ACMS Physician of the YearEach year, the ACMS board of directors selects one of its members as its Physician of the Year from nominations by the membership. Honorees exemplify the best ideals and aspirations of our profession by:
2022 Physician of the Year, Jim Souza, MD
Since becoming the CMO, Dr. Souza has helped oversee the development of SLHS’ Provider Well-being Center of Excellence. He championed its creation, staffed by a part-time physician leader (a former ACMS board member) and a full-time administrative dyad to support the effort. He remains an active clinician practice pulmonary and critical care medicine with St. Luke’s – Idaho Pulmonology Associates on a limited basis, keeping him very much in touch with the challenges which physicians face daily. He earned his undergraduate degree in cell biology from the University of Montana and a medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine. He served his residency in internal medicine at the University of Washington and the Boise VA Medical Center and did a pulmonary and critical care fellowship through the University of Washington and the Boise VA Medical Center. He is board-certified in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. Previous Year’s HonoreesJohn Mohr (03), Rodney Herr & Kirby Orme (04), Karl Watts (05), James Blackman (06), Roy Swinehart (07), Jon Wagnild (08), Larry Dewey (09), Ted Epperly (10), David Hindson (11), Jerry Hirschfeld (12), Jeralyn Jones (13), Perry Brown, Jr. (14) Ed Newcombe (15), Joe Callanan (16), Joe Williams (17), Kyle Palmer (18), Kim Stutzman (19), Justin Glass / Christine Hahn (20), Sky Blue (21) 2021 Physician of the Year, Sky Blue MD2022 Physicians of the Year, Christine Hahn, MD and Justin Glass, MD |
Dr. Souza has played a very strong and visible role as Chief Medical Officer of St. Luke’s Health System over the past 5 years. During the COVID crisis, he provided a reasoned and empathetic voice about public health matters in news interviews, testimony to public health boards, and with the medical staff of the System. He also stood fast against the politically motivated intimidation of St. Luke’s employees during an imminent danger child welfare case earlier this year. Under his leadership, SLHS has remained in IBM Watson Health’s Top 15 Health Systems for nine years running.