AAFP Program of Excellence Awards Recognize 18 Family Medicine Interest Groups

LEAWOOD, Kan., Aug. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Family Physicians named 18 medical school Family Medicine Interest Groups as the 2018 Program of Excellence Award winners for their exemplary efforts to grow and support interest in family medicine.

Award winners were announced Aug. 3 at the AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students in Kansas City, Missouri.

FMIGs are student-run organizations that provide opportunities for students to learn about and experience family medicine that are not offered in their medical school curricula. FMIGs host regular events, workshops, leadership development opportunities and community and clinical experiences. However, these award-winning groups are breaking new ground with efforts such as starting pipeline programs for students who are underrepresented in medicine and working with their school administration to change the curriculum to be more supportive of primary care.

The Program of Excellence Awards recognize FMIGs for their efforts to promote interest in family medicine—10 for their overall performance, and eight for specific efforts including, community service, promoting the value and scope of primary care, professional development and interprofessional collaboration, exposure to family medicine, creating new momentum, innovative programming, most visionary FMIG and best new applicant.

"Increasing interest in family medicine is absolutely necessary as we continue to fight the primary care physician shortage," said Clif Knight, MD, senior vice president for education at the AAFP. "We have a workforce goal to increase the percentage of U.S. allopathic and osteopathic medical graduates choosing family medicine, from the current estimated 12 percent to 25 percent by 2030. The resulting increase in family physicians will help provide better care, improve health, and reduce costs in health care. Programs such as FMIGs are key to exposing students to real-world experiences that will help them dig deeper into—and ultimately choose—family medicine.

"The FMIGs we honor this year have gone above and beyond by activating students to put the knowledge they've acquired in the classroom into practice. These programs help students develop leadership skills that will serve them in their future practices and communities and provide opportunities to better understand the vital role that family medicine plays in our health care system."

The 18 overall 2018 Program of Excellence Award Recipients are:

• Oregon Health & Sciences Center School of Medicine
• University of Washington School of Medicine
• Keck University School of Medicine at the University of Southern California
• Howard University School of Medicine
• University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
• Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• Ohio State University School of Medicine
• University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Medicine
• University of Arizona, Tucson School of Medicine
• University of Minnesota, Duluth School of Medicine

The categorical and special consideration award winners are:

• Community Service: Florida State University College of Medicine
• Professional Development & Interprofessional Collaboration: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Exposure to Family Medicine: University of Missouri, Columbia School of Medicine
• Promoting the Scope and Value of Family Medicine: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
• Most Visionary FMIG: Frank H. Netter, MD, School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
• Best New Applicant: George Washington School of Medicine
• Creating New Momentum: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
• Innovative Programming: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

The winners' applications are published online to facilitate the sharing of best practices and programming ideas among FMIGs nationwide. There is also a programming resource for all FMIGs to use that highlights the most successful and innovative ideas from these exemplary schools.

FMIGs are independent groups, governed by their host medical school and supported by faculty and staff with resources and support from the national FMIG Network administered by the AAFP.

About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the American Academy of Family Physicians represents 131,400 physicians and medical students nationwide, and it is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

Family physicians conduct approximately one in five of the total medical office visits in the United States per year – more than any other specialty. Family physicians provide comprehensive, evidence-based, and cost-effective care dedicated to improving the health of patients, families and communities. Family medicine's cornerstone is an ongoing and personal patient-physician relationship where the family physician serves as the hub of each patient's integrated care team. More Americans depend on family physicians than on any other medical specialty.

To learn more about the AAFP and family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media. Follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, visit the AAFP's award-winning consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.

SOURCE American Academy of Family Physicians

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