Dr. Gary Ensz Recognized for 50 Years in Medicine

Auburn Family Health Center is proud to recognize Dr. Gary Ensz for receiving 50-Year Recognition from the Nebraska Medical Association (NMA), honoring five decades of service to the medical profession and the communities he has cared for throughout his career.
Dr. Ensz was recognized during the Nebraska Medical Association’s 2026 50-Year Recognition Banquet held June 11 in Omaha. The annual event honors physicians who began their medical careers 50 years ago and celebrates the impact they have made on their patients, colleagues, and communities throughout the state.
Dr. Ensz came to Auburn in 1979 through the National Health Service Corps and has been a familiar and trusted presence in local healthcare since. The practice was initially overseen by Nemaha County Health Services, Inc (AFHC). before Dr. Ensz assumed ownership in 1983. The practice later became Auburn Family Health Center, where he continued building on a mission of providing quality healthcare close to home.
When asked about any favored memories from his time as a practicioner, Dr. Ensz noted his earlier years during which he delivered over 600 babies. “It’s always a good feeling when those infants I delivered then came up to me later in their lives and reminded me that I delivered them.” As well as those memories, Dr. Ensz cherishes all the friendships he’s developed with those employed at AFHC and with the patients he’s been a doctor for over the years. 
“Few people have the opportunity to work alongside their dad and witness firsthand the difference he has made in the lives of so many people. The legacy he has built through his commitment to his patients and this community is remarkable. This recognition is well deserved, and I am honored to continue that work as both his son and his partner.” – Dr. Andrew Ensz
Over the years, Dr. Ensz has cared for generations of area families, often treating parents, children, and grandchildren from the same family. His commitment to rural healthcare has helped ensure that residents of Auburn and the surrounding communities have access to medical care without having to travel far from home.
“We were only planning on staying a couple of years in Auburn,” Dr. Ensz said, “But the community here is wonderful and a great place to raise a family, so we stayed.” He then went on to note that his son, Dr. Andrew Ensz, and daughter-in-law, Dr. Amanda Ensz, returning to live and practice in Auburn was the ‘cherry-on-top.’ 
“Few physicians have the opportunity to serve a community for as long as Dr. Ensz has. For decades, he has been a trusted source of care, guidance, and support for countless families throughout our area. This recognition reflects the dedication and commitment he has shown to his patients and community of Auburn throughout his career.” — Dr. Michael Zaruba
When asked if he had any advice for prospective doctors and medical professionals, Dr. Ensz said to focus on the patients. “There is a lot of beuracracy and politics in medicine and it seems to be one of the big things that turns people away,” he explained, “but you have to push past that, focus on your patients and the impact you can make on their lives and health. What a doctor can do for someone in the exam room is a highly rewarding experience and should, hopefully, outweigh the less-fun politics of medicine.”
Reaching a 50-year milestone in medicine is a rare and remarkable accomplishment and reflects a lifetime dedicated to caring for others. Auburn Family Health Center is grateful for Dr. Ensz’s leadership, service, and the countless lives he has touched throughout the past five decades.