The Medical Society of Tulare and Kings County announces its physician of the year

A physician caring for patients at Kaweah Health Medical Foundation has been named physician of the year.

Ralph Kingsford, a Visalia Medical Clinic pediatrician, was recently awarded the Medical Society of Tulare and Kings County’s George Tiss Memorial Award. The award is presented each year in honor of the late Dr. Tiss, who set the example of selfless devotion to the well-being of all people in the community, and donated services to the indigent and to charitable groups for over 40 years.

Dr. Kingsford was nominated by Alex Lechtman, M.D., who won the award in 2017. “I know the kind of hard work and dedication it takes to even be considered. I can think of no one person better suited than this year’s recipient,” said Dr. Lechtman, who has known Dr. Kinsgford since 1999. “I believe it says a lot about a person when they donate their time in the service of others. Dr. Kingsford has spent countless hours representing TCMS locally and statewide. His dedication to the advancement of organized medicine is impressive and I sincerely believe he is the best candidate.”

Dr. Kingsford was educated and completed medical school in India; completed his Pediatric Residency at Stanford in 1992 and completed his Pediatric GI Fellowship at UCSF in 1994. He has been with Visalia Medical Clinic since 1995 and has dedicated his time and energy to this community and the greater medical community here in Visalia as well as for California. Dr. Kingsford has done sports physicals for area high schools for over 20 years. He is an active member in his church and with his wife, has contributed to Royal Oaks Elementary School, Green Acres Theater and Redwood High School Band. He has been a Tulare County Delegate to the California Medical Association and has been on their Board of Trustees since 2013. Additionally, he has been on the Foundation for Medical Care in Tulare County since 1999 and a Board Member since 2011.

In an effort to recruit more physicians, Kaweah Health partnered with Visalia Medical Group, the physician-owned medical group to form the Kaweah Health Medical Foundation in 2015. The Foundation now owns and operates the clinic, employing all staff. The 42 physicians, who make up Visalia Medical Clinic, the physician-owned medical group, provide patient care.