
Languages Spoken: English, French, Spanish
Richard L. Backman, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician who focuses on the medically underserved and teaching future healthcare providers. He received B.A. degree in Biology and Chemistry from Pitzer College in Claremont, California and obtained his M.D. at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Backman completed residency in family medicine at the University of Wisconsin, and served as Medical Director of the Madsen Family Health Center at the University of Utah Hospital and Clinics until 2012. He is currently the medical director for the University of Utah Division of Physician Assistant Studies. He is a member of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the Physician Assistant Education Association. His professional interests include Interprofessional education, care for the medically underserved. and quality and safety in healthcare. In his leisure time, he enjoys backpacking, biking, skiing and tending chickens and bees with his wife, Sylvie. He is fluent in Spanish and conversational French. Dr. Backman sees patients at the University of Utah South Main Clinic and is currently welcoming new patients and accepts most insurance plans.
Very limited availability for new patients.
Clinical Locations
Specialties
Board Certification and Academic Information
Academic Departments | Family & Preventive Medicine
-
Associate Professor (Clinical) |
Academic Divisions | Physician Assistant Program |
Board Certification | American Board of Family Medicine |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
4.8/ 5

Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.7/ 5

Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.7/ 5

Wait time at clinic
4.3/ 5

Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.8/ 5

Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
March 11, 2022
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Good experience
UofU Patient
November 29, 2021
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr Backman is EXCELLENT
UofU Patient
November 21, 2021
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman is excellent - highly recommended.
UofU Patient
September 03, 2021
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman is an amazing doctor. I really appreciate his thoroughness. He is patient, kind, listens, and you can tell he genuinely cares about his patients.
UofU Patient
March 28, 2021
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Good
UofU Patient
March 27, 2021
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman was excellent.
UofU Patient
March 01, 2021
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman is an amazing pcp. I feel he truly cares about his patients.
UofU Patient
February 07, 2021
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman is above and beyond the best doctor I've ever seen. He spends more than enough time with me to make sure I'm getting the care I need. He listens closely to my concerns and helps me articulate those concerns. I've never had a doctor who has worked so hard to make sure I am getting the care I need. He's compassionate, an attentive listener, and speaks to me in a way that I understand. He's the best doctor in the world and I'm thankful I can be his patient.
UofU Patient
December 18, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
thank you
UofU Patient
November 22, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman is excellent.
UofU Patient
November 20, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman MD is the best
UofU Patient
October 17, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
excellent connection
UofU Patient
October 03, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
good
UofU Patient
September 26, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr.Backman could not be any more concerned and sympathetic. He had great advice.
UofU Patient
September 12, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman came in at the end, briefly for a summary. It felt a little more like a student evaluation for the PA student than it did about my health, but he was nice and my questions were answered.
UofU Patient
July 14, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Very easy, personable and positive experienced
UofU Patient
July 13, 2020
SOUTH MAIN CLINIC
Dr. Backman makes you feel like you are his only patient that day. He listens, engages and is a very good doctor.
Richard L. Backman, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician who focuses on the medically underserved and teaching future healthcare providers. He received B.A. degree in Biology and Chemistry from Pitzer College in Claremont, California and obtained his M.D. at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Backman completed residency in family medicine at the University of Wisconsin, and served as Medical Director of the Madsen Family Health Center at the University of Utah Hospital and Clinics until 2012. He is currently the medical director for the University of Utah Division of Physician Assistant Studies. He is a member of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the Physician Assistant Education Association. His professional interests include Interprofessional education, care for the medically underserved. and quality and safety in healthcare. In his leisure time, he enjoys backpacking, biking, skiing and tending chickens and bees with his wife, Sylvie. He is fluent in Spanish and conversational French. Dr. Backman sees patients at the University of Utah South Main Clinic and is currently welcoming new patients and accepts most insurance plans.
Very limited availability for new patients.
Academic Locations
Research Statement
Richard Backman, MD researches Interprofessional education, medical student education, care for the medically underserved, international healthcare, and quality and safety in healthcare. The quality improvement performed at both the Madsen and Sugarhouse Family Practice clinics has resulted in over seventy quality improvement projects since 2008. He completed the 3-month Advance Training Program (ATP) course at Intermountain Healthcare in 2013. He has been principal investigator or co-investigator on two quality improvement research projects. He has served on the University of Utah School of Medicine Education Research committee and the University of Utah Primary Care Research Network. He has served as a reviewer for the journal Family Medicine, a national peer-reviewed journal for Family Practice physicians.
Board Certification and Academic Information
Academic Departments | Family & Preventive Medicine
-
Associate Professor (Clinical) |
Academic Divisions | Physician Assistant Program |
Board Certification | American Board of Family Medicine |
Education History
Residency | University of Wisconsin Family Medicine Resident, 1997 |
Internship | University of Wisconsin Family Medicine Intern, 1995 |
Professional Medical | University of Texas Health Science Center Medicine M.D., 1994 |
Undergraduate | Pitzer College Biology and Chemistry B.A., 1984 |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Langelier C, Graves M, Kalantar KL, Caldera S, Durrant R, Fisher M, Backman R, Tanner W, DeRisi, J, Leung D (2019). Microbiome and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Dynamics in International Travelers. Emerg Infect Dis, 25(7), 1380-1383.
Global Impact
Selected Provider Publications
Journal Article
Langelier C, Graves M, Kalantar KL, Caldera S, Durrant R, Fisher M, Backman R, Tanner W, DeRisi, J, Leung D (2019). Microbiome and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Dynamics in International Travelers. Emerg Infect Dis, 25(7), 1380-1383.
Global Impact: Ghana, India, Nepal.