Kisha Davis, MD, MPH, FAAFP, Installed as AAFP President, Bringing Expertise in Public Health, Advocacy

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) today installed Kisha Davis, MD, MPH, FAAFP, as its new president. As a family physician and public health advocate, Davis brings a deep commitment to advancing health equity, strengthening care delivery and mentoring the next generation of family physicians. She will lead the AAFP in representing 124,500 family physicians, residents and medical students nationwide.

"I've always valued having a foot in both the policy and clinical worlds. They inform each other, and each makes the other stronger," said Davis. "Everyone deserves a family physician—someone who knows about diabetes and depression, the medical history and the story behind it. Through that firsthand experience, we see what works, where barriers remain and what communities need to thrive. Family physicians can bring those perspectives to the policy table to build a health care system that works better for everyone."

Davis serves as chief health officer for Montgomery County, Maryland, where she leads initiatives to improve health across the county. Previously, as vice president of health equity at Aledade, she worked to reduce disparities in primary care. Previously, she served as vice chair of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), advising Congress, the secretary of Health and Human Services and states on Medicaid policy. Earlier in her career, she served as medical director at CHI Health Care in Maryland and as a White House Fellow, where she worked to better align the nation's food and health safety nets.

She has held numerous leadership roles in the AAFP, spanning policy, governance and mentorship. Davis has served on the AAFP Commission on Federal and State Policy and the Membership Task Force, as the new physician member of the AAFP Board of Directors and as convener of the 2019 National Conference of Constituency Leaders. Her state leadership includes service as president, board chair and foundation treasurer of the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians.

"Family medicine is about showing up for people throughout their lives—not just when they're sick," said Davis. "My experiences have taught me that there is always an opportunity to be of service, and that's at the heart of family medicine. We build communities around our patients and around one another, in our practices, our neighborhoods and the halls of leadership. I am committed to ensuring that every family physician, at every stage of their career, feels that same sense of possibility and is empowered to use their voice to help our specialty thrive and grow for years to come."

Davis earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University and a medical degree from the University of Connecticut. She completed her residency at the University of Maryland, where she served as chief resident, and later earned a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has earned the AAFP Degree of Fellow, which recognizes distinguished service and ongoing professional development.

About the American Academy of Family Physicians
The AAFP is the largest national association of family physicians, representing 124,500 physicians and medical students. Family medicine's cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on impactful care for people of all ages, races and genders across all medical conditions. The AAFP supports every stage of a family physician's career and provides evidence-based resources, advocacy and community to empower family medicine. To learn more, visit aafp.org. For information about health care, medical conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP's patient education website, familydoctor.org .

SOURCE American Academy of Family Physicians