UHS' Dr. Kwiatkowski named statewide ‘Family Physician of Year’

David Kwiatkowski, MD, UHS Primary Care Owego, has been honored by the New York State Academy of Family Physicians with NYSAFP’s 2024 Family Physician of the Year Award.

At the NYSAFP’s Congress of Delegates in Albany on May 18, Dr. Kwiatkowski was recognized as an exemplary member of the family medicine profession who has worked tirelessly to ensure the highest quality of care for his patients during his career.

Dr. Kwiatkowski was nominated by his patients, students and colleagues for his outstanding service to patients and the community and his devotion to the medical discipline of family practice.  He works as medical director of the UHS Medical Group and has served his hometown of Owego for over 40 years. In addition to this position, Dr. Kwiatkowski teaches Upstate Medical University medical students in his office every year as a preceptor and conducts board review sessions biweekly for family medicine residents.

“Through the years he became not just a boss and a respected provider, but a true friend,” said Lori Soper, physician practice supervisor I at UHS Primary Care Owego.  “I have heard stories of patients who started with him fresh out of medical school and followed him to Owego from the Candor office. It is an honor and a privilege to work for Dr. K and I am very thankful to have him as our lead provider.”

Dr. K also provides more than medical care, helping his community by taking care of patients’ children and extended family, taking the time to listen and engage on a personal level with patients and volunteering on the town’s ambulance squad, NYSAFP leaders said in a statement.  In 2015, Dr. Kwiatkowski was inducted into the Owego Free Academy Wall of Fame for being a student, athlete, volunteer and excellent role model.

NYSAFP represents nearly 6,000 family physicians, residents and students across New York State. NYSAFP family physicians are board-certified and specialize in family medicine. Family physicians focus on the whole patient, providing care throughout their lifetime and are also a main source of primary healthcare in New York and across the country.

Below are just a few other statements made by Dr. Kwiatkowski’s patients and colleagues when nominating him for this recognition:

“Dr. K has cared for us for almost 45 years. We feel blessed to have such a dedicated, competent and caring family doctor.”

“Dr. Kwiatkowski has advanced careers in family medicine and uplifted the status of the specialty amongst medical students by devoting his time to them.  As medical director, he has mentored many family physicians, including myself, over the years as they come to the UHS System and start their practices.”

“Dr. K has dedicated his career to his patients and the UHS community and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award!”

“Most of all, Dr. Kwiatkowski is encouraging, compassionate and willing to take the time to really listen to my concerns, not just those that are visible. In doing so he was better able to properly diagnose and treat me and I felt that we as a team worked on a solution.”

Congratulations to Dr. Kwiatkowski on this exceptional recognition and thank you for Living Our Values Every Day (LOVED)!