Leadership

Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., President and CEO

Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. is president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which represents the nation's medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic societies. A member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, Dr. Kirch is a distinguished physician, educator, and medical researcher.

Prior to becoming AAMC president in 2006, Dr. Kirch served for six years as senior vice president for health affairs, dean of the college of medicine, and CEO of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at The Pennsylvania State University. Before joining Penn State, Dr. Kirch served as dean and senior vice president for clinical activities at the Medical College of Georgia from 1994 to 2000. In addition to these leadership roles, he also co-chaired the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the accrediting body for U.S. medical schools, and he now serves as a member-at-large of the National Board of Medical Examiners and on the board of directors of Research!America.

A psychiatrist and clinical neuroscientist by training, Dr. Kirch began his career at the National Institute of Mental Health, becoming the acting scientific director of the institute in 1993 and receiving the Outstanding Service Medal of the United States Public Health Service. A native of Denver, he earned his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Colorado, which in 2002 recognized him with its Silver and Gold Alumni Award.

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