Dr. Nikitas Zervanos credits a program he helped establish at Lancaster General Hospital for earning him his latest in a long string of honors — Pennsylvania Medical Society's 2009 Distinguished Service Award.

Zervanos said when he interviews the 3,000 medical students who each year apply to the program — LGH's family practice residency program — they are asked what is motivating them to become a doctor.

"It seems trite, but I hear it: 'I care about people.' I suspect I probably said the same thing," Zervanos said, adding that in becoming a family doctor, "the bottom line is, it's fulfilling. It's an enriching experience for our lives."

Although Zervanos was named the recipient in June, he didn't formally receive the honor until Dec. 11 at Bent Creek Country Club.

Becoming a family physician stemmed from his Greek background — both he and his wife, Diana, are second-generation Greek-Americans.

The 73-year-old School Lane Hills resident grew up in a Greek immigrant neighborhood in Reading, where family was "central to our lives," Zervanos said.

"When I was a child, what we'd do was visit with relatives as families. The neighborhood interacted as families. When somebody got sick, it affected the entire family."

He carried that experience with him into his career. Zervanos was one of only five medical students in his class to insist on becoming a family doctor instead of going into a specialty.

"I couldn't think of anything else that involved not only the individual, but also the families who make up individuals' lives," he said.

That's why he was thrilled when the family medicine specialty was created in 1969.

Zervanos, who did his internship at LGH, was asked to pioneer the family practice residency program at LGH later that same year.

The residency program educates doctors on the need for continuing care of patients. They work out of Walter Aument Family Health Center in Quarryville, the James Street clinic and the new facilities in the downtown pavilion.

Zervanos was one of the first physicians in the country to tackle development of a three-year specialization program that would put family medicine on a growing list of recognized medical disciplines.

"I was there at the right time. It was a wonderful opportunity to help develop the specialty," Zervanos said.

Zervanos stayed on as director and guided the program to national prominence. When he retired in 2002 as director after 33 years, Zervanos was the longest-tenured leader in the residency program.

Zervanos also has run a physician's review course for Temple University for 34 years. That 50-hour course also has become well-known nationwide.

And Zervanos has held faculty positions at Penn State College of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He has won numerous awards from professional associations, honor societies, hospitals and colleges, according to the medical society. He also has written nearly 50 publications and scientific book reviews.

Although he retired as director, Zervanos is still as busy as ever. He sees patients on a part-time basis.

He also teaches Sunday school at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and is writing about his ethnic roots. Last spring, his book, "Early Greek Immigrants of Lancaster County," was published by Lancaster County Historical Society. He now has started his next book on Greek immigration from the time of Christopher Columbus.

"Family is a big part of our lives. It's the highlight of our lives," said Zervanos, who has been married for 51 years to Diana. "It's been quite an experience for both of us. It was filled with ups and downs, and we stuck it out together. They say love is work, and the opposite of love is laziness. Diana and I worked hard at our marriage."

The Zervanoses have three children: John, husband of Tricia Zervanos; Susan, wife of Niko Veronis; and James, husband of Vana Zervanos; and five grandchildren, with another on the way.

"We're now aging together. We're looking forward to the years with our children and grandchildren," Diana said.

lvaningen@lnpnews.com