James J. Pattee, M.D. was a physician in clinical family practice for approximately 30 years. He served as medical director for North Ridge Care Center — now Minnesota Masonic Home North Ridge. He died on October 26, 2011. Dr. Pattee was a former board member of the American Geriatric Society and a past president of the American Medical Directors Association. He was professor emeritus, Department of Family Practice and Community Health, University of Minnesota and the author of several books including: Medical Direction in the Nursing Home: Principles and Concepts for Physician-Administrators and Health Care Future: Defining the Argument, Healing the Debate.

Dr. Pattee was instrumental in the founding of the American Medical Directors Association (now AMDA – Dedicated to Long Term Care Medicine). Due to his involvement, and role in curriculum development, the James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education is now given by AMDA. This award recognizes significant contributions to the educational goals of AMDA, to enhance the educational structure and framework of AMDA, to advance education specific to long-term care physician practice, and to promote AMDA leadership via educational endeavors within the long-term care continuum.

Here is a statement from the American Medical Directors Association on Dr. Pattee:

“James Pattee is one of those rare individuals whose life reached out to a long line of recipients of his education, skills, and kindness. He was the penultimate teacher — always teaching in every interaction, even just a brief 'hello, how are you' was a teaching moment.

His vision for medical direction and his development of the first medical direction curriculum eventually led to AMDA's Core Curriculum. He single-handedly trained and motivated an entire generation of a new entity — the profession of medical director. Many of his students identify themselves by their Pattee cohort and have maintained relationships with their cohort over the years of their service in that role.

Dr. Pattee's arrival at an annual meeting was always a moment to be looked forward to — his very presence was uplifting. He remembered every student and he still provided advice. In my own situation, it was always welcomed and on the mark...”

Funeral Mass Monday, November 7, 10 AM at The Church of St. Raphael, 7301 Bass Lake Rd., Crystal. Visitation Sunday, November 6, 3–7 PM at Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel, 15800 37th Ave N. at Vicksburg Lane, and at church one hour before Mass.

Patti Cullen, CAE
952.851.2487
pcullen@careproviders.org

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