(Danvers, MA) - Northeast Health System (NHS) recently announced Ipswich resident Hugh M. Taylor, MD, as the most recent recipient of the Philip D. Herrick Award. The award is presented yearly at the NHS annual meeting to honor the remarkable example set by Dr. Herrick.

The Herrick Award honors characteristics that Dr. Herrick has displayed during his more than 50 years associated with the organization. Specifically, the award is given to a physician who is recognized by his or her peers for outstanding achievements, professional accomplishments, commitment to community service, dedication to the mission of NHS and the ability to inspire the general medical staff. This is the fifth year that NHS has presented the award and past recipients include Drs. Mike Arsenian, Tai Tran, Don Romanelli, and Ron Newman.

"Dr. Taylor exemplifies the mission of our organization, which is delivering outstanding care and service to every patient, every day," said David St. Laurent, chairman of the Northeast Health System Board of Trustees. "We were exceptionally pleased to present him with the Philip D. Herrick Award this year, as he is truly an exceptional physician with an unwavering commitment to his patients and his community."

Dr. Taylor, a member of Family Medicine Associates in Hamilton, truly embodies many of the professional and personal traits for which Dr. Herrick has been admired for so many years. He has been a member of the medical staff at Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals for more than 25 years and during that time has remained actively engaged in working with physicians and the Hospital to improve the quality of care for patients and their families.

Dr. Taylor is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in family medicine at University Hospitals of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio and is board certified in both family medicine and geriatric medicine. Dr. Taylor is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and past president of the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians, an organization which recognized him as "Family Physician of the Year" in 2007. He and his wife, Elizabeth Bernick, have two children: Alexander and Samuel.