Dr. Paul Dolan Wins 2026 Dr. J.W. Bloemendaal Outstanding Physician Award

Dr. Paul Dolan Wins 2026 Dr. J.W. Bloemendaal Outstanding Physician Award

Each year, hundreds of Benefis employees are recognized on their "milestone" years at the Employee Banquet organized by the Human Resources team. During the event, a Benefis physician is also recognized with the Dr. J.W. Bloemendaal Outstanding Physician Award.

The award was created to honor a physician who best exemplifies the character and the manner in which Dr. Bloemendaal, a longtime orthopedic surgeon in our community, practiced for more than 50 years. This year, Dr. Paul Dolan, a longtime internal medicine physician and current system special advisor for research and development was the winner of the 2026 Dr. J.W. Bloemendaal Outstanding Physician Award.

Benefis CEO John Goodnow and Dr. Elisabeth Erekson, system chief physician executive, presented the award to Dr. Dolan.

John thanked Dr. Dolan for changing his plan to retire seven years ago, instead sticking around play vital roles in big projects like bringing Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine to Great Falls, establishing the Internal Medicine Residency Program, helping to develop the recently opened Goodnow Healthy Aging Center, and designing the dementia care model being implemented at the upcoming Village project.

"Through the years there have been a variety of title and responsibility changes." Dr. Erekson said during her remarks. "What is clear, is that he has consistently worked hard to do what is best for Benefis and our community."

Dr. Dolan was born in Glasgow, Montana, and grew up in Great Falls. He graduated from Great Falls High School and attended Concordia College where he double-majored in chemistry and biology. Unsure what to do next, he took some advice from a high school classmate and applied to medical school. That classmate was Benefis internal medicine physician Dr. Brice Addison. After finishing medical school at Creighton University, Dr. Dolan completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the Mayo Clinic, alongside Dr. Addison. Dr. Dolan completed two years with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, practicing at Claremore Indian Health Hospital in Oklahoma.

When Dr. Dolan returned to Great Falls, he joined Dr. Addison and Dr. Addison's late father in their internal medicine practice. The practice blossomed, and the trio found it difficult to balance the clinic and hospital duties, so they formed their own hospitalist service. One would cover both the Columbus and Deaconess hospitals for a week while the other two were in clinic. This arrangement meant that they were more available for consults and emergent needs, so they were often rounding on 35 to 40 patients a day with patients in both Intensive Care Units.

They bought the first cellphone in Great Falls to make them less dependent on pay phones when they were off site. That miracle device was a small suitcase with an attached phone receiver and boasted a total talk time of three minutes before needing recharging.

Through the years Dr. Dolan was involved heavily in medical staff affairs at both hospitals, holding a variety of positions. He became the medical director of the Deaconess nursing home and was medical director of the Columbus ICU. He was chief of staff at Deaconess Hospital during the merger and subsequently was asked to join the board of directors of Benefis Health System. In 2003, Dr. Dolan joined the administration at Benefis as the vice president of medical affairs.

Dr. Dolan has also been active in the community, serving on the boards of numerous organizations. Following a contentious teachers union strike he was asked to run for the Great Falls Public School Board. Her served six years on the board with three of those years as chairman.

Dr. Dolan has been married to his wife for 51 years. They have three children and two grandchildren. Benefis thanks his family for sharing him these past years as his retirement plan included relocation to Everett, Washington. His wife moved there in 2020 to help their daughter with the care of the grandchildren, and he was supposed to follow, but that retirement plan was changed. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Dolan thanked his family, especially his wife, for their love, support, and graciously allowing him to change those plans.

"I count myself incredibly blessed," he said. "I try to not think of myself as old, but more as experienced and refined. Sometimes I feel more experienced than refined. ... Thank you for this tremendous honor. I've had the privilege of working alongside people who care deeply about the quality of healthcare. We provided benefits. Just as importantly, they care about our employees and the community we serve."

Dr. Dolan went on to thank John and the Benefis leadership team for affording him professional opportunities that he never could have imagined back when he was starting his career.

"I've been fortunate to enjoy a career as both a practicing physician and an administrator. Along the way, I've learned that integrity matters, relationships matter, and showing up fully matters. I've worked hard, but I've had a great deal of fun. ... I've not always exceeded in everything, but I've tried to learn something from every step of the journey. I've also been blessed by outstanding mentors, colleagues, and friends who influence whose influence has shaped both my career and my life."

Dr. Dolan said he grew up with a deep sense of pride in Great Falls, and he is proud of what Benefis has become and the impact it has on our community as a health system, and that every employee is a part of that impact.

"While this award has my name attached to it tonight, it really reflects the many people who have supported, challenged, taught, and encouraged, and inspired me through my career. Thank you for this honor, and thank you for all that you do in our community, and thank you for being a part of the journey that has meant to me more than I can adequately express."