Most of us joined the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) as active members upon graduation from our residency training programs. During our careers, our memberships in other family medicine organization have likely evolved. However, the alphabet soup of abbreviations of our varied family medicine organizations can be a bit confusing and the relationships among them are often equally unclear. We are entering a time where collaboration among family physicians of all backgrounds will be increasingly important. With over 400 family medicine training sites, 65,000 family physicians, and 338 million patient touches by family physicians annually, the family of family medicine has an enormous impact on this nation’s health. Family physicians are being thrust into leadership positions in many health systems as they seek to save costs and improve quality. In this environment, knowing your “family” is critical to success since each organization brings special skills, relationships, and resources to the table.
The diagram below shows our key relationships and will hopefully clarify the various roles and constituencies that make up these organizations.
The ‘family’ of family medicine.
Our regulatory bodies, the American Board of Family Medicine and the Family Medicine Review Committee of the ACGME, are entrusted with overseeing the training and certification of our current and future physicians. Due to their regulatory roles, they must be distinct from the rest of the family but as our specialty evolves, they remain heavily engaged with all of our leaders to keep the training and certification rules relevant. The academic core of the family is made up of 4 organizations: The Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD), the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), The North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG), and the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM). Together the leadership of these 4 groups makes up CAFM, the Council of Academic Family Medicine. In a time where our government’s budget battles are drawing attention to graduate medical education reform, this relatively new subgroup allows for greater collaboration and advocacy for family medicine education. Finally, there is our Academy and Foundation which nurture and support the practicing physician. The AAFP is the center of the family and leads in advocacy that affects us all.
So what does this mean for you? It boils down to participation and engagement. Many family physicians are members of 2 or 3 of these organizations. Are you looking for ways to be part of this important work? More than ever each organization needs your support, participation in advocacy, and your ideas for solutions. Find your niche, join a task force or committee, step into a leadership role, and find a seat at the table. Your family needs you—now.
- © 2013 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
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