the tenets of family medicine. His long-term dedication and commitment to the specialty of family medicine and health care as a whole are the principal foundations for the creation of this award, according to the AAFP.