The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation presented its 52nd Annual Legislative Conference in September. The AAMC was honored to present the inaugural AAMC ACE Award for Advocacy, Collaboration and Education to five champions of academic medicine. These five awardees – two members of Congress, an academic medicine leader, a community partner, and a medical student – collaborate with the nation’s medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic health systems to improve the health of patients, families, and communities everywhere.
Join us in acknowledging the impactful achievements of our ACE Award honorees:
Congressional Champions
Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-7) was recognized as a dedicated advocate, pushing for the expansion of Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME). Through these efforts, Rep. Sewell has shown her commitment to improving health care access for all people in the U.S., especially those living in rural and underserved communities. In each of the last three congresses, she has been the lead sponsor of the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing our nation’s impending doctor shortage, strengthening and diversifying the workforce, and improving access to care to create healthier communities everywhere. You can take action in support of this legislation today.
Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-17) is the founder and chair of the Caucus on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, an organization that is an instrumental partner with the AAMC Action Collaborative for Black Men in Medicine. Rep. Wilson also hosted and spoke at a Congressional Briefing discussing Black Men and Boys in Medicine. Her leadership drives policy, strategy and action to address the scarcity of Black men and boys pursuing a career as a physician.
Academic Medicine
Lee Jones, MD, is a leading advocate for strengthening diversity in the medical student body and physician workforce. Dr. Jones is dean for medical education and a professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University of School and Medicine. He currently serves as chair of the AAMC Board of Directors.
Community Partners
Lynne Holden, MD is a dedicated advocate committed to advancing physicians who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM). She is the co-founder and president emeritus of Mentoring in Medicine, Inc., an organization that assists URiM medical students or those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Through the AAMC’s Pathway Program Committee, she uses her expertise to advance diversity in medicine.
Learner
Kylar Wiltz, an AAMC Action Ambassador and M4 medical student at the Howard University College of Medicine. While there, he established the first Multicultural Affairs Committee under the Student Council and sponsored three major events in coordination with multicultural organizations. Additionally, Wiltz served as a member/representative on the student planning committee for Operation Diversity in Plastics. He has also worked with the AAMC Action Collaborative for Black Men in Medicine and has served on multiple panels focusing on the need to increase the number of Black men in medicine.
Congratulations to all of our inaugural ACE Award recipients. We look forward to continuing to recognize those in the community who are making a difference and creating positive outcomes for our communities and the patients we serve.
