Altru Physician Recognized with Top North Dakota Award

Dr. Heidi Philpot, a family physician with Altru, was selected as the 2023 NDAFP Family Physician of the Year. She received this honor at the North Dakota Association of Family Physicians’ annual meeting in October at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D.

“At Altru, we are proud to have Dr. Philpot caring for our community,” said Dr. Josh Deere, president of Altru Health System. “She is equally trusted amongst staff, colleagues and her patients. Dr. Philpot is the embodiment of a family physician, and we are excited for her to have received this honor.”

Always up to date on the most recent evidence and research, Dr. Philpot provides evidence-based care in a way that is individualized and caring. She practices the full spectrum of family medicine including OB and advocates for family medicine to continue providing all these services.

“Dr. Philpot provides excellent care and develops instant rapport with her patients,” shared Dr. Elizabeth Gray, a physician with Altru Family Medicine Residency. “She goes out of her way to make sure each patient receives her full attention and dedication, maximizing their health and happiness. Her patients are lucky to be under her care.”

Dr. Philpot has played an essential role in promoting family medicine in North Dakota. With her role as a faculty advisor for the family medicine interest group at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, she has set up numerous events such as physician/resident panels and interactive procedure activities to promote family medicine. In doing this, Dr. Philpot has helped advance the profession of family physicians as more students realize the benefits of being a family physician and the need for highly trained, intelligent family doctors to provide care for our state.

“I nominated Dr. Philpot for family physician of the year because of her dedication and advocacy to family medicine, not only in practice but also in teaching the future generations of family physicians,” said Dr. Gray.

Dr. Philpot has been a physician with Altru for 20 years and serves as program director for the Altru Family Medicine Residency Program in Grand Forks.

Founded in 1950, the North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians represents over 500 family physicians, medical students and residents in the state. The mission of the NDAFP is to champion North Dakota family physicians in the delivery of excellent healthcare.