Physician Richard Neff has been named FMC's doctor of the year after just 2 1/2 years on the job.

Neff is a hospitalist, meaning he takes care of patients in the hospital for a variety of serious illnesses or injuries.

Thirty-four physicians were nominated for the award this year by various Flagstaff Medical Center employees. The winner was chosen from a committee that included winners from past years.

He's often happy, said colleague and hospitalist Mark Foster, and enthusiastic about seeing families and educating patients.

"He's just there, and available, and always wants to spend time with patients and families," Foster said.

Neff, 41, works 12-hour shifts, caring for as many 18 patients a shift, on various floors of the hospital.

He treats patients with heart attacks, kidney disease and diabetes.

"I really deeply enjoy being a part of people's lives at what is usually a critical part in their life," he said.

He is also part of hospital committees that look at patient safety and computerizing medical records, and says his success as a doctor is largely due to other staff.

Growing up outside of Philadelphia, Neff attended undergraduate college in Indiana, and was headed for a master's degree in music to be a choir director and music historian when he changed course.

He took up a part-time job working as a nurse's aide while in graduate school, and that led to the idea of medical school while he was job-shadowing a physician.

He became a faculty member in a medical school program and a hospitalist in Philadelphia, then put his name up for new jobs when a place he had never heard of named Flagstaff appeared.

"You really have to seriously think about this," his uncle in Santa Fe told him. "Flagstaff's one of the best towns in the Southwest."

As it turns out, his uncle had never visited Flagstaff.

Neff is a father of four, ages 8 to 23, and married.

The more difficult part of his job is multitasking. His wife helps him manage, he said.

"A whole lot of support and love and understanding comes from my wife, Nell."

Cyndy Cole can be reached at 913-8607 or at ccole@azdailysun.com.