Awarded to a resident physician advocate who has played a crucial role in enhancing the NMA’s public policy priorities.
By Hunter Allen, MD
Living by The Oath
“My colleagues will be my brothers and sisters and, by instruction and example, we will impart a knowledge of the art to those who wish to learn it.”
The aforementioned happens to be my favorite clause in the Physicians’ Oath. Certainly, there is an implication for academic medicine—the pursuit of training the next generation of physicians and colleagues—as well as our own pursuit of lifelong learning and the continuum of becoming the greatest versions of ourselves: for, with, and alongside each other. But this clause is additionally responsible for my involvement in advocacy, something I never would have imagined as being an integral component of my residency training and my practice of medicine.
Our art of medicine is a complex art, one that, unfortunately, often becomes misconstrued in the eyes of the public at large. But be it known: everything we do as physicians—every guideline we develop, follow, and encourage; every patient we accept to care for; every decision and sacrifice we take upon ourselves—we do because of our innate interest in dignifying the human condition and bettering the human condition.
It is with this mission in mind that, indeed, we ought not merely make our art known to those who wish to learn it; dare I say, it is equally as important—if not more important—to make our art known to those who need to learn it. Such constituents certainly include our patients; our families, friends, and members of our communities; our allied colleagues who work in healthcare; and to a particular degree, the men and women who serve in public office, albeit on a local, state, national, or international level.
Never would I have imagined being a member of the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians throughout my entire three years of residency, nor continuing in such a capacity now as an attending physician. Never would I have imagined being on Capitol Hill talking with our senators and congressmen about making care more intentional and deliberate for the people of our state and addressing concerns about the future of the Nebraskan physician workforce. Never would I have imagined testifying before the Unicameral, to better attract and retain physicians within Nebraska. But despite an initial hesitancy to take on such responsibilities, I could not be more proud to engage in advocacy: it is my commitment to practice excellence to my patients; to practice excellence alongside fellow physicians; and to practice excellence for humanity—especially a vast number of whom I will never encounter individually in the exam room or hospital.
The Nebraska Medical Association has a reputation for consistent excellence for making our art known to those who both wish to learn it and need to learn it. I am incredibly indebted to the Nebraska Medical Association for being recognized for what little I have done in regard to such. I hope that one day I may be deserving of this honor.
“My colleagues will be my brothers and sisters and, by instruction and example, we will impart a knowledge of the art to those who wish to learn it.”
As alluded to earlier, this is my favorite clause of the Physicians’ Oath. And while I have focused on the latter component of it so far, it is in fact not the latter that allows this clause to hold a special place in my heart. It is the former. I know that as a recent graduate from residency and as an attending physician fresh out of the starting gate, my experience may be abbreviated to that of many members of the NMA. But if there is one thing, and one thing only, I have learned from my experience in medicine, it is this:
The only thing better than practicing medicine—the only thing that provides more joy, peace, gratitude, and excitement; the only thing better than practicing medicine, is practicing medicine alongside every member of this beautiful vocation and having the honor of calling each of you not merely my colleagues, but my brothers and sisters.
Bio: Originally from north Texas, Hunter Allen, MD, attended Creighton University Heider College of Business, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Upon completing an M.S. in Biomedical Science from Regis University in Denver, he returned to Nebraska, earning his Doctor of Medicine from Creighton University School of Medicine.
A family medicine clerkship and sub-internship in North Platte during medical school allowed Dr. Allen to fall in love with family medicine. He holds the gift of relationships as sacred and takes pride in being active in the community, both inside and outside of the clinic or hospital.
Dr. Allen completed his residency in full-spectrum family medicine at Lincoln Medical Education Partnership, obtaining endorsement in obstetric care and endoscopic procedures. Dr. Allen practices full-spectrum family medicine where his journey all started: Midlands Family Medicine in North Platte. He additionally serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Creighton University School of Medicine, overseeing rural health training for medical students.
A pivotal component of Dr. Allen’s residency training entailed serving on the board of directors for the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians (NAFP), serving as the inaugural chair of the resident committee. Dr. Allen continues to serve on the NAFP board as New Physician Director and remains active in advocating for both physicians and deliberate, intentional patient care.
In his free time, Dr. Allen can be found biking, hiking, and being active at his church. He is also a licensed pyrotechnician and has been known to put on quite the fireworks show!
