Kathleen Mueller, M.D., FAAFP, honed her campaign speech over multiple breakfast meetings with Neil Brooks, M.D., FAAFP.
Jan. 27, 2025
By Mark Schuman, EVP of the Connecticut AFP, and Kathleen Mueller, M.D., FAAFP
We both started with the Connecticut AFP around the same time. In 1998, Kathy was nominated to the chapter’s Board of Directors as a brand-new family doc. Mark had joined the chapter’s association management business just a few years earlier. For the past 25 years we have worked together to serve family physicians and family medicine in Connecticut. For both of us, Neil Brooks, M.D., FAAFP, was a leader among leaders — a legend.
Brook’s career in organized medicine started in the late 1970s when he attended his first Board meeting of the Connecticut AFP. The executive director at the time was Art Schuman, Mark’s late father.
At the first meeting of the year, Art leaned over to the president and whispered, “Who is that know-it-all guy in the back of the room raising his hand on every issue on our agenda?”
The AAFP Nominating Committee is inviting applications for nomination to the Academy’s Board of Directors through Feb. 15. Applications may be submitted by potential nominees, as well as by groups such as chapters, member constituencies and member interest groups.
Applicants should have a record of active involvement with the AAFP and their chapter, leadership qualities and experience that meet the Academy’s needs, and the ability to represent the AAFP in diverse arenas.
The 2025 slate of nominees will be announced April 16, and the Congress of Delegates will elect Board members during its Oct. 4-6 meeting in Anaheim, Calif.
More information, including application details, a submission form, time requirements and an FAQ about the nomination process, are available online.
As it turned out, Neil Brooks did know just about everything. From that meeting on, Art and Neil not only learned to work together but grew to respect and love each other.
Neil began in leadership as the president of the CAFP and delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates. He was elected vice speaker of the COD in 1992 and then served as speaker from 1994 to 1997.
In 1996-97, Neil ran a successful campaign for AAFP president-elect, and from 1997-1998 served as the Academy’s 50th president. As a small chapter, we understood the immense honor of having one of our own in such a prestigious position. We had the great fortune to learn from Brook’s six years on the AAFP Board and later through his service with the AMA. Watching his journey inspired many of us to embark on our own.
Almost 45 years later, Neil was still calling the EVP of the Connecticut chapter (and the EVP of the AAFP) on any issues about which he felt strongly. Although he would assert his perspective, he loved a good conversation and was always open-minded and kind. Whether at a Board meeting, a social event or our chapter’s Annual Scientific Symposium, Neil went out of his way to tell a story about his journey, to encourage all to participate.
When Kathy decided to run for the AAFP Board, Neil was first on our list of consultants. He was not an early fan of the new nominating process that is now open for its second year, but, after some discussion, he came around to see the wisdom.
He was a beautiful writer and shared his thoughts on a good speech. Over multiple breakfast meetings, he helped hone Kathy’s speech for the Congress of Delegates, sometimes joined by friends from the Rein’s Deli breakfast club. We learned something new at each gathering, and Kathy knew she had a shot on the day she ran through her address when he said, “That was a good speech.”
Just two weeks before he died in November at age 82, Neil attended an event to celebrate Kathy’s election to the AAFP Board. He and his wife, Sandi, were there to tell us how proud they were to have Connecticut represented on the Board again after 25 years. They were both excited to hear about Kathy’s future adventures and reminded Mark of how proud his father would have been.
The was no better role model for medicine than Neil Brooks. We, and countless others, are better for having known him.
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