Rural Physician of the Year Award*As of 2024, the Rural Physician of the Year Award has been moved under the Rural Health Hero Awards as the Healthcare Physician Hero Award. This change reflects our commitment to recognizing a broader scope of contributions within the healthcare field. For information on the Rural Health Hero Awards and the new categories, please click the button below: Rural Health Hero AwardsHistory & Past Recipients FRHA’s Rural Health Physician of the Year Award recognizes a Medical Doctor for leadership in bringing health services to rural populations. Factors taken into consideration include providing outstanding care, involvement in the community, and lasting contributions to the health care system.
Past Recipients of the Rural Physician of the Year
Rural Physician of the Year 2021-2022 -Grant Harrell, M.D. Physician at UF Health Family Medicine – Old Town Medical Director of the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic
Dr. Harrell’s nomination for FRHA’s Rural Physician of the Year Award is supported with enthusiasm by colleagues from the community and University of Florida campus. Our combined letters provide insight and specific examples of the many ways that Dr. Grant Harrell has increased access to care and promoted health equity in rural north Florida. We respect him, admire his commitment to others and believe that his practice embodies all that the Rural Physician of the Year Award is designed to recognize. Rural Physician of the Year 2021-2022 -Mirza Gagot-Rivera, M.D. Florida Department of Health / DeSoto County
Dr. Gagot-Rivera has been with the Florida Department of Health in DeSoto County since 2006. Her commitment to the medical profession, FDH, and her patients speaks volumes about the person that she is. Her desire to see improvement in the health of her patients, and her caring treatment of them, speaks volumes about the doctor that she is. Live Oak physician named Rural Physician of the Year for rural health work
FRHA's Rural Physician of the Year Award recognizes a medical doctor for leadership in bringing health services to rural populations. Factors taken into consideration include providing outstanding care, involvement in the community, and lasting contributions to the health care system. With a heart for helping the rural and often underserved community, Moore volunteers his time at Shepherd’s Hands of Suwannee Valley Inc., a free health clinic in Live Oak. The clinic provides services for people not covered by health insurance and making less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Moore has also traveled to other rural communities and around the world to provide free medical care. Moore was presented the award during the 23rd annual FRHA Educational Summit on February 28 in Jacksonville, Fla. “The honor is not solely mine,” Moore said after accepting the award. The nurses, clerks, technicians, staff and administration are critically important to allowing me to doctor, he said. “Those are the folks that make a difference,” Moore said. In addition to his time at the free clinic, Moore is an active emergency room physician and the medical director at Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center, a critical access facility in Live Oak, FL. Moore gained diverse medical experience during his 41-year military career, which included overseas tours and serving as the senior medical advisor to the Task Force Commanders and the Director of Flight Surgery. He also served as the State Surgeon for the Florida JROTC program for six years, reviewing fitness standards for JROTC participation and serving as the medical expert for questions on cadet health issues. “Dr. Moore is a wonderful physician, educator, mentor, and advocate for the residents of our rural community,” said Jennifer Grafton and Donna Ragan, Moore’s colleagues and nominators for the award. The Florida Rural Health Association is a statewide organization of physicians, rural hospitals, health clinics, rural governments, nonprofits, educational institutes and Area Health Education Centers dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and advocating for Florida’s rural residents. Jacksonville physician named Rural Physician of the Year for rural health work
FRHA's Rural Physician of the Year Award recognizes a medical doctor for leadership in bringing health services to rural populations. Factors taken into consideration include providing outstanding care, involvement in the community, and lasting contributions to the health care system. Soldo provides free medical care to some of the most vulnerable residents of Northeast Florida: agricultural farm workers. Each month, Soldo travels 140 miles with St. Vincent’s Mobile Health Outreach Ministry (MHOM) to provide services to farm workers and their children in Putnam and St. Johns counties. The mobile clinic provided 2,231 free services in 2016. One patient, a migrant farm worker, sought Soldo’s help for a tumor on his forehead. In a testament to Soldo’s dedication, he removed the man’s persistent tumor three times. Soldo also found an oncologist to volunteer 30 radiation treatments and a surgical team to remove the tumor for good. Soldo was presented the award during the 23rd annual FRHA Educational Summit on February 28 in Jacksonville, Fla. One day, Soldo said, he hopes there will not be a need for free clinics because everyone will have access to healthcare. As the Director of Osteopathic Training at St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Center and Residency Program, Soldo provides future primary care physicians with hands-on knowledge and skills. He also requires resident physicians to spend time working in the mobile clinic, fostering the spirit of community outreach in future generations of physicians. Soldo is the medical director for the MHOM, in addition to volunteering as a clinician and board member of The Way Free Clinic in Green Cove Springs and the medical director for the Putnam County Medical Mission in Crescent City. Soldo served in the U.S. Navy for 36 years and provided care to service men and women around the world. He retired as a Commander in 2005. The Florida Rural Health Association is a statewide organization of physicians, rural hospitals, health clinics, rural governments, nonprofits, educational institutes and Area Health Education Centers dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and advocating for Florida’s rural residents.
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Dr. Harrell begins his patient conversations by asking, “stop me if I use a word you don’t understand” and it is not unusual to find him searching online for easy-to-read, low-literacy health education information for his patients to take home. Cultural humility isn’t a skill that Grant practices rather, this construct describes his worldview and characterizes his way of “being.” Grant is welcoming and approachable, he listens attentively, and his servant-leadership approach to patient care and community service maintain focus on the needs of others.
Dr. Gagot-Rivera has an outstanding work ethic and strong decision-making skills. Being professional and communicating effectively are essential skills in our line of work, and she exemplifies these traits. The combination of her knowledge, ethics, and her passion for providing quality patient care means that those she serves are given a greater opportunity to live a healthier and more fruitful life.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 1, 2017 - The Florida Rural Health Association is proud to announce Dr. Edwin Moore of Live Oak as the 2017 Rural Physician of the Year.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 1, 2017 - The Florida Rural Health Association is proud to announce Dr. Terrence Soldo of Jacksonville as the 2017 Rural Physician of the Year.
