Wildwood Physician Named MAFP Family Physician of the Year

The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) presented David A. Miller, MD, MHA, CHCEF, FAAFP, of Wildwood, Missouri, with the 2021 Family Physician of the Year Award at the Academy’s 73nd Annual Meeting held November 12-13, 2021 at Big Cedar Lodge, near Branson, Missouri. Dr. Miller was chosen as the award recipient by a committee of family physicians from nominations made by patients, community members, and fellow physicians.

Founded in 1947, the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians represents over 2,400 physicians and medical students statewide and is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care. The state chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, MAFP is dedicated to optimizing the health of patients, families, and communities of Missouri through patient care, advocacy, education, and research.

Dr. Miller has been active in the Academy throughout his career as a family physician. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency program at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center (now Mercy) in St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a Master of Health Administration degree from Webster University, completed a Community Health Center Executive Fellowship from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. This year’s family physician of the year has continuously practiced medicine in the greater St. Louis area for almost thirty years.

His focus is not only the health of his patients, but also that of his community. He is an exemplary leader through his service on the St. Louis Academy of Family Physicians, past MAFP and Foundation board member, and on the board of governors of the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical Alumni Association. In 2020, he was recognized by the St. Louis Academy of Family Physicians with the Greater St. Louis Community Health award for his continuing work coordinating an ongoing COVID-19 testing program for underserved urban communities that has tested over 32,000 people to date.

His volunteer service of medical and managerial expertise has benefited groups such as a local free clinic, the Missouri Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, Missouri State Medical Reserve Corps, the Missouri Disaster Response System, Inc., the Eureka Missouri Community Emergency Response Team, the St. Louis County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and Civil Air Patrol.

Dr. Miller currently serves as the assistant medical director and urgent care clinical director at Affinia Healthcare, a federally-qualified health center serving the uninsured and underinsured populations of St. Louis City for more than 100 years. His medical career has included solo practice, group practice, urgent care medicine, volunteer work, and teaching medical students and residents.

“Mine has been an interesting career, and one that is continuing to evolve,” said Miller. “Our family medicine training allows us the opportunity to do so – our broad base of knowledge, seasoned with our years of experience, provides the skills for caring for generations of patients, their families, as well as our communities.”

In accepting the award from MAFP, Miller concluded, “You honor not only me, but those who chose challenging non-traditional family medicine careers beyond our broad base of being outstanding primary care providers.”