Alumni

Farmer, '82, receives Distinguished Alumnus Award

By Camille Webb

The 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient is J. Christopher Farmer, M.D., a 1982 graduate of the Medical School. The award is the highest honor given to an alumnus and recognizes outstanding contributions to medical science and education or the prevention and treatment of disease.

"The alumni association is proud to recognize Dr. Farmer as a distinguished alumnus," says Resa Ott, associate director of alumni relations. "He represents the best of what the Medical School is about."

A Texas native, Dr. Farmer was born in San Angelo and attended Texas A&M University for his undergraduate education in biology, graduating magna cum laude. After earning his medical degree, he began his military career with the U. S. Air Force and completed his residency in internal medicine at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, the Air Force's largest medical facility. He also completed a critical care fellowship at St. Louis University and St. John's Mercy Medical Center.

Dr. Farmer held numerous posts in the military. Most notably, he was director of critical care for Wilford Hall Medical Center, chief consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General for Critical Care Medicine, and medical director of the Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Teams Global Program. He received four Meritorious Service Medals in 1990, 1995, 1996, and 1999. The awards denote high honor for non-combat achievement.

"In 1996, our family was extremely proud when he received the National Air Force Physician of the Year Award," says his nominator and sister Kathryn Farmer, M.D., who was also a 1987 Medical School graduate.

Dr. Farmer retired from the Air Force in 2002, at the rank of colonel. He now is a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., and has an appointment with the Mayo Clinic as a consultant in the Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

During his career, he has received many awards for his skills as a teacher and mentor. He was the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Recognition Award from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and he received two Staff Clinician of the Year awards for his training abilities with the Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Critical Care Fellowship.

"My brother certainly has been a superior mentor for me," Kathryn says. "Besides always being an excellent student, I feel like he truly was called to be a physician. His primary focus always has been the patient and giving them the best care possible. He always has treated patients as he would want his family members treated."

Dr. Farmer is married to Beth Phelan Farmer, M.D., a 1981 Medical School graduate, and they have five children. Their oldest son, Chris, is currently a third-year student at the school.