Valerie Gilchrist, MD, received the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Award for Distinguished and Meritorious Service—a prestigious national honor recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing both the AAFP and the field of family medicine. Gilchrist’s career, defined by visionary leadership and a deep commitment to community health, exemplifies these values.
Valerie Gilchrist, MD
For more than twelve years, Gilchrist served as chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH). During that time, she led transformative initiatives that reshaped the department’s educational mission and expanded its statewide impact.
Under her leadership, DFMCH renewed its mission to provide community-based care, with a particular focus on underserved and marginalized populations. Residency programs grew in the cities of Madison and Milwaukee, and in the smaller rural areas of Belleville and Baraboo. Her guidance inspired many medical students, steering them toward careers in family medicine with a heart for service.
As principal investigator on a landmark grant, Gilchrist led the integration of community health training throughout all three years of residency. This initiative significantly enriched the department’s curriculum. Through the development of practice-specific modules at four Madison residency sites, more than sixty educational sessions addressed critical topics such as obesity, depression, and refugee health. These sessions benefited faculty, residents, and students alike. Faculty champions also established community-clinic partnerships that provided hands-on learning experiences focused on food insecurity and the social determinants of health.
These innovations garnered national recognition through conference presentations and academic posters and contributed to the department’s 2015 renaming as the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.
A nationally recognized leader in family medicine education, Gilchrist served as president of the Association of Departments of Family Medicine in 2017. She has also held leadership roles in the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), the North American Primary Care Research Group, and various AAFP chapters. Under her guidance, the department was also named one of ten Family Medicine Interest Group Programs of Excellence by the AAFP.
“Val embodies the very essence of what this award seeks to recognize and celebrate: a fierce commitment to the very highest standards of education in family medicine, across the full spectrum of learners,” said David Rakel, MD, current chair of DFMCH.
Reflecting on the honor, Gilchrist expressed pride in joining a distinguished group of departmental colleagues who have also received the award, including Richard Roberts, MD, JD (2016); David Deci, MD (2018); Lou Sanner, MD (2019); and recently retired Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians director Larry Pheifer (2023).
“An award coming from the AAFP, who represent our practicing family physicians, is an incredible honor,” Gilchrist said. “I am even more delighted to join the other members of our department who have received this award since its inception in 2014.”
Though retired, Gilchrist remains deeply engaged in shaping the future of family medicine. She co-facilitates the national LEADS program—sponsored by the Association of Departments of Family Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine—which focuses on mentoring women leaders. She also serves as an associate editor of Family Medicine and is one of three co-leaders of the STFM Bishop Society. Within DFMCH, she continues to teach and mentor faculty.
Throughout her distinguished career, Gilchrist has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving patient care and advancing medical education. The AAFP’s Award for Distinguished and Meritorious Service stands as a fitting tribute to her extraordinary contributions and enduring legacy in the field of family medicine.
Published: June 2025