Lynn Gray (seated) with his wife, Debbie, and their children and grandchildren.
Each year, Michigan Academy of Family Physicians honors outstanding individuals of the state’s family medicine community who exemplify the mission, vision and values of the Academy. Among the annual Academy awards categories is Michigan Family Physician of the Year. This award is presented to a member who exemplifies the tradition and contributions of the family physician to the continuing health of Michigan residents. The recipient of the 2020 Michigan Family Physician of the Year award is Lynn S. Gray, MD, MPH, FAAFP, of Berrien Springs. Unfortunately, MAFP did not have the opportunity to present the award to Gray before he passed away on June 13, 2020.
Gray was a long-time member of American Academy of Family Physicians and Michigan Academy of Family Physicians. Since first joining the Academy in 1978, he was actively engaged and served in many leadership positions to advance his specialty and support his peers across the state. Among the Academy positions he held throughout his career were 2006‒2007 MAFP president, MAFP board member, and Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan trustee.
With expertise in diversity and health equity, Gray was especially dedicated to promoting the value of and need for family medicine in underserved communities and advocating for increased diversity among family physicians. On his application to serve on the MAFP board, Gray shared that he chose family medicine as his medical specialty because primary care specialties are the most needed specialties in the African American community.
A lifelong learner, Gray received his medical degree in 1975 from University of Michigan Medical School, completed residency in 1978 at Grand Rapids Family Medicine Residency, achieved the American Academy of Family Physicians Degree of Fellow in 1986, and earned his Master’s in Public Health in 1994 from Loma Linda University School of Public Health.
Gray practiced family medicine and emergency medicine for more than 40 years in southwest Michigan. He was affiliated with Lakeland Regional Health System where he served as medical director for Diversity and Health Equity.
“Lynn was a wonderful family physician and I enjoyed interacting with him on a regular basis over the years. He will be missed by all and especially by his patients and friends and family," said Chris Bush, MD, FAAFP (Riverview), who served with Dr. Gray for many years on the MAFP board of directors and various committees.
A virtual memorial service was held for Dr. Gray at Highland Avenue Church on Sunday, June 21, and can be viewed at the church’s website (https://www.havchurch.com/havchurchtv).
Michigan Academy of Family Physicians website
