Past president Richard Feldman, MD, was inducted into the South Bend Hall of Fame, alongside noteworthy people such as Pete Buttigieg. Dr. Feldman, a South Bend native and lifelong Hoosier, was recognized for his career in medicine, medical education, public health, and advocacy. A graduate of Indiana University and Indiana University School of Medicine, he completed his family medicine training at Franciscan Health Indianapolis.

In 1981, Dr. Feldman became program director of the Franciscan Health Indianapolis Family Medicine Residency Program, a position he held until 2018. He was the youngest-ever family medicine residency program director in the country and ultimately became the nation’s longest-serving. He continues his work as program director emeritus.

From 1997 to 2001, Dr. Feldman served as Indiana’s 20th state health commissioner, where his leadership included advancing tobacco prevention and helping shape Indiana’s landmark tobacco settlement legislation. For more than 30 years, he has also advocated for health-related public policy at the Indiana Statehouse.

An accomplished author, historian, lecturer, and medical journalist, Dr. Feldman has shared his expertise through authoring books, scholarly publications, and newspaper columns across Indiana. His many honors include the American Academy of Family Physicians 2002 National Public Health Award, being named the nation’s most outstanding family medicine residency director in 2014, and receiving two Sagamore of the Wabash Awards.