Descriptions of Commissions

The Board of Directors has appointed commissions to deliberate on issues within their scope of work, referrals from several entities within the AAFP, and new strategic ideas. Commissions then make recommendations to the Board regarding policy, development of new programs and projects, improvements to current activities, and potential discontinuation of activities.

The Commission on Continuing Professional Development works directly to support the AAFP's Strategic Objective on Education by supporting the lifelong learning of family physicians and other health care professionals. The goals of the commission are to guide the Academy's accreditation and provision of continuing medical education that helps learners demonstrate continuous improvement in knowledge, competence, practice performance, and patient outcomes, as well as fulfill the educational requirements for licensure and certification.

The mission of the Commission on Education is to provide a venue for the development of recommended policy and the dissemination of expertise and new information related to the education and professional development of family physicians until completion of the residency training period.

The Commission on Finance and Insurance is a standing Commission of the American Academy of Family Physicians as provided for in the AAFP Bylaws (Chapter XV, Section 1). It reviews various matters of the Academy, both as routine charges of the Commission and upon referral from the Board, other commissions and committees, or the Congress of Delegates. Commission members gain a very thorough understanding of Academy structure and function by review and participation in the budget process. All actions of the Commission (except for member reimbursement policies) are referred to the Board of Directors for final action.

The goals of this commission are to guide the Academy's advocacy efforts before the federal government and to assist the constituent chapters in their advocacy efforts before state governments. Advocacy is one of four key priorities for the Academy, making commission membership highly sought after.

The commission works directly to support strategic objective 4 and especially strategy 1 of the AAFP's Strategic Plan. Members of the commission work with staff to develop and review evidence-based clinical practice guidelines; recommendations for clinical preventive services, including immunizations; and health of the public policies, including tobacco, exercise and obesity. Members also represent the AAFP to federal, medical specialty, voluntary health, and other organizations and serve on a number of advisory committees to Academy programs.

The goals of this commission are to guide the Academy's membership efforts and to assist the constituent chapters in their membership efforts.

The commission works to support Strategic Objective 2. The mission of the Commission on Quality and Practice is to provide a venue for the development of recommended policy related to the practicing family physician.