Brubaker Named AMDA's 2008 "Medical Director Of The Year"

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 25 Mar 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) announced that Kenneth Brubaker, MD, CMD, medical director of three long term care facilities in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, has been named the organization's 2008 "Medical Director of the Year." An interdisciplinary panel chose Dr. Brubaker from over nearly 30 nominees for his exemplary work as a physician leader, educator, patient advocate, and clinician.

According to AMDA Executive Director Lorraine Tarnove, "Dr. Brubaker's enthusiasm, commitment, and compassion are evident in every aspect of his work. He is an inspiration to all physicians who practice in long term care." She added, "All of the nominees had outstanding credentials, and AMDA is proud to recognize their efforts."

On hearing of this honor, Dr. Brubaker stated, "I had no idea that anyone nominated me. When I heard, I was speechless. I am fortunate to work with wonderful people in facilities where they treat the medical director like a leader and important team member."

Dr. Brubaker is medical director at three large long term care facilities-Masonic Village, Willow Valley Retirement Community, and Conestoga View. Additionally, he has a model family practice office and is head of geriatric services at Lancaster General Hospital, which U.S. News and World Report recently named as one of the nation's top 50 hospitals in geriatric care.

Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Brubaker directs quality improvement initiatives, wellness activities, wound rounds, multidisciplinary grand rounds, and pain management programs.

He conducts quarterly "New Family Orientations" that educate about issues such as culture change initiatives.

An active AMDA member who has brought several physicians to the organization, he also is involved with PMDA, the Pennsylvania state chapter. He recently completed a two-year position as PMDA president. He also is a member of the AMDA Foundation. An advocate for geriatric research, he has formulated a decision-making tool to assist in assessing residents with dementia and has spearheaded validating studies on this tool.

In addition to providing formal and informal education programs and opportunities for staff, Dr. Brubaker provides regular lectures in the geriatric fellowship program, often with an emphasis on nursing home medical care.

Kendall Hunsicker, Vice President of Health Care of Willow Valley, one of three colleagues who nominated Dr. Brubaker, said of him, "He is so gifted in so many ways. He is research oriented, knows geriatric clinical issues inside and out, and stays up to date on legislation affecting long term care."

Dr. Leon Kraybill, MD, CMD, a colleague who also nominated Dr. Brubaker, marveled at his friend's accomplishments. "Ken really brought new attention to geriatrics and long term care in our community. He did this by tirelessly talking to many administrative people and nursing staff at facilities and working with physicians in the area." Vicki Gillmore, RN, PhD, NHA, administrator at one of Dr. Brubaker's facilities, was the third party to nominate the physician leader for this honor.

Dr. Timothy Malloy, MD, CMD, last year's Medical Director of the Year and a judge for this year's award, was impressed by the attributes of Dr. Brubaker and the other nominees. "I saw some great ideas people are using. In fact, I'm going to adopt some of them in my facility," he says.

"When I saw all the high quality, inspirational people out there, it made winning last year all the more meaningful," Dr. Malloy observes, adding, "Dr. Brubaker clearly deserves this honor. I hope it means as much to him as it did to me."

According to Dr. Brubaker, he is blessed to be doing work he loves with people he cares about and respects. "My most fulfilling aspect of my career has been in geriatrics. Young people want McDonald's medicine. Older people want relationships," he says.

Dr. Brubaker was honored today in front of 1400 attendees during the General Session at AMDA's 2008 Annual Symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) is the national professional association of medical directors, attending physicians, and other professionals practicing long term care medicine committed to the continuous improvement of patient care. The organization provides education, advocacy, information, and professional development for medical directors and other practitioners from various disciplines working together to deliver quality long term care.

American Medical Directors Association