Darrell Kirch

Darrell G. Kirch is an American physician, medical educator, and medical scientist. He served as the president and chief executive officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) from 2006 to 2019.

Early Life and Education

Kirch was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry. He then attended the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree.

Career

After completing his medical education, Kirch pursued a career in psychiatry. He completed his residency training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he also served as chief resident.

In 1986, Kirch joined the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. He served as the chair of the Department of Psychiatry and later became the dean of the medical school.

In 2006, Kirch was appointed as the president and CEO of the AAMC, a position he held until 2019. During his tenure, he advocated for increased funding for medical research and for reforms in medical education.

Personal Life

Kirch is married and has two children. He is an avid fly fishing enthusiast and enjoys spending time in the outdoors.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Kirch has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to medicine and medical education. These include the American Psychiatric Association's Distinguished Service Award and the Association of American Medical Colleges' Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education.