Every year, NMA honors the best of the best in Nebraska’s physician community. These awards recognize those who go above and beyond, embodying excellence in healthcare, advocacy, leadership, and humanitarian efforts.

We encourage you to nominate a deserving colleague who consistently makes a difference in the lives of patients, colleagues, and the community.

2025 NMA Award Categories:

  • Physician of the Year
  • Young Physician of the Year
  • Distinguished Service to Medicine
  • Physician Advocate of the Year
  • Resident Advocate of the Year
  • Student Advocate of the Year
  • Friend of Medicine
  • COPIC Humanitarian Award

Award winners will be honored at the Physician Appreciation Luncheon during the NMA’s Annual Membership Meeting on August 22, 2025, at Embassy Suites in Lincoln.

You don’t need to be a member to nominate – help us celebrate excellence!

Nominations close April 30, 2025. 

“The ability to connect with the NMA and other professional organizations virtually immediately expanded my ability to engage in advocacy outside of the exam room. I greatly appreciate the NMA maintaining this expansion to allow increased diversity of physician voice within the organization. Encouraging physician involvement in the NMA remains a commitment of mine. It is through collective action we can fulfill the mission: to serve physician members by advocating for the medical profession, for patients, and the health of all Nebraskans.”

Stephanie Hartman MD, FACP
Physician Advocate of the Year, 2024

AWARD CATEGORIES

PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Awarded to an actively practicing physician who consistently achieves high standards in the practice of medicine and is looked upon as a role model by his or her peers.

Award Criteria:
– Credible role model, both professionally and personally, to their community, other health professionals, residents, and medical students.
– Exceeds expectations of his or her practice or profession.
– Makes a significant difference in the life of a patient, staff member or colleague.
– Contributes substantially to their community through community service or support.
– Provides high-level leadership.
– Fosters the spread of medical knowledge.
– Must be a NMA member.

Nominate now

YOUNG PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Awarded to a physician under age 40 who consistently achieves high standards in the practice of medicine and is looked upon as a role model by his or her peers.

Award Criteria:
– Credible role model, both professionally and personally, to their community, other health professionals, residents, and medical students.
– Exceeds expectations of his or her practice or profession.
– Makes a significant difference in the life of a patient, staff member or colleague.
– Contributes substantially to their community through community service or support.
– Provides high-level leadership.
– Fosters the spread of medical knowledge.
– Must be a NMA member.

Nominate now

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO MEDICINE
This award is reserved for those physician leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the profession of medicine and NMA.

Award Criteria:
– Is a recognized long-standing leader in the healthcare community.
– Has contributed both time and talent to bettering organized medicine for the health of all Nebraskans.
– Has brought about specific and positive changes that have advanced healthcare services in their community, such as improved access or new ways to address healthcare needs.
– Must be a NMA member.

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PHYSICIAN ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Recognizes a physician advocate who has played a crucial role in enhancing the NMA’s public policy priorities.

Award Criteria:
– Proven and successful outcomes with national and/or state-level advocacy initiatives.
– Goes beyond their primary role as a physician by advocating for the well-being of physicians, patients, and communities in which they serve.
– Encourages, supports, and motivates their colleagues to participate in NMA advocacy work.
– Must be a NMA member.

Nominate now

RESIDENT ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Recognizes a resident physician advocate who has played a crucial role in enhancing the NMA’s public policy priorities.

Award Criteria:
– Proven and successful outcomes with national and/or state-level advocacy initiatives.
– Goes beyond their primary role as a resident physician by advocating for the well-being of physicians, patients, and communities in which they serve.
– Encourages, supports, and motivates their colleagues to participate in NMA advocacy work.
– Must be a NMA member.

Nominate now

STUDENT ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Recognizes a medical student advocate who has played a crucial role in enhancing the NMA’s public policy priorities.

Award Criteria:
– Proven and successful outcomes with national and/or state-level advocacy initiatives.
– Goes beyond their primary role as a medical student by advocating for the well-being of physicians, patients, and communities in which they serve.
– Encourages, supports, and motivates their colleagues to participate in NMA advocacy work.
– Must be a NMA member.

Nominate now

FRIEND OF MEDICINE
Organization or layperson (e.g. senator, media, business, or individual)  who has made outstanding contributions to the medical profession, healthcare, or the NMA.

Award Criteria:
– Performs outstanding service to the betterment of the health of all Nebraskans.
– Non medical individual.

Nominate now

COPIC HUMANITARIAN AWARD
The COPIC Humanitarian Award is presented annually to honor a physician for volunteer medical services and contributions to their community.

COPIC specifically looks to recognize those individuals who unassumingly volunteer outside the spectrum of their day-to-day lives. The recipient of the award designates a $10,000 donation from COPIC to be provided to a health care-related 501(c)(3) organization within their respective state. If you know a worthy candidate, please nominate him or her for this award.

Nominate now

PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

2024 – Sian Jones-Jobst, MD, Lincoln
2023 – James Nora, MD, Lincoln
2022 – Michael Rapp, MD, Lincoln
2021 – David Minnick, MD, Broken Bow
2020 – Kevin Nohner, MD, Omaha
2019 – Michele Mulligan-Witt, MD, Valentine
2018 – John Massey, MD, Lincoln
2017 – Kim Coleman, MD, Lincoln
2016 – Chelsea Chesen, MD, Omaha
2015 – Gerald Luckey, MD, David City
2014 – David Watts, MD, Omaha
2013 – Jeffrey David, MD, Lincoln
2012 – Gary Ensz, MD, Auburn
2011 – Susan Scholer, MD, Omaha
2010 – Vincent Bjorling, MD, Scottsbluff
2009 – Hans Dethlefs, MD, Omaha
2008 – William Shiffermiller, MD, Omaha
2007 – John Peters, MD, Omaha
2006 – David Paulus, MD, Lincoln
2005 – Anthony Kusek, MD, Albion
2004 – Joann Schaefer, MD, Omaha
2003 – Milton “Pete” Johnson, MD, Scottsbluff
2002 – John A. Wagoner, Jr., MD, Grand Island
2001 – Daniel Deitrich, MD, Omaha
2000 – Darroll Loschen, MD, York

2024 – Not Awarded
2023 – Juan Santamaria, MD, Omaha
2022 – Traci Dieckmann, DO, Central City
2021 – Alëna Balasanova, MD, Omaha
2020 – Josue Gutierrez, MD, Crete
2019 – Jordan Warchol, MD, Omaha
2018 – Michael Israel, MD, Omaha
2017 – Mike Feilmeier, MD, Omaha
2016 – Travis Teetor, MD, Omaha
2015 – Michelle Sell, MD, Central City
2014 – Lori Brunner-Buck, MD, Omaha
2013 – Jason Kruger, MD, Lincoln
2012 – David lngvoldstad, MD, Omaha
2011 – Jennifer Brown, MD, Grand Island
2010 – Michael Zaruba, MD, Auburn
2009 – Matt Beacom, MD, Fremont
2008 – Derrick Anderson, MD, Lincoln
2007 – Deb Anderson, MD, Columbus
2006 – Brian Buhlke, DO, Central City
2005 – Jeffrey Holloway, MD, Scottsbluff
2004 – Jeff King, MD, Grand Island
2003 – Annette Miller, MD, Valentine
2002 – Kipton Anderson, MD, Columbus
2001 – Hugh Holmquist, MD, Burwell
2000 – Rob Rhodes, MD, Lincoln

2024 – Kelly Caverzagie, MD
2023 – Kristie Hayes, MD, Omaha
2022 – Paul Esposito, MD, Omaha
2021 – Britt Thedinger, MD, Omaha
2020 – Kristine McVea, MD, Omaha
2019 – Richard Blatny, Sr., MD, Fairbury
2019 – Stacie Bleicher, MD, Lincoln
2019 – Michelle Petersen, MD, Lincoln
2019 – David Watts, MD, Omaha
2018 – Alan Thorson, MD, Omaha
2017 – John Reed, MD, Lincoln
2016 – Peter Whitted, MD, Omaha
2015 – Linda Ford, MD, Bellevue
2015 – Charles Gregorius, MD, Lincoln
2015 – David Filipi, MD, Omaha
2014 – Tom Tonniges, MD, Omaha
2014 – Ron Klutman, MD, Columbus
2013 – Rowen Zetterman, MD, Omaha
2012 – Gamini Soori, MD, Omaha
2012 – Pat Brookhouser, MD, Omaha (posthumous)
2011 – Thomas Ruma, MD, Omaha
2010 – Dale Michels, MD, Lincoln
2009 – Joe Gard, MD, Lincoln (posthumous)
2008 – Senator Joel Johnson, MD, Kearney
2007 – Larry Bausch, MD, Lincoln
2006 – Carl Cornelius, MD, Sidney
2005 – Les Spry, MD, Lincoln
2004 – Christopher C. Caudill, MD, Lincoln
2003 – Richard Raymond, MD, Lincoln
2002 – not awarded
2001 – not awarded
2000 – Frederick F. Paustian, MD, Omaha

2024 – Ann Anderson Berry, MD, Omaha
2024 – Stephanie Hartman, MD, Omaha
2023 – Not Awarded
2022 – Alex Dworak, MD, Omaha
2021 – Jodanne Hedrick, DO, Omaha
2020 – John Trapp, MD, Lincoln
2019 – Beth Ann Brooks, MD, Lincoln
2018 – not awarded
2017 – not awarded
2016 – Bob Rauner, MD, Lincoln
2015 – Britt Thedinger, MD, Omaha

2023 – Megan Kalata, MD MPH, Omaha
2022 – Michael Visenio, MD, MPH, Omaha
2017 – 2021 – not awarded
2016 – Jordan Warchol, MD, Omaha

2024 – Nicholas Bohannon
2023 – Wyatt Lanik
2022 – Rebecca Anderson
2021 – Natasha Hongsermeier-Graves
2020 – Rohan Khazanchi
2019 – Olivia Sonderman
2018 – not awarded
2017 – not awarded
2016 – Michael Visenio
2015 – R. Logan Jones
2015 – Alicia Smith

2024 – Nebraska Coalition for Patient Safety
2023 – Michael Davlin
2022 – Senator Steve Lathrop, JD
2021 – Patricia Lopez
2020 – Joan Anderson
2019 – Dale Mahlman
2018 – Evelyn McKnight
2017 – Bob Bartee
2016 – Tom Obrist
2015 – not awarded
2014 – Dave Schulz
2013 – Sandy Johnson
2012 – David Buntain
2011 – Senator Mike Gloor
2010 – not awarded
2009 – not awarded
2008 – Chuck Pallesen
2007 – Senator DiAnna Schimek
2006 – Barbara Schaefer
2005 – Senator Dennis Byars
2004 – Senator Don Pederson
2003 – Congressman Doug Bereuter
2002 – Senator Jim Jensen
2001 – William M. Kizer
2000 – Jack K. Lewis, MD