Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center Names 2024 Physician of the Year Award Winner

(PRESCOTT - Dec. 9, 2024) — Andrew Vela, MD, has been named Physician of the Year for Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center. Dr. Vela, who serves as the hospital’s chair of department of medicine and has been a hospitalist at YRMC since 2021, was nominated with several criteria at the forefront of the prestigious award.

YRMC’s physician of the year is someone who carries the hospital’s values on their shoulders and incorporates the Dignity Health mission and vision in all the work they do for patient care. In addition to values and vision, Dr. Vela is a physician who demonstrates a team player camaraderie fostering positive relationships with staff, volunteers and the community.

“I’m honored to receive this award,” says Dr. Vela. “This is a wonderful moment to highlight the incredible team I get to work with each day, and the wonderful patients we are privileged to serve. It’s a joy to come to work each day, and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to our wonderful YRMC team and Prescott community.”

Some of Dr. Vela’s nominations highlight his compassionate bedside manner, respect for colleagues and their respective roles in the hospital, professionalism, openness to seek assistance, and ability to connect with patients and staff among many other qualities.

“To say Dr. Vela is deserving of the physician of the year award is an understatement to the commitment he has to our patients and the community,” says Anthony Torres, MD, President and CEO of YRMC. “He didn’t just win the award for being nominated by our team members at YRMC, he was celebrated for his professionalism and integrity.”