A Wayne State University School of Medicine student has received the Outstanding Medical Student in Michigan Award from the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians.

Anthony Seely, 26, a fourth-year medical student, was selected for the annual award.

The Grosse Pointe, Mich., resident will be invited to speak at the academy’s annual meeting July 24.

The Outstanding Medical Student in Michigan Award recognizes student members of the MAFP for academic excellence, leadership, service and dedication to pursuing a career as a family physician.

Upon entering medical school, Seely joined Street Medicine Detroit, helping provide medical care for the city’s service-resistant homeless population. During his first two years in the organization, he devoted hundreds of hours leading street runs and hosting patient seminars to educate the community on common medial problems.

Those who nominated Seely for the award said he also served as director of patient care for Street Medicine Detroit, identifying high-risk patients and coordinating specialized care plans with multiple organizations. He also invited the street care teams at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Michigan to collaborate with Street Medicine Detroit in developing an interactive patient chart that improved patient follow-up and expanded the programs’ collective pool of resources.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Seely volunteered daily at the former state fairgrounds to help administer testing, and raised funds for personal protective equipment drives.

"He is recognized as one who goes above and beyond in his clinical skills, effective patient-centered care-team collaboration and relationships with patients, whom he treats as people not numbers,” Leah Vandenbussche, M.D., wrote in her nomination of Seely for the award. “Anthony is often found talking in-depth with patients, making genuine, longitudinal connections as he explains his care plan and provides linkages to community-based resources, when needed.  It is obvious that Anthony’s approach is centered around the perspective of the patient and not just the singular reason for the visit.”

Seely said the facet of Family Medicine that attracted him “is the lifelong connection you build with your patients.”

He chose WSU for his medical education because “Wayne's commitment to community health stood out to me above all else,” he said. “There are countless opportunities for students to get involved and make connections from the moment you walk onto campus.“