COOPERSTOWN — Bassett Healthcare Network has announced that Dr. Curtis Mills has received the Ralph O. Claypoole Sr. Memorial Award for Devotion of a Career in Internal Medicine to the Care of Patients from the American College of Physicians (ACP).

The award is given annually to an outstanding practitioner of internal medicine whose career has been devoted to the care of patients. The practitioner must be a clinician who is highly respected by peers and colleagues for clinical skills and who has been a role model.

“Bassett Healthcare Network fosters the spirit of all of us privileged to work there, allowing us to accomplish our goals of wonderful, personal patient care. I am grateful to Bassett,” said Mills in recognition of his award.

Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, president & CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network, said: “I extend my sincerest and heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Mills on this well-deserved distinction. Thank you for your many years of outstanding care to our patients.”

Mills’ career at Bassett spans more than 25 years of service to his patients.

He earned his doctor of medicine degree at Albany Medical College, followed by his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

He retired from Bassett’s senior professional staff as an attending physician in June 2021.

“The competition for the award this year was extremely strong, but your contributions were deemed the most outstanding,” said Marianne C. Parshley, MD, FACP. “As chair of the Awards Committee of the American College of Physicians, it gives me great pleasure to officially inform you that, based on the recommendation of the committee, the Board of Regents has voted to select you as our 2022-2023 recipient of the Ralph O. Claypoole Sr. Memorial Award for Devotion of a Career in Internal Medicine to the Care of Patients.

“What a wonderful recognition to honor him for his years of service and compassion to his patients and community,” said Charlotte Hoag, manager of medical staff affairs at Bassett Healthcare Network.