ATLANTA — The American Medical Association (AMA) presented Lelan Woodmansee, executive director of the Greater Louisville Medical Society (GLMS), with the Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given by the AMA to honor a medical association executive who has contributed substantially to the goals and ideals of the medical profession.

"The AMA is delighted to honor Lelan Woodmansee with this year's Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding leadership in serving Kentucky physicians and their patients," said AMA President Steven J. Stack, M.D.

For the past 35 years, Woodmansee has served as executive director of the GLMS where he has led and developed numerous initiatives, including the "Supplies Over Seas" program which ships medical and surgical supplies to third world countries. He was also responsible for implementing the "Pulse of Surgery" program to encourage student interest in the medical profession by allowing students to view real-time heart surgeries and interact with the surgeons who perform them. Under his leadership and guidance, Woodmansee also helped develop the nationally recognized drug and alcohol treatment program, "The Healing Place," and also helped create and implement a credentialing system that is used by more than 45 Louisville area hospitals and organizations in the initial and reappointment process.

Woodmansee was elected as the president of the American Association of Medical Society Executives and as president of the Kentucky Society of Association Executives.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a Master of Arts degree from The Ohio State University.

The award was presented to Woodmansee during the opening session of the 2015 AMA Interim Meeting in Atlanta.