A doctor patients are ravin' about: KSB's Dr. Risha Raven is state's Family Physician of the Year

POLO – Sarah Lutyens says Dr. Risha Raven has an "old-school" relationship with her patients.

That means Raven makes house calls, or sometimes patients visit the doctor on her farm, said Lutyens, the office manager at KSB Center for Health Services-Polo Clinic.

Raven once picked up a patient who was in labor, drove her to the hospital, then delivered her baby.

"Her patients come first," Lutyens said. "She's definitely one of a kind."

The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians recognized Raven's work by giving her the group's highest honor – Family Physician of the Year. With family and colleagues in attendance, Raven accepted the honor Dec. 5 at the IAPF's annual banquet in Oak Brook.

Raven, of Sterling, has led the Polo satellite site since 2000, helping patients in the community of 2,500.

Raven offers full-range care, including obstetrics, minor procedures, healthy lifestyle counseling, mental health, end-of-life care and more.

"That's really my focus – to keep people healthy and see families growing," Raven said.

Kristine Dollmeyer, RN at the Polo clinic, said Raven spends 90 percent of her time in direct patient care, at the office, hospital and volunteer care clinic.

Patients know her as "Risha."

"They hardly ever call her 'Dr. Raven,'" Lutyens said.

Raven said she much prefers talking one-on-one with people to delivering a speech to colleagues across the state, as she did when receiving her honor.

"I hate the attention," she said.

Dr. Arvind Goyal, of South Barrington, nominated Raven. The IAFP Public Relations Task Force and Board of Directors selected her, and IAFP President Patrick Tranmer, MD, and John Sage, MD, a member of the task force, presented the award.

Modestly, Raven said other doctors were deserving. She also was a nominee in 2008.

Earlier in 2009, Raven, also a faculty member of the University of Illinois – Rockford Rural Residency Track, was honored as Faculty Physician of the Year.

She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

Raven also served 5 years as a nursing home medical director. She has volunteered with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, 4-H and Polo Area Community Theatre. She and her husband, Alan Fennel, raise animals and grow food on their farm. They have five children.

Health tip from Dr. Raven

The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children recommends a set of healthy guidelines called “5-4-3-2-1 Go!” Raven recommends everyone, adults too, follow these guidelines: Each day, eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, drink four servings of water, eat three servings of low-fat dairy products, limit screen time to 2 or less hours, and take part in 1 hour or more of physical activity.