Tom Konop, president of The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc., today announced Packers team physician Dr. Patrick McKenzie will receive the Bob Harlan Leadership Award presented by MillerCoors at this year's Packers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet. The banquet will be held on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
The Bob Harlan Leadership Award is presented in honor of former Green Bay Packers President/CEO and Packers Hall of Famer Bob Harlan, who demonstrated exceptional and extraordinary leadership throughout his career with the Packers. Candidates for the Bob Harlan Leadership Award must have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, over and above the call of duty during or after their career or association with the Packers. Above all, they must have served with the integrity, character and determination emblematic of Harlan.
McKenzie began his 30-year association with the Packers as team physician back in the early 1990s. An orthopedic surgeon with specialties in sports medicine, arthroscopy and ligament reconstruction, McKenzie is one of the most respected medical professionals in the NFL. He has treated countless players over the course of his time with the team, working at games to evaluate players for injuries as they occur and performing surgeries as necessary. With a reputation for kind and compassionate care, McKenzie is known among many former and current Packers players for always putting their long-term health first.
In 2011, he received the Jerry "Hawk" Rhea Award as the NFL's physician of the year in honor of his work during the 2010 season when the Packers had the longest injured reserve list in the league. A humble man, McKenzie was not expecting to receive the award. In fact, during the award ceremony, McKenzie was in the process of writing a "note to self" so he would remember to nominate then-Packers head athletic trainer Pepper Burruss for the award the following year. Instead, McKenzie was nominated by now-head athletic trainer Bryan Engel and presented with the award by Burruss.
In addition to his work for Packers, McKenzie practices medicine at Bellin Health, working from Bellin Health Titletown Sports Medicine and Orthopedics adjacent to Lambeau Field. An Oshkosh native, he is also the team orthopedic physician for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He has taught numerous classes in the athletic training program at UW-Oshkosh and continues to mentor students in the program. McKenzie is also a member of the WIAA Medical Advisory Committee.
Limited tickets and tables are available for the banquet, which begins at 4 p.m. with a cash bar, with dinner and program to start at 5:30 p.m. To inquire about tickets, fans can contact Sam Kluck at samk@packershalloffame.com.
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. is a nonprofit corporation independent of the Green Bay Packers that guides the Hall as a historic national sports venue and educational resource to the Green Bay community and the state of Wisconsin. The Hall raises funds through its annual induction banquet, Golf Classic and other events to preserve the history of the Green Bay Packers and expand its archives. Historic memorabilia donated by individuals to the Hall may qualify as tax-deductible gifts.
Originally established in 1967 as a temporary display in the concourse of the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena, the Packers Hall of Fame moved into its own facility in 1976 near Lambeau Field. In 2003, it was relocated to the lower level of the Lambeau Field Atrium, and it was closed in November 2013 for renovations. The Packers Hall of Fame reopened in August of 2015, and is now located on the main floor of the Atrium across from 1919 Kitchen & Tap. Groups interested in booking tours and those seeking additional information may visit the Hall online at packershofandtours.com.
