Dr. Malcolm Butler Receives National Achievement Award
CVCH Medical Director recognized nationally for work around reducing opioid addiction and deaths
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has presented Malcolm Butler, MD, Medical Director of Columbia Valley Community Health (CVCH), with the 2013 Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement Award at the 44th annual NACHC Community Health Institute in Chicago, IL. This nationally recognized award honors outstanding primary clinicians who exemplify excellence in leadership.
With this award, Dr. Butler was recognized for his work around reducing prescription opioid abuse and accidental overdose for the CVCH patient population and the surrounding communities. In his acceptance statement, Dr. Butler said he was pleased and flattered to receive this award on behalf of the providers and staff of Columbia Valley Community Health.
“Almost three years ago we recognized that we were, with the best of intentions, inadvertently contributing to the epidemic of accidental opioid overdoses. At that point we said: primum non nocere (first do no harm) and undertook the very difficult task of confronting the common wisdom and practices in the management of chronic pain.”
Born and raised in Seattle, Dr. Butler obtained a B.A. in philosophy from Cornell University, and attended medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He completed his Family Medicine residency, and an Academic Fellowship at the Ventura County Family Medicine Residency in Ventura California.
Dr. Butler has practiced in Wenatchee since 1993, and has served as the Medical Director of Columbia Valley Community Health since 1995. He was named Washington State Family Physician of the Year in 2005. He was awarded the “Summit Award” in 2012 by the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association for his “singular achievement in reducing opioid related deaths.”
The Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement award was established in 1977. The Community Health Institute conference draws nearly 2,000 community health leaders from across the country.
Pictured Above L-R: Kauila Clark, Immediate Past Chair of NACHC, Dr. Butler, and Gary Wiltz, MD, Board Chair, NACHC