Dr. Bob Thompson, a physician at Valley Medical Center and part of its leadership team, has been selected by Seattle Business magazine as the 2013 Outstanding Health Care Practitioner in Washington state.

The award was presented Thursday night at a banquet honored 2013 Leaders in Healthcare.

The award recognizes Thompson’s advocacy and innovative leadership role in developing programs to help ensure that vulnerable members of the community can access and receive the health care and medical treatment they need.

Examples of these programs include the Renton RotaCare Clinic, VMC’s Acute Specialty Access Clinic and the New Hope Health Center in SeaTac. Additionally, Dr. Thompson has performed volunteer work in Belize and recently delivered medical equipment to a rural hospital in Erseke, Albania, where he also provided training for nurses and physicians.

“I am proud to represent UW Medicine and Valley Medical Center in accepting this award,” said Thompson. “It is an honor to co-labor with the hundreds of volunteers from our hospital staff and the community as we aim to provide needed medical services to the less fortunate.”

Since its inception, Seattle Business magazine’s Leaders in Health Care Awards has recognized the individuals who are making outstanding contributions to improve the quality and affordability of health care in Washington state.

“Dr. Bob, as he is fondly known, has worked at Valley for over 25 years and he is an emblem of what it truly means to be a tireless and compassionate care giver, committed to helping people in need,” said Rich Roodman, Valley Medical Center CEO. “We couldn’t be more proud to call him ours, and are thrilled he has been given this recognition that he so richly deserves.”