Published on January 11, 2010
Janesville Physician Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Daniel T. Peterson, MD Honored for More Than 30 Years of Service
He's been with Dean Clinic in Janesville quite a while - the closest to "an original" as you can find these days. Daniel Peterson, MD has been keeping thousands of hearts healthy in the Janesville community for 33 years and counting. That's why Dean has bestowed a Lifetime Achievement Award upon Dr. Peterson.
Dr. Peterson has seen cardiology technology improve and evolve throughout his career. He was one of the first in Janesville to introduce the newer pacemakers to patients, including the first dual-chamber pacemaker and the first rate-responsive pacemaker.
"I think one of the things I remember the most over the years is letters and cards from patients thanking me for their healthcare experience, and that has been very helpful and supportive," says Dr. Peterson. "It just makes you feel like getting up and going to work again in the morning."
The cardiac problems Dr. Peterson sees have become more intense and their courses of treatment more complicated. For example, when he started his practice, it was quite common for patients to come to the hospital for a heart attack without any prior cardiac history, or to come to the hospital with a stroke as their first sign of problems.
"That is unusual now," says Dr. Peterson. "Patients who come in with an acute heart attack generally get immediate attention and need thrombolysis or an angioplasty. Their problems rarely evolve in the usual pattern of so many years ago."
Dr. Peterson has been an integral leader in the Janesville healthcare community during his entire tenure. He spent 20 years on the Janesville paramedic training faculty and several as the program's director. He was also a preceptor for medical students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for more than 15 years. He is a longtime fellow of the American College of Physicians, has served on the Rock County Board of Health and has been president of the Rock County Medical Society.
Over the years, Dr. Peterson has also been involved at Janesville's Mercy Hospital. He has served as hospital medical staff president, secretary, chairman of its Department of Medicine and as clinical faculty for the Mercy Family Practice Residency. In 1994, he was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award for that residency. Over the years, he has actively participated in committee work on the ICU Committee, Credential Committee, Medical Ethics Committee and Peer Review Committee.
In his free time, Dr. Peterson works on his farm, raises horses and collects vintage tractors.
