Enid Charity Ball is our annual fundraiser that raises funds for our Physician Recruitment Program, which supports future physicians from high school through residency by providing mentoring, scholarships, hands-on experiences, and professional development. A new component of the program even provides financial incentives to physicians, encouraging them to come and serve the rural communities that need them most.
Physician of the Year
Enid Charity Ball is seeking nominations for the 2026 Physician of the Year Award to recognize an outstanding physician who has made a significant impact in direct patient care and the medical community in Northwest Oklahoma.
This individual embodies the highest standards of excellence, integrity, and compassion, and their service, leadership, and unwavering dedication have made a lasting impact on their patients, families, and the community.
2026 PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
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To be eligible for this award, the nominee must:
• Be a licensed physician with a minimum of ten years in practice in Northwest Oklahoma.
• Display or have displayed an unwavering dedication to patient care and made a significant impact in direct patient care.
• Have made an extraordinary impact on the lives of others and have been consistently recognized as a role model by their peers.
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To nominate a physician, you must submit a completed Nomination Form detailing the nominee’s contributions and impact.
Nomination Deadline: June 1, 2026
You can fill out the form online or download a copy and mail a completed copy to:
ATTN: NOOF
114 S Independence Ave
Enid, OK 73701
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Selection Notification: The provided friend and/or family member will be notified by July 1, 2026, and given 2 complimentary tickets to the Enid Charity Ball. Additional Tickets may be purchased as well. We encourage the friend/family member not to inform the winner to maintain the element of surprise.
Recognition: The Physician of the Year will be honored at the Enid Charity Ball during the dinner speeches and a special page in the program.
Information Needed: The family and/or friend will be responsible for providing a headshot and bio of the selected physician, along with any additional relevant information for the award presentation. This information will need to be provided by August 1st, 2026
Established in 2024, the Physician of the Year Award was created to honor a physician who has dedicated their life to medicine and serves as a role model to others in the profession and the community. As we introduced our new beneficiary, the Physician Recruitment Pipeline, this award reflects our commitment to recognizing excellence in healthcare and inspiring future medical professionals.
PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR HONOREES
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For nearly 30 years, Dr. Chris Shearer has been a cornerstone of the Enid medical community, admired for his compassion, clinical excellence, and humble leadership. Since arriving in 1995, he has earned the trust of patients and colleagues alike through tireless dedication, wisdom, and integrity. A past president of both the Oklahoma and Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Associations, he continues to mentor young physicians while serving on the boards of Integris Health Enid Hospital and the Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation. Known for personally answering calls at all hours, Dr. Shearer leads with empathy and service, inspiring higher standards of care. His greatest joy is his family—wife Lori, children Alex and Alyssa, son-in-law Cameron, and granddaughter Dorothea.
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“Dr. Gary Patzkowsky was inspired by his father, a dedicated family physician. After a year in rural Kansas, he moved to Enid in 1983, where his 34-year career spanned family practice, occupational medicine, minor emergency care, and mentoring medical students. Committed to community service, he has coached youth sports, provided school physicals for 25+ years, and volunteered with the Enid Community Clinic, Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, and Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation. Known as a skilled and compassionate physician, Dr. Patzkowsky is described as “a good friend,” “a great doctor,” and “a true gentleman.”
The Enid Charity Ball is a charity event hosted by the Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation (NOOF), a 501(c)(3) 509(a) nonprofit private foundation dedicated to addressing healthcare needs in Northwest Oklahoma while promoting the osteopathic profession.