New York State Academy of Family Physicians
STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
May 15, 2025
Contact: Vito Grasso, Executive Vice President at 518-469-5237/ vito@nysafp.org
Rochester Family Physician Awarded NYS Academy of Family Physicians’ 2025 Family Medicine Educator of the Year
The New York State Academy of Family Physicians (NYSAFP) announced today the winner of an award for excellence in family practice education. The NYSAFP’s Family Practice Educator of the Year Award recognizes Elizabeth Brown, MD, MPH, who has made outstanding contributions to education for family practice in graduate and continuing education.
Dr. Elizabeth Brown of the Finger Lakes region was nominated by her students, patients, and colleagues for her strong commitment to Family Medicine (FM) and teaching the next generation of family physicians. She is a full-spectrum family physician, including outpatient care for patients of all ages, inpatient newborn and maternity care at Highland hospital, and lactation support visits. Dr. Brown earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Messiah College, her MD from the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, and an MPH at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, where she focused on refugee studies. She completed her residency in FM at the University of Rochester, serving as a fourth year Chief Resident in 2006-2007.
Dr. Brown has been the Director of Medical Student Education in FM at the University of Rochester (UR) Medical Center since 2011 and advisor to the FM Interest Group since 2007. In 2012, she was the founding director of the school’s Global Health Pathway, which she led until 2022. Further, in 2021, Dr. Brown led the transition of the FM electives to create a required FM Clerkship for all UR medical students, which she directs, and the clerkship has become one of the highest rated clerkships in the School. Dr. Brown’s other achievements in medical education include establishing a successful FM acting internship rotation and a FM Boot Camp course, a core offering in the capstone Successful Interning course for fourth year medical students, as well as being a FM board member and serving as a teaching and learning lead for Aquifer Family Medicine, an organization that provides key curriculum allowing FM clerkships across the United States to provide standardized, high-quality content.
Below are just a few of the statements made by Dr. Brown’s students and colleagues when nominating her for this recognition:
“Dr. Brown is a regular preceptor for Family Medicine residents in clinical practice and mentors FM residents, junior faculty members, and many medical students exploring FM careers. Multiple senior students who apply for FM residency each year recognize her as an influential mentor, as demonstrated by numerous teaching awards she has received.”
“Dr. Brown consistently gave feedback in a thoughtful and nonjudgemental way. She listened deeply to the concerns that I brought up regarding patients and valued me as a key member of the team. I appreciated her help during the family medicine clerkship in teaching me her knowledge and skills.”
“No single faculty member in our department deserves greater credit for the quality of learning our students receive in Family Medicine.”
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have learned from Dr. Brown during my clerkship. Her passion for teaching, compassionate patient care, and commitment to fostering a positive learning environment have left an indelible mark on my medical journey. I will carry the valuable lessons and experiences gained under her mentorship throughout my career as a healthcare professional.”
“Dr. Brown is a true embodiment of excellence in medical education and patient care, and I feel fortunate to have had her as my preceptor.”
Dr. Brown will be officially recognized for this honor during NYSAFP’s Congress of Delegates in Albany on May 17th.
NYSAFP represents nearly 6,000 family physicians, residents and students across the State. NYSAFP Family Physicians are board-certified and specialize in family medicine. Family physicians focus on the whole patient providing care throughout their lifetime. They provide comprehensive healthcare services to treat diseases and injuries in all age groups from newborns to the geriatric population and across all medical fields. Family Physicians focus on prevention, wellness and overall care coordination for patients and family medicine is the only specialty to focus on the care of the entire family unit. Family Physicians are also a main source of primary health care in New York and across the country.