December 14, 2006, Duluth
At the annual meeting of the Lake Superior Medical Society (LSMS) tonight, David J. Mast, M.D., President of the Society, honored James Boulger, Ph.D. with the LSMS President’s Award.
In his presentation to Dr. Boulger, Dr. Mast remarked: “Jim has been an unsung hero in promoting excellence in our health care community by building quality doctors from day one. He has been a superb, behind-the-scenes, positive feedback type of coach and friend for hundreds of students that have subsequently become excellent physicians. I can’t think of a man who has mentored more good doctors. He has dedicated his very being to the success of his students and the medical school. We all owe him a lot.
Boulger commented that he was extremely honored to receive the award, particularly since it was presented by a former student of his, Dr. Mast. He also noted that one of the first members of the Lake Superior Medical Society to take students into their office from “the new medical school” was Dr. Fred Mast of Chisholm, Dr. David Mast’s father. Boulger pointed out that more than 200 of the students who began their medical training in Duluth now practice in the Arrowhead area.
Richard Ziegler, Ph.D. and Dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth Campus applauded the honor and said, “Jim Boulger has poured his life into this school for more than 30 years, and we are very proud that LSMS has honored him with this unmistakably deserving award.”
Among his responsibilities at the University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth Campus, Dr. Boulger is the Director of the Center for Rural Mental Health Studies, Director of Alumni Relations, and Director of the Family Medicine Preceptorship Program. He is professor in the Departments of Behavioral Sciences and Family Medicine and Community Health. He served as Associate Dean of the medical school from 1974 through 1990.
Boulger is considered one of the nation’s pioneers in fostering experiential learning – sending medical students into rural hospitals to learn, first-hand, what it’s like to practice in rural communities. In 2003, he was named the nation’s Distinguished Educator by the National Rural Health Association.
Dr. Boulger has been a faculty member at the school since 1974. He has taught every student who attended medical school in Duluth since the school opened, and he takes pride in remembering every one.
645 physicians from South St. Louis, Carlton, Lake, and Cook Counties are members of the Lake Superior Medical Society. The Lake Superior Medical Society is a component unit of the Minnesota Medical Association and through it of the American Medical Association.
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