The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is honored to announce that Darrell G. Kirch, MD, President Emeritus of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Gold Foundation Trustee, and lifelong champion of humanism, will deliver this year’s Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture at the AAMC Annual Meeting in San Antonio. This annual lecture is a collaboration between the Gold Foundation and the AAMC, presented at the Learn Serve Lead conference.
Dr. Darrell Kirch
Dr. Kirch’s lecture, titled “A Physician’s Journey through Uncharted Waters,” will explore the deeply personal and professional evolution of a physician navigating the complexities of modern medicine. While medical education is grounded in evidence and the progressive attainment of competencies, Dr. Kirch emphasizes that each physician’s journey is uniquely shaped by their life experiences. In a time of profound disruption, staying true to one’s moral compass and humanistic values can be especially challenging. Drawing on unexpected lessons from his own path, Dr. Kirch will reflect on how these experiences sharpened, rather than dulled, his commitment to the ethical obligations of the profession and the humanistic core of medicine.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Kirch will be sharing the deep wisdom he has gained through his personal and professional journey at this year’s Jordan J. Cohen Lecture at Learn Serve Lead,” said Dr. Kathleen Reeves, President and CEO of the Gold Foundation. “I have seen firsthand his unique ability to bring people together to discuss some of the hardest issues facing healthcare. I am so grateful for what will be an inspiring and transformative lecture. Thank you to Dr. David Skorton and our partnership with the AAMC for this lecture, which brings illuminating voices of humanism to students, deans, faculty, and staff.”
Dr. Darrell G. Kirch is President Emeritus of the AAMC, where he served as President and CEO from 2006 to 2019. He is currently an adjunct professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, a national advisor for Manatt Health Strategies, and principal of Academic Health Advising LLC. A distinguished educator, biomedical scientist, and clinician, Dr. Kirch speaks and publishes widely on the transformation of healthcare and the role of academic institutions in leading change across education, research, and clinical services.
Dr. Kirch has served as dean, university senior vice president, and academic health system leader of two institutions: the Medical College of Georgia and the Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He has been on the Gold Foundation Board of Trustees since 2019.
He has chaired the Washington Higher Education Secretariat, served on the American Council on Education Board of Directors, and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2007. He co-chairs the National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience and also serves on the board of the Hastings Center for Bioethics.
A psychiatrist and clinical neuroscientist by training, Dr. Kirch began his career at the National Institute of Mental Health, becoming chief of the Schizophrenia Research Branch, serving as the acting scientific director of the institute, and receiving the Outstanding Service Medal of the United States Public Health Service. He earned his BA and MD degrees from the University of Colorado. Dr. Kirch has been awarded eleven honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of his contributions to the profession.
The Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture is named for Dr. Jordan J. Cohen, President Emeritus of the AAMC and Chair Emeritus of the Gold Foundation Board of Trustees. The lecture spotlights illuminating voices of humanism.
Join us on Nov. 2 at 3:00 p.m. at Learn Serve Lead in San Antonio for the 2025 Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture. The Gold Foundation will also be hosting a session on Nov. 3 at 10:15 a.m. on “The Power of Humanism: How to Transform Healthcare By Being More Intentional about the Human Connection,” which will feature stories from Gold Humanism Honor Society members and a Tell Me More® exercise.
To learn more and register for Learn Serve Lead, visit the conference website.
