Academy President Beth Oller, M.D., presented the award at a dinner in Wichita.
“Dr. Shell is a family physician serving Coffey County since 1993,” Oller said. “During this time, he has served as a chief medical officer, county deputy coroner, volunteer faculty preceptor, and substance abuse expert, and interim CEO of a county hospital for a time. That's pretty much everything. That is all the things.”
Dr. Shell delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech.
“Mark Twain said that the two most important days of your life are the day you're born, and the day you realize why. This has helped me to realize why,” he said. “But I don't really feel worthy of this honor, because I don't think I've done anything extraordinary except go to work every day with a smile and with compassion for my peers and my patients.”
Shell thanked his nurse of 30 years, Tammra Schillig; a contingent of friends and colleagues who were present; and each current and former CHS family physician with whom he has worked. His most heartfelt words were saved for his family. He was surrounded that evening by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
“I’m a really lucky person. I get to do what I enjoy every day with the people I love every day. Family medicine is great, but rural family medicine—because you get to work, live, and play with your patients—is extraordinarily rewarding,” he said. “Maya Angelou said, ‘They won't remember what you said. They won't remember what you did. But they will remember how you made them feel.’ I hope I made some people feel good.”
Shell has spent more than 30 years serving Burlington and east-central Kansas as a family physician, mentor, medical leader, and advocate for rural health care. After completing his medical training at the University of Kansas and residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center, he joined Coffey Health System in 1993. In addition to maintaining a family medicine practice, covering emergency and inpatient care, and providing obstetrics care for more than 30 years, he has served as Chief Medical Officer at Coffey Health System since 2003 and has twice stepped in as interim CEO. His leadership supported Coffey Health System during administrative challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthened the hospital’s role as a cornerstone of rural healthcare.
Dr. Shell was also noted for being an integral member of the community, serving as a coach, supporting school events, and as a volunteer doctor for military veterans through the “Honor Flight” program. He has mentored medical students for decades, helping them experience the value and impact of rural family medicine. One student wrote in his reflection essay that doing his rural health rotation with Dr. Shell was the most extraordinary experience that he had in medical school.
Coffey Health System will host a community reception from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, in the Coffey County Hospital conference room.
“We could not be more thrilled for Dr. Shell,” said CHS Chief Executive Officer Stacy Augustyn. “We welcome Dr. Shell’s patients, colleagues, friends, and community members to join the celebration of this remarkable achievement and the impact he has had on healthcare in eastern Kansas.”
About the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians - The KAFP represents nearly 2,000 physicians and medical students statewide. It is the only medical society in Kansas devoted solely to primary care and is the largest medical specialty organization in Kansas. A family physician takes care of the whole family, all ages and sexes, each organ system and every disease entity. Research has proven that people with access to primary care have better health outcomes than those who do not. In Kansas, approximately one half of family physicians practice in non-metropolitan areas. Over 25 percent treat uninsured patients, especially children and families receiving public assistance. The mission of the KAFP is to empower and cultivate Kansas family physicians to advocate and collaborate for the health of all Kansans. For more information visit www.kafponline.org.