Washington D.C., November 3, 2001 - Coleen Kivlahan, M.D., M.S.P.H., Professor of Family and Community Medicine at University of Missouri's Columbia School of Medicine, is the third recipient of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) annual Humanism in Medicine Award. The award, sponsored by Pfizer, Inc. and the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, honors a medical school faculty physician who is a mentor for medical students and a practitioner of patient-centered care.

Dr. Kivlahan is recognized for her contributions to the health care of child abuse victims and the uninsured. In 1987 she founded and directed the Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations (SAFE) network, a statewide cooperative of physicians who provide high-quality examinations and protection to children who have been sexually or physically abused. Serving as director for the Department of Health in Missouri from 1993 to 1997, Dr. Kivlahan worked to improve medical services for victims of child abuse and to expand the range of medical services available under Medicaid.

In an effort to provide primary and preventive care to low income families, Dr. Kivlahan persuaded Columbia's three local hospitals and the local United Way chapter to establish the Boone County Family Health Center in 1994. By the end of 2001, it is estimated that the Center will have treated over 16,000 uninsured and underinsured community residents.

As a teacher and mentor to University of Missouri-Columbia medical students, Dr. Kivlahan currently conducts summer research fellowships where a first- or second-year medical student joins her Clinical Outcomes team to work on an evidence-based continuous quality improvement project. Fourth-year students also may create course electives in which they can work with Dr. Kivlahan at the Family Health Center.

After receiving a medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio, Dr. Kivlahan earned a master's degree in public health from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She joined the University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine faculty in 1984. In addition to her teaching position, Dr. Kivlahan is Assistant to the Dean for Health Policy, Associate Chief of Staff for Clinical Outcomes, and Director of the Office of Clinical Effectiveness.

The Humanism in Medicine Award winner is selected according to a number of criteria, including, the faculty physician's professional skills, personal attributes, and professional and academic activities. The defining characteristics of humanism in medicine are: positive mentoring skills; compassion; collaboration; tolerance; sensitivity; active community service; and demonstration of professional ethics.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges represents the 125 accredited U.S. medical schools; the 16 accredited Canadian medical schools; some 400 major teaching hospitals, including 74 Veterans Administration medical centers; 91 academic and professional societies representing nearly 88,000 faculty members; and the nation's 67,000 medical students and 102,000 residents. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 130 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and nearly 90 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 125,000 faculty members, 70,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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