32 Primary Care Physicians Honored as “Best Physicians” during National Primary Care Week

A select group of physicians from a national network of more than 1,000 market-leading, independent primary care physicians are being honored as “Best Physicians”. They are being recognized during National Primary Care Week, Oct. 4-8, for providing exceptional, patient-centered care to seniors in their communities.

The 32 honorees were nominated by their peers and selected by medical directors at agilon health (NYSE: AGL), the company transforming health care for seniors by empowering primary care physicians to focus on the entire health of their patients. The criteria for selection included how frequently they met with patients, how much time spent with those who are chronically ill, and their efforts to keep patients out of hospitals and emergency rooms.

Examples of how the honorees have gone “above and beyond” to provide value-based care include making house calls to homebound patients, personally dropping off prescriptions for their senior patients, escorting their patients to the emergency room and coordinating care with the ER medical team, and proactively meeting with family and friends to better understand the complete picture of their senior patients’ health.

“These exceptional physicians are really lighting the way and showing how primary care doctors can make a meaningful difference in the lives of their senior patients,” said Ben Kornitzer, M.D., chief medical and quality officer at agilon health. “This award comes at a pivotal time as our nation struggles to provide the quality-of-care patients deserve at an affordable cost. We believe the movement to value-based care, like that embraced by these physicians, is a fundamental part of the solution.”

Value-based care is a better way to care for patients. It allows physicians to spend more time with their patients, more actively manage their care, and ensure better outcomes.

Studies have shown a significant relationship between the investment in primary care services and improved efficiency and better patient outcomes. This is in part driven by a reduction in avoidable hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Still, a concern documented by the Primary Care Collaborative shows a decline in funding allocated to primary care services nationwide. This comes at a time when the nation’s senior population is rising and there is a great need for primary care physicians.

National Primary Care Week highlights the importance of primary care in the overall U.S. healthcare system.

“Primary care doctors are the true heroes in healthcare in America today. They are key to improving our healthcare system by helping patients live longer, more fulfilling lives while efficiently managing healthcare costs,” Kornitzer adds.

About agilon health

agilon health is transforming health care for seniors by empowering primary-care physicians to focus on the entire health of their patients. Through our partnerships and our platform, agilon is leading the nation in creating the system we need – one built on the value of care, not the volume of fees. We honor the independence of local physicians and serve as their partners so they can be the doctors they trained to be. agilon provides the capital, data, payor relationships, executive experience and contract support that allow physician groups to take on the risk of total care for their most vulnerable patients. The result: healthier communities, and doctors who can devote the right amount of time with the patients who need it most. With rapidly growing appeal, agilon is scaled to grow and is here to help our nation’s best independent physician groups have a sustained, thriving future. Together, we are reinventing primary care.

Best Physician Award Winners:

1. Jahangir Adir, MD, FAAFP, The Toledo Clinic
2. Mary Baldwin, MD, The Toledo Clinic
3. Reeshad Buhariwalla, MD, Wood Health
4. Andrea Cerone, MD, Pioneer Physicians Network
5. Julie Colella, DO, Central Ohio Primary Care
6. Andrea Dillon, MD, MPH, PriMed Physicians
7. Matthew Finneran, MD, Pioneer Physicians Network
8. Janette Froehlich, MD, PriMed Physicians
9. Liam Fry, MD, Austin Geriatric Specialists
10. David Gabriel, MD, Premier Family Physicians
11. Laurie Gossard, MD, Central Ohio Primary Care
12. Thomas Greer, MD, PriMed Physicians
13. Nidaa Khamousia, MD, The Toledo Clinic
14. Gurneet Kohli, MD, Premier Family Physicians
15. Ashith Mally, MD, Preferred Primary Care Physicians
16. Michelle (Missy) Markley, MD, Austin Regional Clinic
17. Jay Martin, MD, Central Ohio Primary Care
18. Teresa Menart, MD, PriMed Physicians
19. Lisa Mewhort, MD, Central Ohio Primary Care
20. Hillary Gwen Miller, MD, Austin Regional Clinic
21. John Notaro, MD, Buffalo Medical Group
22. Andrew Papendieck, MD, Premier Family Physicians
23. Monika Patel, MD, Central Ohio Primary Care
24. Gary Pinta, MD, Pioneer Physicians Network
25. Maryanna Polukhin, MD, Starling Physicians
26. William Randall, MD, PriMed Physicians
27. John Ryan, MD, Central Ohio Primary Care
28. Mark Schloneger, MD, PriMed Physicians
29. Matt Skomorowski , MD, Central Ohio Primary Care
30. Azim Shekarchi, MD, Austin Regional Clinic
31. Amanda Williams, DO, South Zanesville Family Medical Center
32. Ann Wolfe, MD, The Toledo Clinic

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