Monty Sellon, M.D., a family physician at 23rd Family Medical in Fremont, has received the Marion D. and Theodore H. Koefoot, Jr., M.D., Outstanding Preceptor in Rural Family Medicine Award from UNMC.
The Koefoot Award is an annual award presented to a rural Nebraska family physician who provides outstanding teaching and mentoring of medical students during their family medicine rural preceptorship, while also serving as an outstanding community physician.
A family medicine preceptorship is required for all third-year UNMC medical students. Preceptors have volunteer faculty status at UNMC. They must be board certified in family medicine, have a minimum of three years experience and have privileges at one or more area hospitals.
“We believe preceptorships are the best way for students to observe physicians in their medical, ethical, and community relationships,” said Michael Sitorius, M.D., chairman of the UNMC Department of Family Medicine.
In nominating Dr. Sellon, third-year UNMC medical student Mahmud Sahaq wrote that he had one of the best experiences of his medical school career working with Dr. Sellon.
“He is a great mentor and teacher,” Sahaq said. “He is very eager to teach students and involve them in all areas of patient care. I had a lot of hands-on experiences and learned a lot of procedures during my primary care rotation.”
Another student, Micah Ryan, called Dr. Sellon “a walking encyclopedia of information, especially the most up-to-date information on different medical conditions.”
Student Heidi Hausmann said: “Dr. Sellon is an excellent clinical instructor, a dedicated mentor, an advocate for quality patient care and a physician devoted to the community.
“Prior to my third year family medicine clerkship, I was planning to go into another area of medicine. The excellent experience I had at Dr. Sellon’s clinic made such an impact that I am now planning to go into family medicine.
“In my time with Dr. Sellon, I saw what a challenge it can be as a family physician, taking care of all ages and all illnesses. Yet to have the ability to make such a difference in the lives of patients and in the community really resonated in my heart and filled me with excitement and passion for the future.”