Dr. Rebecca Benko Named
2025 Family Medicine Educator of the Year
The Washington Academy of Family Physicians has named Tacoma family physician Rebecca Benko, MD, as Family Medicine Educator of the Year. The prestigious award is given annually to recognize Academy members for excellence in teaching, development of innovative teaching models, or implementation of outstanding educational programs.
Dr. Benko is the associate program director at the Tacoma Family Medicine (TFM) Residency Program as well as director of TFM’s rural fellowship with obstetrics. She has been a faculty member there since 2002. Prior to that, she worked at the Newport Community Hospital in rural Pend Oreille County. Current and former TFM residents noted how Dr. Benko’s experiences helped her prepare numerous physicians for rural primary care and obstetrics care in Washington and across the country.
In addition to those roles, she is also a clinical professor with the University of Washington School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine; a former chief of staff for Tacoma General and Allenmore Hospital; and advisory faculty for the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) Program developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Dr. Benko earned her undergraduate, graduate, and medical degrees from Michigan State University. She completed her residency at Tacoma Family Medicine.
Previous Winners
- 2024: Tony Pedroza, MD, FAAFP
- 2023: Rob Epstein, MD
- 2022: Misbah Keen, MD, MBI, MPH, FAAFP
- 2021: Amanda Kost, MD, M.Ed
- 2020: Katheryn Norris, DO
- 2019: Paul Gianutsos, MD, MPH
- 2018: Sharon Dobie, MD, MCP
- 2017: Carl Morris, MD, MPH
- 2016: Raye Maestas, MD
- 2015: Nancy Gray Stephens, MD, MPH
- 2014: H. Thomas Greer, MD, MPH
- 2014: Walter Hollow, MD
- 2013: Judith Pauwels, MD
- 2012: Kevin F. Murray, MD
- 2011: Russell G. Maier, MD
- 2010: Samuel W. Cullison, MD
- 2009: Jane H. Huntington, MD
- 2008: Roger A. Rosenblatt, MD