Alford, Wells Named Physicians of the Year

Dr. Alford, Dr. Wells Honored

PUBLIC AWARENESS

as Physicians of the Year 2018 At

the MAFP Annual Meeting in July,

Dr. Tim Alford of Kosciusko and Dr. Jeremy Wells of Hattiesburg were honored for their dedication to family medicine and for their years of service to the Academy.

The MAFP Awards Committee, comprised of past Family Physician of the Year winners, selected the two honorees from nominations received from membership.

Dr. Tim Alford received the John B. Howell Memorial Award, known as the Family Physician of the Year. He is a longtime family physician who worked in private practice for 31 years.

Dr. Tim Alford, left, accepts the Family Physician of the Year award from Dr. Isaac Aultman, the previous year’s winner.

Dr. Alford has been very involved in MAFP, having served as president in 2001- 02, Foundation president for five years, and on the national level, representing Mississippi on the AAFP Congress of Delegates for the past 16 years. He was even selected as the AAFP’s official torch bearer for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Dr. Alford completed medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and his family medicine residency in Columbus, Georgia, before returning to Mississippi to practice medicine. He served as a family physician with Premier Medical Management at Kosciusko Medical Clinic for almost 30 years before opening Kosy Direct Care, where he worked for two years. He presently works at Kosciusko’s Baptist Medical Center.

But what really sets him apart as a natural selection for Family Physician of the Year is his commitment to his community. He is the founding and current chair of the Kosciusko Foundation for Excellence in Education. He served on the Kosciusko City School Board for ten years and is a former PTA president. Dr. Alford is the founding organizer of Kosciusko- Attala Habitat for Humanity and the former baseball commissioner for Kosciusko Parks and Recreation.

Alford and his wife, Mary Al, live in Kosciusko. Their three children are Timothy Alford (Mary Bruce), Leah Mabry Hendrix (Tal), and John Paul Alford (Jana). They have nine grandchildren.

Dr. Tim Alford and his wife, Mary Al, have three children and nine grandchildren.

Wells, New Physician of the Year

Dr. Jeremy Wells was honored with the New Physician of the Year award, given to a family physician who completed residency less than 7 years prior. This was the first year for the New Physician award, which was created by the Public Awareness committee in Fall 2017.

Wells is a family physician specializing in sports medicine at Hattiesburg Clinic and serves as vice president of the MAFP Foundation.

Since 2015, Dr. Wells has served as a sports medicine physician at Hattiesburg Clinic, where he is active in sports coverage and team physician duties.

Dr. Wells completed medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and stayed at UMMC for his 3-year family medicine residency. Following residency, he completed a 1-year fellowship in primary care sports medicine at UMMC.

Dr. Wells distinguished himself from the earliest part of his career by his passion for medical student and resident education. The Family Medicine Department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center presented him with the Gary Jeffcoats Teaching Award for 2012-13 while he was a family medicine resident. Dr. Wells also served as chief resident his final year of residency.

Continuing his love of teaching others, Dr. Wells serves on the clinical faculty of both William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine and the UMMC Family Medicine Department.

At the Annual Meeting, Dr. Katie Patterson, right, presented Jeremy Wells with the New Physician of the Year award for 2018.

Chelsea and Dr. Jeremy Wells after he was named New Physician of the Year for 2018.

Dr. Wells has been involved in the MAFP since his time as a medical student. He is credited with conceiving the Future in Family Medicine Spring Fling for residents and students that recently celebrated its sixth year. Dr. Wells helps plan each year’s event and has served numerous times as a Family Medicine Spring Fling for residents and students that recently celebrated its sixth year. Dr. Wells helps plan each year’s event and has served numerous times as a presenter on sports medicine topics.

As vice president of the MAFP Foundation, Dr. Wells is part of the academy’s fundraising arm that raises thousands each year for family medicine education and training to promote the wellness of all Mississippians. Additionally, he serves as one of MAFP’s orientation leaders for newly-elected student and resident board members.

Wells and his wife, Chelsea, live in Hattiesburg with their 1-year-old daughter, Katsie.