WASHINGTON – The American Medical Association (AMA) presented former Maine State Rep. Richard A. Evans, M.D., with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service. A surgeon, Air Force veteran, and consensus builder, Rep. Evans leveraged his position in the state legislature to seek bipartisan agreement on issues including substance use treatment, physician workforce development, and bolstering health coverage access.
The first member of his party to represent his district in 30 years and just the fifth Black person elected to state office in Maine, Rep. Evans sponsored six bills that became law during his two years in office, including legislation to establish the Accidental Drug Overdose Death Review Panel, and a bill to maximize health care coverage for uninsured people through easy enrollment in the MaineCare program or a marketplace health plan.
“Rep. Evans is the very embodiment of public service,” said AMA Board Chair Willie Underwood III, M.D., MSc, MPH. “A veteran, a leader, a legislator, a physician and a champion for people in need, he has demonstrated time and time again what it means to live your values: honor, integrity, compassion, and bridge building. For his tireless advocacy and for the very real impact he has made on the lives of patients–his own and otherwise–it is an honor to present Rep. Richard Evans with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service.”
Rep. Evans received his undergraduate degree in microbiology from Howard University. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and completed a residency training program in general surgery at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia and Cooper Medical Center in Camden, NJ.
His military accolades, including the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal and the United States Air Force Commendation Medal, reflect his outstanding contributions in various roles, such as flight surgeon, commander, director, and chief of hospital services and surgery.
His civilian accolades, including the Maine Medical Association President's Award for Distinguished Service, further exemplify his exceptional dedication to the betterment of the medical profession and the broader community.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
