DR. OLIVER T. FEIN NAMED RECIPIENT OF ELNORA M. RHODES SOCIETY OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE SERVICE AWARD

New York, NY (June 1999)—Dr. Oliver T. Fein, a noted clinician-educator, administrator and authority in the field of primary care medicine and public health, has been named recipient of the Elnora M. Rhodes Society of General Internal Medicine Service Award.

Dr. Fein received the coveted award at this year’s Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Annual Meeting, for his many outstanding years of service to SGIM and its mission of promoting patient care, research and education in primary care internal medicine.  The distinguished award, established in 1997 to honor Ms. Rhodes’ contributions to the Society, symbolizes the highest level of service to the SGIM, and is made possible through contributions from SGIM leaders and members.

Dr. Fein joined the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University in 1995 as Associate Dean for Network Affairs, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, and Associate Professor of Clinical Public Health.  

 “The College takes great pride in Dr. Fein’s accomplishments,” said Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., Dean and Medical Provost of Weill Medical College.  “He is a wonderful role model for young doctors who would aspire to a career in academic medicine.”

His research has focused on access to health care for vulnerable populations.  In particular, he has explored the role of primary care and academic health centers in urban health care delivery systems and in national health system reform.  His recent work in health policy has examined health inequalities and the influence of  social class on mortality and health status.

Dr. Fein is a member of numerous professional organizations and currently serves as Chairperson for the Subcommittee on National Health Care Reform for the Society of General Internal Medicine, President of the New York City Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, and Chair of the American Public Health Association’s Medical Care Section.  He also served as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C.,  under former Senate majority leader George J. Mitchell, where he helped draft the final version of the national health reform bill in the 103rd Congress.

Dr. Fein received his B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1962 and an M.D. from the Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1967.  He completed his post-graduate training at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx and joined the faculty of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  In 1977, he became Director of General Medicine Outpatient Services at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and subsequently acting-Director of the Division of General Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University.