MHA: Gilbirds Recognized As 2018 Distinguished Quality Professional

William Morrow Gilbirds II, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Saint Luke’s Care and Medical Director of Quality for the Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, Mo., was honored with the Missouri Association for Healthcare Quality’s Distinguished Quality Professional Award. The award was presented on Friday, Nov. 9, during an awards luncheon at the Missouri Hospital Association’s 96th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Osage Beach, Mo. 

Gilbirds joined Saint Luke’s Medical Group in 2002 and has served as Saint Luke’s Care CMO and Medical Director of Quality at the health system since 2017. His leadership in quality improvement has focused on significant reductions in infection rates, standardization of evidence-based protocols across the entire Saint Luke’s system and mentoring other physicians in delivery of high quality care. Although he provides clinical leadership on quality for the health system and physician group, he continues to maintain a clinical practice. As a champion for improvement, he leads by example in his own practice. 

Gilbirds received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and completed his residency at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kansas City. He served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 2004 with more than 23 years of active and reserve service.