Dr. Lowell Butman named Covenant HealthCare Distinguished Physician of the Year

The Covenant Medical Staff leadership has selected Dr. Lowell Butman to receive its Distinguished Physician of the year for 2013. Given each year by the medical staff, this award recognizes an individual who has distinguished him/herself by making significant contributions to the medical profession, community, and Covenant HealthCare. Throughout his multifaceted medical career, Butman’s work in quality and governance made a major impact on the practice of medicine at Covenant HealthCare.

Under his administrative leadership, the medical staffs of St. Luke’s and Saginaw General came together during the formation of Covenant HealthCare. Butman is also credited with obtaining approval to establish the Covenant hospital medicine program, the first one in the region. The Covenant Hospital Medicine program recently celebrated its ten year anniversary and now has over two dozen hospital medicine physicians providing care to Covenant patients 24/7/365.

“It is an accomplishment for a physician to have a successful career in medicine,” notes Dr. John Kosanovich, the CEO of the Covenant Medical Group. “It is an extraordinary accomplishment for one physician to have four distinguished careers in medicine,” he added.

Butman started his career in medicine as a large animal veterinarian. After three years of veterinary practice, he enrolled in medical school, working toward a degree in human medicine while still practicing as a veterinarian. Following graduation from medical school and residency, Butman launched his career as a family practice physician. As an independent physician, he served as Chief of Staff for St. Luke’s Hospital. He then later left the practice of medicine to join the hospital’s administrative staff as the Vice President of Medical Affairs, a position new to hospitals at the time.  Prior to his retirement, Butman went back to medical practice.  He was involved in the establishment of the Covenant HealthCare MedExpress urgent care center in Frankenmuth, and was the team physician there for 15 years.

 “I have been very fortunate to have Lowell as a long-time friend and colleague,” states Covenant President and CEO, Spence Maidlow. “With his constant quest for high quality patient care, intellectual approach to medicine and positive attitude, I can certainly see why his physician colleagues would select him to receive this honor.”

In addition to his work in medicine, over the years Butman has been involved in several community and civic organizations. He was instrumental in the founding of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Frankenmuth and served the church in several capacities.

The award was presented to Butman at the annual Covenant Active Staff Holiday meeting held earlier this month at Apple Mountain Resort. In addition to his physician colleagues, his wife, children and grandchildren were there to recognize his achievements.

Butman and his wife of 51 years, Moody, reside in Frankenmuth.