Park Ridge Doctor is Illinois Academy of Family Physicians 2019 Family Physician of the Year
The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP) presented its highest honors at their annual meeting on October 19 at NIU-Naperville Conference Center.
Family Physician of the Year
Brian Chicoine, MD
Advocate Adult Down Syndrome Center - Park Ridge
Nominated by Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Family medicine has the greatest scope of any specialty. Family physicians give the right care, in the right place, treating the patient as a person, family member and within the context of their community. Dr. Brian Chicoine has delivered on that mission for adults with Down syndrome, where the patient, his or her family and the community are so important to the overall quality of life for this special population.
Dr. Chicoine started his clinical career in Freeport, Ill. after completing his family medicine residency training at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. He returned to serve as physician faculty in the residency at Advocate Lutheran General in 1991. He has consistently been viewed by residents and faculty colleagues as a strong, well-rounded family physician clinician, as well as a strong teacher.
In 1992, Dr. Chicoine volunteered to create a system for better caring for adult patients with Down syndrome. From the beginning, the program embraced team-based care-and principles of a "Patient Centered Medical Home" before the concept became a part of our healthcare system.
The letters IAFP received from Adult Down Syndrome Center families illustrates the impact of Dr. Chicoine even further. Here are some quotes taken directly from those letters.
"At our very first appointment with Dr. Chicoine, we felt a sense of relief that we hadn't know before. He gave us a checklist to fill out and we checked almost every box. We found a place where Scott could be treated as a typical patient. Dr. Chicoine understood all of Scott's medical and behavioral conditions. He truly enjoyed talking to and getting to know our son. Over the years, there have been many illnesses and surgeries. Dr. Chicoine has led us to the best specialists who have understood Scott's complicated and unique medical condition. He is also the only doctor who Scott likes seeing, and believe us, that says a lot."
"In the span of just two and a half years, Jeff had three major surgeries. In the hospital, when Brian would walk in after a hard night for us, it sounds corny, but it felt like sunshine walked in. He not only treats the patient; he treats the whole family. I can't even explain the love I feel for my brother, but Brian gets it. I've spent my life with people telling me they're sorry when I tell them my brother has Down syndrome. Brian understands what a gift my brother is. As my brother gets older, I can't even begin to tell you how comforting it is to know that we have Brian Chicoine by our side."
Chicoine was nominated by Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. He lives in Arlington Heights with his wife, Kathy, and three daughters. Colleague Greg Kirschner, MD is program director for the family medicine residency program and sums up Dr. Chicoine's many contributions. "Dr. Brian Chicoine practices within a niche within family medicine that cares for a very vulnerable population. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities face marked health disparities and there is little dedicated time to their care in medical school or residency curriculum. Dr. Chicoine shines as a leader in the field and mentor to future generations of family physicians so that one day, perhaps that won't be the case. The skills he shares and passes on not only strengthen the care and quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome, but all patients we care for as family physicians."