The Metropolitan Medical Foundation of Oregon (MMFO) was founded in 1992 with a mission to support activities that improve health education and the delivery of health care to the community. With the administrative and promotional support of the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland (MSMP), as well as board members' volunteer leadership, our foundation was successful in accomplishing its goals. Our partnership with the MSMP was invaluable towards accomplishing our mission. While MSMP ceased operations at the end of 2020 former board members continue to volunteer their time and expertise on the MMFO board.
The late Rob Delf retired from the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland in 2011. In honor of his 30 years of dedicated service to the society and his role in the creation of and support for the development of the Metropolitan Medical Foundation of Oregon, an annual award was created. The Rob Delf Honorarium Award honored a person or persons who exemplified the ideals of the Medical Society within the community where its members practiced. These award recipients designed and implemented projects that improved community health or the practice of medicine in arenas including, but not limited to: education of new members of the medical community, educational opportunities for the public regarding personal health, medicine and health public policy, improved public health and emergency preparedness, advocacy in health public policy, community activities to promote health care and health care policy, and the general practice of medicine. The Rob Delf Honorarium Award program ended in 2020 with the dissolution of MSMP. MMFO continues to honor Rob Delf's memory by adding his name to the mini grant program.
Rob Delf Honorarium Award Recipients
- 2013: James Lindquist, Associate Director of Development of Our House. Awarded $1,000 in recognition for exemplifying the ideals of MSMP by improving health education within the community.
- 2014: Stephen Marc Beaudoin, Executive Director of PHAME. Awarded $1,000 in recognition for education of the public about health and advocacy in health public policy.
- 2015: Jim Reuler, MD, Founder of Wallace Medical Concern. Awarded $1,000 in recognition of outstanding efforts in community activities relating to healthcare. Dr. Reuler graciously donated his award to the Black United Fund of Oregon, an organization whose mission is to "assist in the social and economic development of Oregon's low-income communities and to contribute to a broader understanding of ethnic and culturally diverse groups".
- 2016: Robert Wells, MD. Awarded $1,000 in recognition of improving the health of the community and practice of medicine. Dr. Wells graciously donated his award to the Kizimani, an organization whose mission is "To work alongside indigenous groups to build strong communities through education, creating economic opportunities and community development."
- 2017: Nargess Shadbeh, JD, Director of the Farmworker Program at the Oregon Law Center. Awarded $1,000 in recognition for her exemplary contributions to improve the health of the community and the practice of medicine.
- 2018: Edward Grossenbacher, MD, founder of the nonprofit Hippocrates Oath Oregon Foundation and owner of the Scholar's House. Awarded $1,000 in recognition his humanitarian spirit and for investing in the success and livelihood of future medical professionals. Dr. Grossenbacher helps aspiring providers at Oregon Health & Science University reduce their debt by allowing them to live rent free in a house he owns on Portland’s Marquam Hill.
- 2019: Zoe Teton, OHSU Medical Student, founding chair of Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic, a student-run free health clinic for the underserved population in Portland. Awarded $1,000 in recognition for her humanitarian spirit and for investing in the health and well-being of the underserved. The goal of Bridges is to be the first step into the health care system, to address participants needs early and help them establish a more permanent medical home in the community.
- 2020: Katie Sharff, MD, with Kaiser Permanente, was recognized for diagnosing and treating the first COVID-19 patient in Oregon. Dr. Sharff represents so many providers who are behind the scenes working tirelessly through this pandemic.