GAFP Physician Member Award Winners

Beulette Hooks, MD, FAAFP, 2020 Family Physician of the Year:  Dr. Beulette Y. Hooks is a native of Macon County and a graduate of Macon County High School. She is the daughter of the late Mr. Lewis and Vivian Hooks of Montezuma, GA. After graduating 2nd in her class from Macon County High School, Dr. Hooks went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Mercer University College of Liberal Arts in Macon, Georgia.

After taking the Medical School Admission Test, she was selected to participate in the Summer Academic Achievement Program at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. After completing the Summer Program, Dr. Hooks enrolled in North Carolina A&T to work on a master’s degree in Biology.  While completing her master’s degree she was accepted into Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, where she received a full scholarship and was one of three African American students in her class of forty students. Dr. Hooks went on to complete her family medicine residency at the Medical Center of Central Georgia/Mercer University in Macon, GA.  While a student at Mercer University School of Medicine she was elected to represent all medical students as the Chair of the AAFP’s National Congress of Student Members. She went on to serve as the Chairperson of the AAFP National Congress of Family Medicine Residents.

As a young physician, Dr. Hooks was selected to serve as Convenor of the American Academy of Family Physician’s National Conference of Special Constituencies. Dr. Hooks’ leadership skills served her well through the years, as she has gone on to serve as President -Elect, President and Board Chair of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Hooks is currently the Physician Team Leader for the Victory Team in the Family Medicine Clinic at Martin Army Community Hospital. She is also one of three new members of HRSA Council on Graduate Education. Dr. Hooks has also recently served as Chair of the AAFP’s Commission on Health of the Public and Science. She is the Medical Director for the Tree of Life Healthcare, a free clinic in Columbus, GA, and is the Leader of the Post 69 Healthcare Explores that she started at 4th Street Baptist Church in 2015.  She is a devoted, loving and supportive sister, aunt, and niece, and serves as a mentor to many.

Julie Dahl-Smith, DO, FAAFP, 2020 Family Medicine Educator of the Year: Dr. Dahl-Smith completed her undergraduate degree at Augusta College with a degree in Psychology. She went on to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, where she earned her Doctor of Osteopathy degree and her family medicine residency was completed at the Medical College of Georgia.

Dr. Dahl-Smith’s love for family medicine has led her to an impressive career in medical academia. She began her medical career as an Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Georgia, Department of Family Medicine. Through the years, she has served as Program Director of Osteopathic Internship, Director of the Osteopathic and Allopathic Residency Programs, Associate Professor for the Department of Family Medicine, Clinical Associate Professor for NOVA, and Program Director for the Department of Family Medicine. She has also served as a member, Treasurer, Committee Chair, and Vice President of the Medical College of Georgia’s Faculty Senate.

Dr. Dahl-Smith is the first family medicine female faculty member to have successfully progressed through all of the Medical College of Georgia’s academic ranks to full professor. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Director of the ACGME Family Medicine Program and its embedded Osteopathic program. She also serves as the Director of the department’s Rural 1+2 Residency Program.

Dr. Dahl-Smith interacts one-on-one with residents in the context of patient care delivery.  Her effectiveness as a “hands-on” instructor is seen in the excellent student and resident evaluations. She has extensive experience as a clinical educator and exposes her students and residents to a plethora of medical processes.

Her teaching activities span the entire spectrum of medical education, from serving as physical diagnosis instructor for medical students to providing family medicine didactic and clinical clerkship instructions for family medicine residents at all levels of training.  She also provides teaching support for the department of physician assistants and the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior. She is a favorite with her students and residents, evidenced by her receipt of both the student and resident exemplary teaching awards. In 2019 she was named a Best Doctor by Augusta Magazine.

She is a diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine, the American Board of Osteopathic Family Medicine, and the American Board of Medical Acupuncture, and active with the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians as Chair of the Student and Resident Recruitment Committee.

Mike Busman, MD, FAAFP co-winner of the 2020 Community & Volunteer Services Award: Dr. Mike Busman serves as the Medical Director at Georgia Southwestern State University Student Health Center and the After Hours Urgent Care Center in Americus, Georgia.  Dr. Busman received his undergraduate degree from Emory University and later received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. He completed his family medicine residency at The Medical Center in Columbus, Georgia and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.

Dr. Busman worked as an emergency room physician in rural Alabama and Georgia for several years before making a home in Americus, Georgia. Dr. Busman has held leadership roles throughout his career including Chief of Medicine, Chair of Credentials, Medical Executive Committee, and Chief of Staff at Sumter Regional Hospital (now Phoebe-Sumter Medical Center). As he furthered his medical career, Dr. Busman also planted deep roots in the community he served.  He currently volunteers his time as the Medical Director of Travel Medicine for Habitat for Humanity, and as the Medical Director and Co-Founder of the Sumter Faith Free Medical Clinic.

Dr. Busman is board certified in Family Medicine and holds a certificate of Specialized Qualifications in Sports Medicine. Even though he has a love for sports and medicine, his passions lie in his volunteer efforts.  For many years Dr. Busman has been an active member of the Americus Rotary Club and has served on the Sumter County Board of Education for more than seventeen years and is currently the Board Chairman.  He is also a proud member of the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce.

As an active member of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, he has served as the Vice Chair of the Education and Research Committee and Chair of the Membership Committee. He has received several professional awards during his career including the GAFP’s Family Physician of the Year Award, the Society of Teachers in Family Practice, Resident Teacher of the Year Award, and the Outstanding Volunteer Award for the Georgia Games. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance

Eddie Richardson, Jr., MD, FAAFP co-winner of the 2020 Community & Volunteer Services Award: Dr. Eddie Richardson, Jr. is a native of Echols County and a graduate of Echols County High School. He is the son of the late Mr. Eddie & Laverne Richardson of Howell, GA. After graduating from Echols County High, Dr. Richardson went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Math from Valdosta State University. Upon completion of his degree, he then joined the United States Marine Corps.  While in the Marine Corps, he was meritoriously promoted twice, served in the Gulf War, and received the Navy Medal of Achievement for his outstanding service.

Dr. Richardson returned to civilian life to attend Clark Atlanta University where he received a Master’s in Biochemistry. He went on to attend Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA, and completed his Family Medicine residency at the Medical Center in Columbus, GA.

Dr. Richardson has been involved in the community for several years. He has served on the Putnam-Eatonton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Putnam Middle School Advisory Board, and the Ocmulgee Circuit Adult Treatment Court Collaborative Substance Abuse Advisory Board. Most recently he has been a clinical leader during the COVID-19 crisis.

Dr. Richardson’s clinic was the first testing site in the Eatonton and Greene counties area.  He has used his platform to educate the local hospital and the community throughout the pandemic. Dr. Richardson earned the Milledgeville Physician of the Week recognition for his care of ambulatory and hospitalized coronavirus patients.  He was also featured in a frontpage article of The Herald Journal where he shed light on why African American patients are hit harder during the coronavirus pandemic. He continues to fight the pandemic from the front lines.

Dr. Richardson has served in several leadership positions including Medical Director and CEO of Lake Oconee Urgent & Specialty Care Center in Eatonton, GA, and the founder of RYSE Men’s Clinic & Spa in Atlanta, GA. He is the Regional Medical Director of Navicent Healthcare, Chief of Staff and Medical Director of Putnam General Hospitalist Program, Medical Director for Amedisys Home Health Agency, and Medical Director of Harmony Hospice. He is a leader in the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (past President and Board Chair) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (board member). He also serves as the Vice President of the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance Board of Trustees.

Chivon Stubbs, MD 2020 Family Medicine Resident of the Year: Dr. Chivon Stubbs received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Georgia State University and a Master of Science in Biological Sciences and Organization Leadership from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Georgia. Upon completion of her master’s degree, Chivon enrolled in medical school at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Dr. Stubbs has recently been published in the STFM Family Medicine Journal and the Journal of Student-Run Clinics. She serves as the Clinical Advisor for MSM-HEAL (Health Equality for All Lives), a student-run clinic which guides medical students of all stages including improving their physical exam skills, teaching them phlebotomy skills, and glucose monitoring.

Throughout her residency career, Dr. Stubbs continues to give back to her community. She consistently volunteers at the student-run free standing clinics, mobile clinics, and community health fairs. She is a volunteer with Hosea Feed the Hungry and for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program through the United Way, a program that helps low income families file their income tax returns.

As a medical student, Dr. Stubbs served as an active member of the STFM Medical Student Education Collaborative, where she served for two years. She aided in the increase in student engagement in STFM and Academic Family Medicine by advocating for free student memberships. She also contributed by leading medical student workshops at the annual STFM conference on Medical Student Education.

As a resident she served as a Resident Board Member for the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians.  She was also a Resident Delegate to the AAFP National Conference where spoke on students and resident issues during the conference. Dr. Stubbs is a member of the MSE Steering Committee of STFM as a core member of a task force to develop national curriculum for family medicine sub-internship. Additionally, from 2015-2018 she served on the Board of Directors as the Cut-Hypertension Chair of the Health Student Taking Action Together (H-STAT) task force.

Ryan Smith, MD 2020 Keith Ellis Resident Scholarship: Dr. Ryan Smith is a native of Lilburn, Georgia and completed his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Smith served as Chief Resident at Emory Family Medicine Residency Program and builds longitudinal relationship with patients by serving as a family medicine physician.

During his time as Chief Resident, Dr. Smith developed an 18-month curriculum to cover the core topics of family medicine.  He also sponsored an initiative to improve bedside rounding in the Emory inpatient service.  Throughout his medical career, he has been involved in medical school education.

He applies evidence-based medicine to his daily practice. He thrives on delivering full-spectrum outpatient medicine as well as teaching medical students. He takes an active role in the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) at the school of medicine, where he continues to expose medical students to the specialty of family medicine.

Additionally, Dr. Smith has been involved with the community through the development of the residency’s Home Visit program.  Based on his assessments, he was able to develop and improve home visits and implement those changes in the program. He also recognizes the need to consider the social and emotional support system of his patients at the time of evaluating and treating them.

Dr. Smith promotes family medicine interests at the legislative level. He has participated at the GAFP’s Day at the Capitol several times during his residency. He has also represented the Emory Family Medicine Residency Program at the 2019 AAFP National Conference and the 2020 GAFP Medical Student Meeting.