AN ANTONIO (Nov. 14, 2011) — David Katerndahl, M.D., a family physician with UT Medicine San Antonio, received a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contributions to primary care research.
Dr. Katerndahl traveled to Banff, Alberta, to accept the 2011 Maurice Wood Award at the annual meeting of the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG), which fosters primary care research. Although the group’s governance is rooted in the United States and Canada, its influence and more than 800 members span the globe.
“I’m tremendously honored to be recognized by a group of this caliber,” said Dr. Katerndahl, a professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine in the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. “The North American Primary Care Research Group plays an important role in advancing new ideas in primary care, and I’m pleased to have made a contribution.”
Dr. Katerndahl has published 200 research papers and book chapters during his 30-year career. Many of those publications focus on identifying and managing panic and anxiety disorders within primary care clinics, rather than specialty mental health settings.
Recently, Dr. Katerndahl has found innovative ways to apply complexity theory to primary care. This has allowed him to study nonlinear patterns in domestic violence, aided by consecutive grants from the National Science Foundation, and to compare the complexity of primary care patient visits with specialist visits.
“We are delighted with this worldwide recognition of Dr. Katerndahl’s contribution to primary care research,” said Carlos R. Jaén, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Family & Community Medicine. “His discoveries have changed practice and understanding of primary care.”
Earlier this year, Dr. Katerndahl was named the Dr. Mario M. Ramirez Distinguished Professor of Family & Community Medicine, an endowed appointment at the UT Health Science Center.
UT Medicine San Antonio is the clinical practice of the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. With more than 700 doctors – all faculty from the School of Medicine – UT Medicine is the largest medical practice in Central and South Texas, with expertise in more than 60 different branches of medicine. Primary care doctors and specialists see patients in private practice at UT Medicine’s clinical home, the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC), located in the South Texas Medical Center at 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio 78229. Most major health plans are accepted, and there are clinics and physicians at several local and regional hospitals, including CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, University Hospital and Baptist Medical Center. Call (210) 450-9000 to schedule an appointment, or visit the Web site at www.UTMedicine.org for a complete listing of clinics and phone numbers.