FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, August 2, 2024
LEAWOOD, Kan. — The American Academy of Family Physicians has named 18 medical school Family Medicine Interest Groups (FMIGs) as 2024 Program of Excellence Award winners. These FMIGs are chosen for their work to promote the specialty of family medicine at their medical schools and in their communities.
FMIGs are medical school-sponsored, student- and faculty-run organizations that give students a chance to learn more about the specialty of family medicine through workshops, leadership development, community service and on-the-ground clinical experiences. They equip students with leadership skills that will help them in their future practices and communities.
The Program of Excellence Awards recognize FMIGs for their efforts to promote interest in family medicine careers at a time when family physicians are in especially high demand for their comprehensive primary care expertise. Through FMIGs, students also form supportive relationships with peers and mentors, which will help them throughout their career in medicine.
"Investing in our country’s future family physicians through organizations like FMIGs means we’re also investing in the future of health care. The FMIGs we honor this year have unequivocally strengthened primary care and will undoubtedly help patients and communities,” said Margot Savoy, MD, MPH, FAAFP, AAFP’s senior vice president, education, inclusiveness and physician well-being. “This year’s FMIG Program of Excellence Award winners are doing the incredible and rewarding work of improving our health care system and fostering the next generation of diverse primary care physicians. I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
Winners of the overall 2024 Program of Excellence Award are:
This year’s AAFP Program of Excellence Awards also acknowledge excellence in specific categories:
In addition, Dr. Jennifer R. Raley, MD, FAAFP was awarded the 2024 AAFP Joyce Jeardeau Memorial Award. This award recognizes a faculty advisor who is exemplary in their support of their FMIG.
This year’s winners were honored during the AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students, which took place in Kansas City, Missouri, August 1-3. The annual event provides opportunities to network with residency programs and other students and residents, hear from family medicine leaders and participate in practical education sessions.
The AAFP publishes winning applications to share best practices and innovative programming ideas with other FMIGs and family medicine educators nationwide. For program details, resources and a complete list of winners, visit the AAFP’s dedicated web page.
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About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 130,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine and the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, visit www.aafp.org. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.