An Ending and a New Beginning

From Deadwood, S.D.; to Little Rock, Ark.; I have participated with you in continuing medical education as we all seek to become the best physicians possible.

From Boulder, Colo.; to Des Moines, Iowa; I’ve had the opportunity to give the fellowship oath as more members take the next step professionally by becoming fellows of the AAFP.

In Toronto and Montreal, I learned that Canadian family physicians struggle with many of the same problems in their health care system.

In Scottsdale, Ariz., at the AAFP Physician Health and Well-being Conference, I learned how we can better take care of ourselves as family physicians.

In Los Angeles, I connected with family physicians who are proud teachers of our art to students and residents during the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine’s Annual Spring Conference.

In California; Washington, D.C.; and Kansas City (where I have been often enough that they want me to pay state income tax) I’ve met with our Board of Directors as we sought to make meaningful and proactive decisions on behalf of our organization.

I’ve slept in hotels more than 120 nights this year. My wife, Lisa, and I are on a first-name basis with the Delta Airlines agents at our home airport in Mobile, Ala. Despite multiple airline delays, getting up at 3 a.m. for early morning departures and sometimes not arriving the next morning until 2:30 a.m., we were sometimes tired but never missed a meeting where my presence was needed.

Any day I was not traveling on behalf of the Academy, I continued to see my patients, so I remained connected to the joys and frustrations of family medicine.

Soon, I will turn over the position of president to Jen Brull, M.D., FAAFP, during the AAFP’s Congress of Delegates. In our organization the immediate past president becomes the Board chair. I have had the incredible opportunity to learn from past Board chairs, such as John Cullen, M.D., FAAFP; Gary LeRoy, M.D., FAAFP; Ada Stewart, M.D., FAAFP; Sterling Ransone, M.D., FAAFP; and Tochi Iroku-Malize, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., FAAFP. Now I will follow in their footsteps. My time as president is ending, but I’ll have a new beginning as Board chair.

As you have heard me say multiple times, family physicians make the best leaders. So, I ask you to continue to lead in your medical practices, your hospital medical staff and your state medical associations, including boards of health and state medical boards.

Soon we will be filling positions on AAFP commissions. I hope you will consider making that part of your leadership journey by contacting your chapter and applying by Oct. 15. Whether you are at the beginning of your professional life or nearing retirement, your leadership can make a difference.

Physicians are often told we need to learn how to say no. I’m thankful that I said yes to leadership. I said yes the first time I was asked to serve on the board for the Alabama AFP, and I said yes again when asked to serve as my chapter’s president.

The yeses took me to the presidency of my state medical association and vice president of the state medical board and the Board of Health. Each of those yeses has made me a better physician and a better person and allowed me to serve my patients in ways I could not have done otherwise.

I will give up my seat at the president’s desk and move on to my next adventure. One day soon that seat will be empty again. Will you be willing to sit in it? I hope so. Because family medicine needs you!