Minneapolis, May 22, 2024 – The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) has named John McCabe, MD, the 2024 Family Medicine Educator of the Year. This award is presented annually to an outstanding teacher of family medicine in Minnesota.
McCabe has been a family medicine physician, educator and champion for more than 30 years. Notably, from 2003 to 2023, he served as a family medicine residency program director in Minnesota—most recently, leading the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency – Mankato.
He has also mentored and taught medical students and resident physicians from the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic and served as faculty with the University of Minnesota Rural Physician Associate Program.
David Rushlow, MD, chair of family medicine for Mayo Clinic Midwest, had this to say about McCabe: “I frequently encounter resident [physicians] who have worked with [McCabe] in our Mankato program. They all have the same response—he has been a major influence in their lives. Many credit him with why they chose our program, why they feel family medicine is so meaningful and why they come to work every day to fulfill that same goal for their patients. He is an outstanding example of a teacher, a mentor and what it means to be a family physician.”
Colleagues and students have described McCabe as understanding, kind, patient and competent and praised him for his vast experience, depth of knowledge and ability to prioritize the learning of his students and residents.
During his tenure as program director, McCabe oversaw several big transitions—first, moving the program from Waseca to Mankato; second, transitioning sponsorship from the University of Minnesota to Mayo Clinic. His colleagues remarked, “Dr. McCabe has been steadfast in his commitment to family medicine and community health. No matter what was happening in our program, he provided steady, calm leadership; we knew that things would be ok and our mission would be fulfilled with him at the helm.”
McCabe has been honored for excellence in teaching by the University of Minnesota and, most recently, as Southwest Minnesota Educator of the Year (2023) by Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato of Southwest Minnesota.
The MAFP is proud to recognize John McCabe, MD, for his outstanding contributions to the field of family medicine education.
About the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians: The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) is the largest medical specialty organization in Minnesota, representing more than 3,100 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students. The MAFP promotes the specialty of family medicine in Minnesota and supports family physicians as they provide high quality, comprehensive and continuous medical care for patients of all ages.
About the MAFP Academy Awards: The MAFP recognizes its members for their hard work and dedication to family medicine via its own Academy Awards. Minnesota family physicians, residents, medical students and researchers are nominated for a variety of awards (by educators, learners and colleagues). For the Family Medicine Educator of the Year award, nominees must be full-time, part-time or volunteer physicians from academic and clinical settings who are actively engaged in teaching. The MAFP Board of Directors selects recipients after reviewing nomination letters and credentials. More background on the awards can be found at mafp.org/awards.
Media contact: Kendra Myers, 952-224-3876, kendra@mafp.org