Brief Bio
Dr Susan Wilder, the 2008-2009 president of the AzAFP, is the founder and chief executive officer of LifeScape Medical Associates. She received her Bachelors of Arts in biology and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and her medical degree from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. Dr. Wilder completed her specialty training in Family Medicine at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, where she stayed on as a clinician, faculty member, and assistant chairman of the Department of Family Medicine. Later, she served in Africa as part of “Operation Restore Hope” and received the Armed Forces Expeditionary and Meritorious Service Medals.
Following her military service, Dr. Wilder joined the Mayo Clinic Arizona as founding director of the Family Medicine Residency Program and, subsequently, director of Clinical Genomics Education. At the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Wilder served in numerous leadership and executive roles and was the recipient of several honors including the Family Medicine Educator of the Year.
Dr. Wilder is board certified in family medicine and earned a Certificate of Added Qualifications in sports medicine. She completed a fellowship in faculty development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and served on the faculty of the Uniformed Services University, the George Washington University, and the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Dr. Wilder has written several textbook chapters and journal articles with specific emphasis on “patient centered” medicine. She is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association. Dr. Wilder is also on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Foundation for Women, a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to preventing domestic violence and child abuse. Her medical practice encompasses full-spectrum family medicine.
Dr. Wilder is a renowned, national-level speaker and frequent media guest. She has been a consultant to DreamWorks Television, provides parenting advice on BabyFirstTV, and is a member of Phoenix’s KPNX-TV Channel 12 “Health Team.” Dr. Wilder is listed regularly as a “Top Doc” by Phoenix Magazine and is a multiple recipient of 101 North magazine’s “People’s Choice” award. She is named one of the state’s top family physicians by Ranking Arizona and one of the nation’s top family physicians by the Consumers Research Council and the Center for the Study of Services. Best Doctors ranks Dr. Wilder among the top 4% of family physicians nationally.
Goals During Her Tenure
Dr Wilder has four goals for her tenure as president of the AzAFP.
- Empowering family physicians to honor themselves, believe in what they are doing, and get excited about it.
- Developing alliances with other companies and entities and help make our presence known and demonstrate what we, as family physicians, can bring to the table.
- Continuing the wonderful leadership development initiatives started by her predecessor, Doug Campos-Outcalt, MD, MPA.
- Promoting a message of hope
More detailed information about Dr Wilder's goals can be found in the AzAFP's quarterly magazine Family Physician Focus.