The American Medical Association honors Texas State Alumnus for contributions to medical profession

Alfred Gilchrist, health professions graduate (M.S. ’84), was presented with the Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Medical Association (AMA) for his 39 years of leadership in Colorado and Texas. Each year, this award is presented to a medical association executive for their contributions to the goals and ideals of the medical profession. 

Gilchrist, who currently serves as the chief executive officer of the Colorado Medical Society (CMS), was described by AMA President Barbara L. McAneny, M.D., as, “A brilliant leader, strategist, team builder, and advocate for patients and medicine.

 “Alfred Gilchrist has led the CMS through an unprecedented period of advocacy and growth. He succeeded in advocating for Medicaid expansion and stabilizing medical liability climates. His tireless work to prevent insurance mergers that would have harmed patients and physicians alike, was instrumental in their defeat,” McAneny said. 

 Gilchrist has been credited with securing legislative victories in Colorado, while advancing the CMS. He designed the first standardized managed care contract law, requiring oversight of payer profiling and rating of physicians, as well as doing critical work on the Medicaid expansion and insurance mergers. He also played a critical role in securing grants and funding to improve care and ensure public health, including $1.5 million for pandemic flu preparedness.