Brigitta Robinson, MD, FACS

From the moment I entered medical school, I discovered something that would shape my entire career: medicine is not just practiced in exam rooms and hospitals – it is shaped in board rooms, committee meetings, and legislative arenas. As a first-year medical student, I was invited to attend my first meetings of the Indiana State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. I didn’t know much about policy or advocacy, but I saw quickly that if physicians don’t show up, decisions about us – and our patients – will be made without us.

Like many who begin this journey, I started small: attending meetings, writing testimony with friends late into the night, and learning how our voices could shape the future of our profession. Those early experiences taught me two things: policy matters and physicians working together can move mountains.

Through residency, early practice, and now decades into my career in Colorado, I have stayed involved in the Colorado Medical Society and the AMA – not because it was easy, but because it was essential. I have seen firsthand how organized medicine protects patients, advances science, and defends the integrity of our profession. I have testified on issues that affect how we practice. I have watched resolutions turn into real change. I have traveled across the country to stand with colleagues who believe, as I do, that advocacy is part of our calling.

Along the way, I was supported and inspired by mentors who opened doors for me and by peers who reminded me that collaboration is our greatest strength. I raised two children during this time, and they grew up attending many medical society meetings. They learned – as I did – that meaningful progress takes commitment, courage, and community.

As I take on the responsibility of CMS President, my journey is not just a personal milestone, it is proof of what happens when physicians stay engaged. Organized medicine gives us a voice, but only if we use it.

Every challenge we face today – workforce strain, administrative burden, threats to the physician-patient relationship – demands physician leadership. That means all of us. Not just the people at the microphones, not just those with titles, but every physician who believes our patients deserve better.

I am thrilled to have the role of president of the CMS. I am here because a physician leader once tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Get involved – we need you.” I offer every CMS member the same invitation. Join a committee. Write a resolution. Mentor a medical student. Testify at the Capitol. Stand up for this profession and for the future of medicine in Colorado. Because when physicians show up, patients win. When we lead together, we shape the future of health care. 

Our work continues – and this year the Colorado Medical Society is poised for meaningful progress. My focus as president is grounded in three priorities: practice sustainability, physician wellbeing, and greater physician engagement in organized medicine. I’m proud that the new CMS strategic plan, to be rolled out in the coming months, aligns with these pillars.

Practice sustainability is fundamental.

Across the state, I’ve watched physicians work harder for less reimbursement while malpractice costs and clinical risks stay the same. Too many colleagues are forced to choose employment over independence or leave medicine entirely. Insurance companies talk about value yet refuse to value physicians. We didn’t choose medicine to get rich – we chose it to serve. But service must also be sustainable. When physicians cannot support their families, or even keep their doors open, patient care suffers. We must restore respect for the physician’s role and secure fair payment for the work we do.

Second, we must protect the mental health of physicians. 

We already provide one-on-one wellbeing “consults” through the Doc2Doc program. We passed legislation last session to remove stigmatizing language from medical license applications. Our new communications strategy, Your Care is at our Core, reminds the public that physicians are human beings with purpose, families, and limits. We can do more. Burnout is a crisis. Medical students graduate under mountains of debt. Behavioral health services remain severely under-resourced and physicians are too often left alone to absorb the emotional toll. As a trauma surgeon, I witness tragedy daily, and I know how deeply it affects all of us. This year, I intend to advocate more strongly for mental health resources, reduce barriers to seeking help, and support psychiatrists and all physicians who care for patients in crisis.

Finally, we must grow and strengthen our membership. 

Throughout my 34 years in organized medicine, one question has followed me everywhere: how do we increase engagement? The truth is, CMS already delivers value – advocacy, policy leadership, legal protections, education – but too many physicians don’t know what we do for them every day. That’s on us. We must reach physicians where they are, especially those who feel isolated, overworked, or disconnected. I know we can do it, and I believe our membership committee, led by Dr. Omar Mubarak, will open new doors for outreach and participation. But this can’t just be a committee effort, it must be a community effort. So, I challenge each of you: bring one new member into CMS before December. If each of us does that, we don’t just grow – we transform.

And yes, let’s have fun doing it! I believe in mixing purpose with joy. If growth requires a little Fabergé Organic Shampoo-style exponential momentum – “and they’ll tell two friends, and so on, and so on” – I’m here for it!

I am honored to serve as your CMS President. Organized medicine has always been my home, and I am grateful to the people who helped me reach this moment. Thank you to the colleagues and mentors who opened doors and built this path. Thank you to the incredible CMS staff, your dedication makes our work possible. To our Colorado delegation and all of the physicians who show up year after year at AMA meetings, your advocacy inspires me. And to my parents and my children – Tristan and Tatiana – thank you for giving me the time and strength to stay involved. This has truly been a journey.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The future of medicine in Colorado is bright – and together, we will move forward.