May 4, 2026
Iris Boettcher, MD, CMD, FPALTC, has been a member of PALTmed since 1989 (back when it was known as AMDA) and has attended many of the organization’s annual conferences over the years. One of her favorite events has always been the general session where the Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PALTC) Medicine presents its Excellence Awards.
She considers the Medical Director of the Year Award to be “one of the greatest honors in our profession,” so she was understandably thrilled when she learned she was the 2026 recipient. “I was always in awe of those people who received it,” she says, “and I am so appreciative of the Foundation as well as the person who nominated me and thought that I was worthy of this honor.”
The medical director has an important role in the day-to-day operations of skilled nursing facilities. Dr. Boettcher notes: ”I think the leadership, mentorship, and collegiality that are created among staff at all levels of care in PALTC facilities are really key, and the medical director is someone who provides the necessary knowledge, wisdom, and experience in those spaces.”
Dr. Boettcher serves as a medical director at several facilities, including The Inn at Freedom Village in Holland, MI, and Corewell Health West (formerly Spectrum Health) Rehab and Nursing Centers. She believes the CMD certification she received through PALTmed has been invaluable to her and wholeheartedly recommends it to others.
“You learn a tremendous amount through that certification process, as well as the recertification process, in keeping up to date on the cutting edge of what's going on in long-term care and its various iterations,” she says. “I think the resources that PALTmed has for medical directors in the field are tremendous. There is nothing else like it, and the dedication that PALTmed puts toward its certified medical directors is really laudable.”
One of the colleagues who supported Dr. Boettcher’s nomination noted that she’s a great mentor, making herself available to cultivate her staff’s leadership skills, help them navigate ethical dilemmas, and ensure that everyone has the proper work-life balance.
“There aren't many of us in this area, so mentoring students, residents, and attending physicians is really important, because we have to spread our knowledge and wisdom across the board, and encourage young students to be involved in post-acute and long-term care medicine,” Dr. Boettcher says. “We've really changed how we engage with medical students, even pre-professional students, to get them interested in geriatrics, and particularly post-acute and long-term care medicine. Once they see it, it piques their interest, and that can be cultivated throughout their professional learning career.”
Watch this video of her discussing the award.