Elsie native named Young Physician of the year

Merrick Medical Center’s Traci (Perlinger) Dieckmann, DO named the Nebraska Medical Associations Young Physician of the year.

The Nebraska Medical Association awarded Dr. Dieckmann of Central City, the 2022 Young Physician of the Year Award at its Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Ceremony on Aug. 19.

A native of Elsie, and daughter of Mike and Lori Perlinger, Dr. Dieckmann attended Nebraska Wesleyan University. She graduated from the University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City and completed her Residency at Wesley Family Medicine in Wichita, Kan. 

Dr. Dieckmann is a Family Medicine Physician in Central City. She is affiliated with Merrick Medical Center, Central City Medical Clinic and the Fullerton Medical Clinic. Dr. Dieckmann was chosen for the award in part for her outstanding community leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Dieckmann was instrumental in helping her community navigate through pandemic and worked to ensure healthcare remained available for all. 

As Chief of Staff at Merrick Medical Center, community members were able to connect with her on a more personal level as she provided updates and education in the clinic, hospital and on social media. Dr. Dieckmann also played a vital role in the planning and construction of a new $27 million hospital in Central City, which opened in opened in June of 2022.

The Nebraska Medical Association was founded in 1868, and currently represents over 2,500 Nebraska physicians, residents, and medical students. The mission of the Nebraska Medical Association is advocating for physicians and the health of all Nebraskans.