Kim Warner, MD, delivered her inaugural address as president at the 2024 Colorado Medical Society (CMS) Annual Meeting. In her speech, Dr. Warner reflected on memorable moments from her medical career and emphasized the importance of resilience, mentorship, and the unique responsibilities that come with being a physician.
Dr. Warner recounted an early experience during her first night call on labor and delivery as an intern. She described slipping in a puddle of water just before participating in an emergency cesarean section and losing a contact lens. Despite these challenges, she managed to assist in the surgery: “Drenched in sweat, half blind and very nauseated, we finished the surgery, and I remember the chief resident asking if I would be comfortable presenting the case at morbidity and mortality conference the following week. I literally had no idea what had just happened.”
She spoke about personal traits shaped by years in medicine—her drive for action and competitiveness—and how they have evolved over time: “I’m excellent at action (think crash cesarean section…except my first one) and problem-solving. My ‘area of opportunity’ is patience.”
Dr. Warner also paid tribute to her mentor Lynette Vialet, describing her as “the epitome of strength and resilience,” noting Vialet’s impact both professionally as a flight surgeon in the Air Force and personally.
Sharing stories outside medicine, Dr. Warner recalled climbing Mount Kilimanjaro shortly before September 11th, 2001, describing sunrise at the summit as “one of the most glorious moments in my life.” She also recounted scuba diving in Palau where a whale shark hovered above her group for twenty minutes: “This magnificent, enormous, gorgeous creature I believe was there because I needed to feel more connection and purpose at that time in my life.”
Turning back to medicine’s daily realities, Dr. Warner said: “Then I realize what physicians get to do daily for our jobs is one of the most magical things anybody can imagine…In times of need people trust us with their lives. That is magical.” She referenced Roger Federer’s recent commencement address at Dartmouth about handling wins and losses but contrasted this with expectations placed on doctors: “But what is poignant about this is that in medicine we can’t lose 50 percent of the points. We must be 99.9 percent perfect.”
Dr. Warner highlighted CMS milestones achieved during this period: “I want to make note that this is the first year in CMS history that there are women in both the president and president-elect roles! As Elenor Roosevelt said, ‘well behaved women rarely make history,’ right, Brigitta [Robinson]?”
She praised CMS’s advocacy work over recent legislative sessions—including negotiations around liability caps affecting all Colorado physicians—as well as efforts toward prior authorization reform and protection of patient privacy.
Looking ahead to her term as president, Dr. Warner stated: “My goal for this year is to make sure we work to increase our membership and that physicians’ impressions and the reputation of the Colorado Medical Society are expanded.” She outlined plans for a new strategic plan focused on advocacy, belonging, education, engagement, and stewardship.
Dr. Warner concluded by expressing gratitude to colleagues at CMS as well as family members who have supported her throughout her career.
