The Dr. Michael Frumovitz Physician Champion Award

The Dr. Michael Frumovitz Physician Champion Award reflects the vital role physician champions can and must play in transforming the human experience in healthcare. The award is named in honor of Dr. Michael Frumovitz, a member of The Beryl Institute community, a compassionate physician leader, and a respected experience executive, who not only championed the human experience, but also exemplified it in all he said and did.

This award embodies all Dr. Frumovitz stood for in his practice with patients, in his relationship with colleagues, and in his role as an executive championing a commitment to experience in his organization. It also honors his own personal journey as a patient, where through his willingness to be open about his own experience, he was able to shine a light on what a commitment to connection and communication can do to ensure excellence in care for all engaged.

Potential awardees will be identified through a nomination process. Recipients of this award will be considered based on the following criteria:

• A practicing physician who exemplifies through action a commitment to ensuring the voices of patients, family members and care partners are sought out, listened to, and acted on.
• A leader who reflects in practice the importance of a focus on the human experience, seeking to understand and actively address the needs and vulnerabilities of her/his peers.
• An individual that through her/his actions has driven positive, innovative, measurable, and lasting change in their organization and for their community.

Dr. Frumovitz dedicated more than 20 years of service to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, most recently as chief patient experience officer and professor in Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine. He passed away in July 2024 from pancreatic cancer. Dr. Frumovitz was celebrated by Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson Cancer Center, as “an exceptional physician who committed his career to extending and bettering the lives of our patients. He was an extraordinary colleague, friend and mentor to so many. His strength, his compassion, his wit and his impact will be felt for years to come.”

In 2016, he began his role as associate chief patient experience officer. In 2021, he served as interim chief patient experience officer before being officially appointed a year later. In this role, Frumovitz led efforts to support patient-centered, value-driven care, working with teams across the organization to continually improve the experience of patients and caregivers. Most recently, Frumovitz partnered with other clinical leaders to launch the institutional patient navigation program. His leadership was critical in improving the experience of MD Anderson’s patients, caregivers and providers. 

You can learn more at the Michael Frumovitz, M.D., Endowment for Gynecologic Rare Tumors