The Washington Academy of Family Physicians is pleased to honor Vicki Black, MD, FAAFP, as its 2011 Family Physician of the Year.
Dr. Black demonstrates amazing commitment to her patients and the community; and is a true mentor to current and future health care providers.
Vicki grew up in a small town, Omak, WA, and though small in stature and quiet by nature, Dr. Black has a powerful personal presence. She is bright, articulate, intuitive and courageous. She chose Family Medicine when it was a relatively new specialty and at a time when women in medicine wasn’t commonplace. She completed her residency and went on to practice a full spectrum, including c-sections, rural practice. Her practice was in the small town of Grand Coulee, and 20 years later, she still has patients coming to visit her in Yakima from her Grand Coulee practice days.
Vicki embraces challenge. She came to Central Washington Family Medicine as Associate Director in its infancy, and served as interim program director during its transition to a FQHC and is now Medical Director for our ever expanding community health center. A couple of years ago following a life threatening illness and with retirement on the horizon, Vicki cut back to part time, which lasted only a year as the scope of the work needing to be done far exceeded a part time presence and Vicki jumped back in with energy, passion and focus.
Dr. Vicki Black has mentored many, many medical students, residents and allied health professionals, always modeling professionalism in every way with commitment to excellent patient centered care. She continues to teach medical students and residents.
The epitome of someone dedicated to the community; Vicki has been active in Rotary for years and has been a strong supporter of United Way, the YWCA, Campfire Boys and Girls, and has served on many other boards and committees sharing her strong portfolio of organizational skills. She never shied away from hands on engagement; she actively led a campfire troop and served on the Yakima board for a number of years. She is presently completing a second term as president of one of our local PEO chapters, a women’s philanthropic organization dedicated to furthering the education of women. For a number of years she was chair of the chapter’s Education Committee which sponsors and supports women via educational scholarships.
Vicki has also been very active in the WA Rural Health Association and is a past president of that group, was a nominee for the Women of Distinction award by the local YWCA, and was a national advisory faculty for the AAFP’s Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics program. Currently she leads her organization’s PCMH adoption efforts.
As a past president of the WAFP and currently an active member of the WAFP Foundation Board of Directors; Dr. Black is an active and vocal presence for family medicine.
Dr. Vicki Black epitomizes excellence in Family Medicine. The WAFP commends her selfless contribution to the profession, her professional and personal leadership skills, her articulate, intuitive, and courageous commitment to patient-centered care, and thanks her for her inspiration to students and residents.