Say Hey to Dr. Kirkilas!

April 4, 2022
Portrait of Leah Sanford in glasses, smiling against a gray background with a purple frame and award badge.

Meet Gary Kirkilas, DO

This month, the ArMA member in the spotlight is Dr. Gary Kirkilas, a pediatrician who practices in Phoenix. With more than a decade of experience in the medical field, Dr. Kirkilas provides medical care to one of Phoenix's most vulnerable populations: children experiencing homelessness.

 

When he's not driving a 35-foot mobile medical unit through Phoenix, Dr. Kirkilas spends time avidly advocating for legislation that will move medicine forward and shape patient care. ArMA is very grateful for his advocacy work, membership, and engagement.


Learn more about Dr. Kirkilas and his accomplishments below! 👇

What inspires you?


Working with the homeless population, especially homeless children, can be emotionally challenging. I get a front-row seat to many of the worst and most unfortunate events that can occur in childhood. This population experiences daunting challenges, and being able to lift any amount of the heavy burden of homelessness can be fulfilling. What keeps me going is seeing the impact that even one interaction with a family can have. Every day there are successes: a troubled teen getting into counseling and free from substance use, ensuring a toddler can finally receive all of his missing vaccinations, and diagnosing a condition like a heart murmur on a grade school child that did not previously have any access to medical care and thereafter, supporting the family in getting on Medicaid and into the specialty care they need. 


If you weren't a physician, what would you be up to right now?


I think I would make a pretty good tour guide. I really enjoy talking to people about my passions, sharing my curiosity about the world, and introducing others to some of life’s most interesting places and activities. There are so many beautiful places in this world that we may not open ourselves to experiencing unless someone unveils them to us.


How would you like to be remembered?


As a passionate physician who wasn’t afraid to speak up for children’s best interests, even when the odds were stacked against him.


What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self?


I would tell myself to be more confident in my convictions. Specifically, to not be scared or embarrassed to speak up about causes that are important to me. It wasn’t until later in life that I was able to really hone this skill, and I have truly been enjoying it. Lately, it has tied into my medical career as I have advocated at the state level for cannabis advertising restrictions for children. I would never have done this type of advocacy in the past, but it is terribly important, and I am proud to be able to stand up and speak on behalf of children.


Continued from ArMA's Member Spotlight email...


What do you like best about living in Arizona?


I love the outdoors and have always been amazed at how beautiful the desert is here in Arizona. Some very intelligent people had the foresight to preserve some of these deserts and mountain parks from development so that we can all escape to the peace and wonder of the desert.


What does a typical day in your life look like?


We typically load up the mobile medical units with vaccines and medications at 8:30 am and then head out to our clinic sites. These sites can be homeless shelters, group homes for troubled teens, or schools where the student body is at or below the poverty line or where students are undocumented. We spend the morning providing medical care for the youth, and our services are vast, including comprehensive well visits, any acute sick needs, reproductive health services, and emotional health concerns. After the morning clinic, we get on the road to head to another clinic site for the afternoon and continue our care, bringing our services right to the communities that need them most. Each day, our locations are different across the city, which makes for a highly varied week. I appreciate the constant change that helps always keep me engaged.


Why is ArMA important to you and your colleagues?


The political world is complicated and ever-changing. Many decisions are being made every day that directly affect Arizona physicians’ way of practice and quality of life. If we don’t have skilled lobbyists and meaningful relationships with legislators that can look out for our interests, we fall behind. ArMA provides this invaluable service to its members as it is very active politically with a well-respected presence at the state capitol. I hope more physicians, in all stages of their careers, will make political advocacy part of their practice. Our voices are vital in making impactful changes.

ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .