Every great physician can trace his success back to some special teachers they encountered during the hours and years of medical training. For family physicians educated in the Chicago area, many of them look at Pawan Sethi, M.D. as a pivotal person on their road to practice. Dr. Sethi is the 2003 Illinois Academy of Family Physicians Family Practice Teacher of the Year. He received his award surrounded by 70 colleagues, friends and family at a banquet on August 1 at Resurrection Medical Center on the city's far northwest side.

Dr. Sethi was nominated by current and former medical students, residents, and colleagues in family practice education who have benefited from Dr. Sethi's great teaching and guidance during their medical careers. The IAFP Family Practice Educators committee and Board of Directors chose Dr. Sethi from eight outstanding candidates from across Illinois.

Dr. Sethi has been with the department of Family Practice at Resurrection Medical Center since 1987. He has also served as a senior attending physician and professor at Cook County (now Stroger) Hospital department of family practice for over 20 years.

He is known for being a superlative, well-rounded clinician and role model. Andrew de Funiak, M.D. who was a resident under Dr. Sethi told IAFP, "In addition to educating us, he manages to instill a sense of duty and pride in all of us. He is truly an example to all the residents and faculty as the embodiment of a dedicated family physician."

Sister Donna Marie Wolowicki, C.R., Group Vice President and Executive Vice President/CEO attended the ceremony and spoke about the steady, reassuring manner that makes Dr. Sethi special. "He brings a peace to the hospital when he's here. You see it all around in the physicians, the nurses, and the patients that they have confidence and trust in Dr. Sethi," she said.

His medical career includes numerous other teaching awards from Cook County Hospital, including their Family Practice Department's Teacher of the Year Award in 2000. He was previously nominated for the IAFP Teacher of the Year Award in 2000, when Manthani J. Reddy, M.D. of Chicago took the honor. Dr. Reddy attended the ceremony honoring Dr. Sethi as this year's Teacher of the Year.

Arun Villavalam, M.D. a 2001 Cook County Family Practice Residency graduate was in town visiting from Washington, D.C. and offered an impromptu speech to share his respect for Dr. Sethi. He recalled the reassurances he received from Dr. Sethi when he had questions or needed guidance. "As a resident, you often had questions or felt unsure. He would always say to us ‘You have my pager number. You can call me 24 hours, seven days a week with any question, any time' What more can you ask for from a great teacher?"

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