James Dearing Elected to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians

WASHINGTON – James Dearing, D.O., F.A.A.F.P., a family physician in Phoenix, Ariz., has been elected to the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The AAFP represents more than 94,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. Dearing was elected to a three-year term by the AAFP’s governing body, the Congress of Delegates.

Dearing has been in private practice for more than 22 years. He currently cares for more than 6,500 patients, of which more than 100 are physicians themselves. From 1993 to 1999, Dearing served as president and CEO of a 1,000-physician group called Lincoln Primary Care Physician Group. Prior to 1993, he served as medical director for several organizations, including Phoenix General Hospital, Southwest Ambulance Company and the Sick Child Day Care Center.

A member of the AAFP since 1990, Dearing has served on and chaired numerous committees and commissions, including health care services, education, credentials and public policy. He currently serves as a delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates and also serves as the AAFP’s key contact to the Arizona Congressional Delegation.

A member of the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians (Arizona AFP) since 1986, Dearing has served as board chair and president. He has served on several committees and has represented the chapter to the AAFP Congress of Delegates since 1999.

Education has been a central focus of Dearing’s personal and professional life. He has personally trained more than 100 medical students, interns and residents. From 1994 to 1999, Dearing served as associate dean for medical education at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Mo. Today, Dearing teaches two courses at Arizona State University to pre-med students.

Dearing earned his undergraduate degree in sociology from Arizona State University. He earned his medical degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and then completed his residency at Phoenix General Hospital. Dearing is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is an AAFP Fellow, an earned degree awarded to family physicians for distinguished service and continuing medical education.

Throughout his career, many different organizations have honored Dearing for his compassionate and personalized patient care, as well as for the generous donation of his time and expertise. Dearing has received the Distinguished Service Award from Western University in Pomona, Calif., the Family Physician of the Year Award from the Arizona AFP and the Honorary Alumnus Award from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, among others.