Catholic Doctor of the Year
We are accepting applications for the 2025 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, 2025, 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 has chosen Dr. James Anastasi for the 2024 Catholic Doctor of the Year.
Dr. James Anastasi was nominated for the 2024 Catholic Doctor of the Year for his dedicated service to the clergy and religious who have sought his care over the years at his Santa Monica Internal Medicine practice by Fr. Fred Byaruhanga. This National Award will be presented at the Annual Catholic Healthcare Professionals Mass on October 13, 2024 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.
Dr. John Robertson, Director of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Providence St. John’s Health Center, shared that Dr. Anastasi is not only an outstanding physician but when meeting a patient at Saint John’s who was a priest, sister, or brother, it was nearly always the case that Dr. Anastasi was their doctor. Msgr. Liam Kidney, his pastor at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Pacific Palisades said of the honoree “He is a faith filled man, and he lives his faith!” Two of the facilities that are very familiar with Dr. Anastasi for his care of the clergy and religious are St John of God Retirement & Care Center, and Nazareth House in Los Angeles.
Elise Frederick, Mission Doctors Association’s Executive Director spoke with Dr. Anastasi who was initially reluctant to accept the award of Catholic Doctor of the Year. Elise shared that the reason this award was initiated in 2009 was to recognize a Catholic Doctor living their faith, wither in their own community or around the world. The goal is also to inspired other Catholic healthcare professionals to follow this example of faith and service.
Dr. James Anastasi attended medical school at Ohio State University College Of Medicine and completed his residency at Lac-King/Drew Medical Center. He is affiliated with Providence Saint John’s Health Center and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. James Anastasi holds American Board of Internal Medicine Certification in Internal Medicine.
To read more about past honorees click here: the list of all previous awardees here.