The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) will award the honor of '2023 Family Physician of the Year' to Dr. Loy D "Chip" Cowart III, MD, during its annual meeting in November. This prestigious award is bestowed to GAFP members who have consistently demonstrated stellar leadership and have made significant contributions to either their profession or the community.
Dr. Cowart, a native of Twin City, GA, has established a remarkable career spanning more than 28 years, practicing full spectrum Family Medicine including obstetrics serving rural Georgia. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Candler County Hospital and the Medical Director of The Hearts and Hands Clinic in Statesboro.
Graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia Honors College, and then going on to attain a Medical Doctor degree from the Medical College of Georgia, Dr. Cowart's academic accolades include an induction in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He also completed his residency in Family Medicine at Anderson Regional Medical Center in South Carolina with distinction, serving as Chief Resident.
"Dr. Cowart's dedication to his profession is unparalleled,” says GAFP President Sharon Rabinovitz, MD. “He’s a stalwart in the medical community, having served in numerous leadership roles in GAFP including past President, past Speaker of the GAFP Congress of Delegates, past President of Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GAFP’s Foundation), and more than 20 years of service on the GAFP board. We feel confident this award is in the best hands."
In 2020, he received the Jack A. Raines MD Humanitarian Award from The Medical Association of Georgia (MAG). In addition to this, he’s a member of the GAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), MAG, and the American Association for Physician Leadership, and he is proud to be a Fellow of AAFP.
This well-deserved award accentuates Dr. Cowart's admirable dedication to the field of Family Medicine, recognizing his significant contributions and relentless service to Georgia's rural health community.
About Georgia Academy of Family Physicians
The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians is an association that represents family physicians in Georgia. There are approximately 3,200 members including active, retired, family medicine residents, and Georgia medical students interested in family medicine. The GAFP is led by a Board of Directors composed of members from around the state. More than 92% of board-certified family physicians in the state of Georgia are members. The GAFP is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care. Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to general and family physicians. Today, family physicians provide the majority of care for America's underserved and rural populations.
