February 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2026
Contact: Ellen Mullally
emullally@paltc.org/410-992-3124
The Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine has announced the recipients of its national leadership and excellence awards for 2026. Iris Boettcher, MD, CMD, is the Medical Director of the Year; Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, is the Clinician of the Year; the James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education goes to Sing Palat, MD, CMD; and Thomas Lehner, MD, FAAFP, is the recipient of the William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service.
A past president of PALTmed – Michigan (formerly known as MIMDA), Dr. Boettcher serves as a medical director at a number of facilities, including The Inn at Freedom Village in Holland, MI, and Corewell Health West (formerly Spectrum Health) Rehab and Nursing Centers. She is also a clinical associate professor in Michigan State University’s Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine.
“I am humbled to receive this recognition from the Foundation for PALTC Medicine. I joined AMDA as a fellow in geriatric medicine in 1989 and have gained so much from this organization we now call PALTmed,” Dr. Boettcher says. “It is an incredible honor to be named Medical Director of the Year. It is, in my opinion, one of the highest awards to be given to a physician in long-term care medicine.”
Dr. Galik is a nurse practitioner in long-term care and community-based settings through clinical practice with the Sheppard Pratt Health System. In addition, she is a professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, where she teaches in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program and conducts research to improve care practices for older adults with dementia and their caregivers in long-term care. She has written for a wide variety of publications and served as editor-in-chief of Caring for the Ages from 2020 to 2025.
Like her fellow award recipients, Dr. Galik is honored and humbled to be selected as Clinician of the Year. She notes, “My clinical practice with older adults living with dementia in post-acute and long-term care settings has always inspired and informed my scholarly and educational pursuits. Working with residents, families, and the interdisciplinary team has been the highlight of my career, and to be recognized for this work by a professional organization that values clinical practice is truly meaningful.”
Dr. Palat is a medical director with Senior Community Care for Optum Health and an attending physician at LTC Rehab Consultants. She is active on several PALTmed committees and subcommittees and has been president of PALTmed – Colorado since 2021. In addition, she is an associate adjoint professor for the University of Colorado Division of Geriatric Medicine.
“Nelson Mandela said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ I wish that the mentors and educators who have influenced my journey knew how much they mean to me,” Dr. Palat notes. “In my community, education ranges from gestures of 'Let me know if I can help' to brilliant publications and webinars shared nationally. I love that PALTmed members teach and inspire each other, our patients, and the community. Thank you for this award.”
With more than 34 years of experience in primary care and post-acute and long-term care
medicine, Dr. Lehner is currently a medical director for Buckeye Health Plan and Gentiva Hospice. He has been a member of PALTmed/AMDA since 1996 and has served on the Board of Directors and the Governance and Finance Committees. He is a past president of OMDA – The Ohio Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine and is the co-CMO of the Ohio Department of Aging’s R3AP Program.
“I was without words when I learned that I was the recipient of the William Dodd Founder’s Award. I am deeply honored to be recognized by my colleagues at PALTMed and very grateful for this special award. I never imagined being chosen to receive this award from among so many dedicated and deserving colleagues,” Dr. Lehner says. “PALTmed has been my professional home for almost three decades. I appreciate the opportunity to have served and worked with so many professionals over the years who are dedicated to caring for the patient population that we serve, and who make a difference in their lives.”
The awards will be presented in March at PALTmed’s PALTC26 Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA. Please view the PALTC Foundation website for more information on the awards.
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About the Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
The Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine is an independent not-for-profit national organization that philanthropically supports the advancement of education, clinical resources, workforce, and research. The Foundation advances the quality of life for persons in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) through inspiring, educating and recognizing future and current health care professionals. Visit the Foundation for PALTC Medicine at www.paltcfoundation.org.
About Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed)
Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed) is the only organization of its kind providing high-quality resources and education to the interdisciplinary team working in PALTC settings, including medical directors, attending physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, consultant pharmacists, and doctorly-prepared clinicians. PALTmed’s goal is to support its diverse membership, respond to its interests, establish practice standards, and encourage professional advancement for all.
Through its Certified Medical Director (CMD) credentialing program, PALTmed upholds excellence in medical leadership within PALTC. Committed to advancing high-quality, compassionate care, PALTmed fosters professional development, evidence-based clinical guidance, and advocacy to enhance outcomes for patients, residents, families, and healthcare teams.
Visit paltmed.org to learn more.