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Biography

Dr. Berg grew up in the Midwest, graduating with an M.D. from Washington University (St. Louis). He completed a residency in family medicine at the University of Missouri (Columbia), before moving to Seattle as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar, earning an M.P.H. from the University of Washington and completing a residency in general preventive medicine and public health in 1979.

In 1979 Dr. Berg joined the faculty at the University of Washington, where he spent his entire academic career before retiring in 2013. Dr. Berg was a prominent contributor to the development of family medicine's scholarly and research agenda over the years. He served 10 years on the Board of STFM in several elected capacities. He was associate editor of the Journal of Family Practice for many years, medical editor of the AAFP's Home Study program for 10 years, and associate editor of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine for 15 years until his retirement. He received the Marian Bishop Leadership Award from STFM, the Thomas Johnson Education Award from AAFP, and the Curtis Hames Research Award from STFM/NAPCRG.

Dr. Berg has served on many national expert panels using evidence-based methods to guide practice and policy, including 5 years as chair of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, co-chair of the otitis media panel convened by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, member of the AMA/CDC panel producing Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services, founding chair of the CDC panel on Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention, and chair of the NIH State-of-the Science Conference on Family History and Improving Health. He was a founding member of the Methodology Committee of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Dr. Berg was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in 1996, and has served in more capacities in the National Academies than any other family physician. He has chaired, contributed to, or reviewed more than 23 reports, many of which have been highly influential in policy development.

In retirement he enjoys playing piano and harpsichord with local chamber music groups, serving on nonprofit boards, reading, cooking, and traveling with his wife Janet, a retired psychiatrist.