During its recent Interim Meeting the American Medical Association posthumously awarded Dr. Jeff Terry the AMA Special Award for Meritorious Service in recognition of his contributions to the medical profession. Dr. Terry’s wife, Elizabeth, and their son, Dr. William J. Terry, Jr., accepted the award on behalf of the family.

Dr. Terry was nominated for this award by the Medical Association and also received endorsements from physician leaders across the country. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) offered the following tribute: “Beyond serving his family and community, Dr. Jeff Terry genuinely cared about the future of the medical profession. His contributions to the policy-making process were absolutely invaluable. I am privileged to say that Dr. Terry was a fellow American and a colleague as a physician. He was a blessing to many.”

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) recently described Dr. Terry as “a consummate physician advocate for patients” who always punctuated his advocacy efforts by reminding him that “if we don’t get this right we will not be able to care for patients the way we should.”

Drs. Greg Cooper and Bill Clark, former Southeastern Delegation colleagues of Dr. Terry’s, offered the following endorsement: “We in the Southeastern Delegation will feel Jeff’s presence whenever we rise to speak to important issues that impact the practice of medicine. When we do, because of him, we will be less self-conscious, more passionate, and more determined to carry forward the work of the AMA.”

AMA Delegation Chair Dr. Jorge Alsip also remembered his friend and colleague. “Jeff was a fierce defender of the patient-physician relationship and a force to be reckoned with in the AMA House of Delegates. The sacrifices he made traveling  across the country to advocate for patients and physicians set an example that few can ever hope to emulate.”

In his remarks to the AMA House of Delegates Dr. William Terry recalled his father’s love for the AMA and the privilege of being a physician, and he concluded with the following challenge to the AMA House of Delegates: “Dad would tell us that if we sometimes find the practice of medicine to be a cold place, then make it your business to build fires.”