Catholic Doctor of the Year
To submit the name of a qualified doctor(s) for consideration fill out an application form online. All forms are due by July 15, 2026, by mail or fax.
Today, Catholic doctors face many challenges as they strive to meet the needs of their patients in the context of their own faith and calling. Many go well beyond the role and responsibilities of their profession, offering care that truly reflects the love of God. For some this is obvious in their own practice, for others this takes the form of volunteering in their community or mission work that may be domestic or international. Their exemplary actions bear witness to the highest values of the Catholic doctor.
The annual award is given in recognition of the efforts of a doctor who has responded to Christ’s call to “Heal the Sick” as a member of our Catholic faith community and in doing so has made a World of Difference.
The award will be presented at the annual Archdiocese of Los Angeles Annual Mass Celebrating Catholic Healthcare Professionals.
Mission Doctors Association is proud to recognize Dr. Terry Schaack as the 2025 Catholic Doctor of the Year.
Dr. Schaack’s lifelong dedication to medicine began as early as high school and has remained steadfast throughout his career. While he has contributed to groundbreaking research that advances medical knowledge and improves patient care, it is his hands-on work with patients that brings him the greatest fulfillment. Guided by his Catholic faith, Dr. Schaack views medicine not only as a profession but as a vocation—a daily call to serve others with compassion and love.His pastor, Fr. Ed Benioff of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, shared this about the honoree:
“I nominated Terry as Catholic Doctor of the Year because of his total commitment to his patients, 24 hours, 7 days a week. In particular, his loving and consistent care of my 96-year-old colleague, Fr. O’Ryan, brought him back from the brink of death. This type of dedication he shows to all his patients, and that is what makes him an exceptional physician! His care is a reflection of his love for God.”
Dr. Schaack attended the University of Texas, completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Ohio State University, and went on to a fellowship in Rheumatology at UCLA Medical Center. Since 1990, he has maintained a private practice in Beverly Hills while also serving in key leadership roles. He was Medical Director and President of the California Health and Longevity Institute for two decades and, from 2013–2025, served as Principal Investigator for the Project Baseline Health Study at the Institute’s Southern California site.
To read more about past honorees click here: the list of all previous awardees here.