WASHINGTON – The American Medical Association (AMA) presented Colorado State Senator Kyle Mullica with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service. A public servant who left a prosperous career in real estate to pursue a calling in nursing, Sen. Mullica is serving his first term in the Colorado Senate, where he has been a leading advocate for physician-led health care, science, and vaccines.
The only actively practicing clinician in the Colorado Capitol, Sen. Mullica has been a fierce opponent of scope of practice expansions that would have dire consequences for patients. In 2022 he helped lead a House floor vote that defeated a physician assistant independent practice bill. Just weeks later, he was the outspoken opponent in committee on an optometric surgery bill.
In 2023, after a bill authorizing prescriptive authority for psychotropic medications for psychologists flew through the House, the Senator raised significant concerns, stalled the bill, and bought critical time to negotiate the deal that ensured continued physician oversight.
“In just his first term in the Colorado Senate, Kyle Mullica has distinguished himself as a champion for patients, physicians, and our health system in a time of particular need,” said AMA Board Chair Willie Underwood III, M.D., MSc, MPH. “His advocacy backed by science and data, Sen. Mullica has relentlessly pushed for vaccines, especially for COVID-19, provoking pushback and even threats in response. But not once has he backed down in the face of opposition. For his tireless advocacy, it is an honor to present Sen. Kyle Mullica with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service.”
A graduate of the University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in real estate/finance, Sen. Mullica discovered his passion for nursing while working with vulnerable populations and families suffering from homelessness. At the scary and uncertain onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, his sense of duty led him to answer the call for volunteers at the Cook County Jail in Illinois to help counter dangerous nursing shortages.
An ER trauma nurse, Sen. Mullica represents District 24 in the Colorado State Senate. He previously served two terms in the Colorado State House of Representatives.
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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.
