AMA honors Dr. Evans with Government Service Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Medical Association presented former Maine Rep. Richard A. Evans, M.D., D-Dover-Foxcroft with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service. A surgeon, Air Force veteran, and consensus builder, Dr. 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, Dr. 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.”
Dr. 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, New Jersey.
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.
Dr. Evans’ 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.
Lee Umphrey, chair of Consumers for Affordable Health Care’s board commented on the award, “Dr. Evans’ experience, expertise and commitment to public service makes him an invaluable member of the CAHC board. This prestigious national award recognizes his dedication to public service, including serving in the Maine Legislature and the Air Force focusing his career on improving access to affordable and quality health care, including advocacy on behalf of people in need of substance use treatment. As our friend, colleague, physician, and state legislator representing Piscataquis County, we salute Dr. Evans for the profound impact he has made in that community, our state and nationally.”
Ann Woloson, executive director at CAHC, added, “Dr. Evans is an incredible individual and widely respected by many in Maine for his tireless work throughout his career to improve access to health care for vulnerable populations, for which we are truly grateful.”