Hershey Family Physician Re-Elected Speaker of the American Academy of Family Physicians

WASHINGTON – Thomas Weida, M.D., a practicing family physician in Hershey, Pa., was re-elected speaker of the Congress of Delegates, the governing body of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), at the organization’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. As speaker, Weida will continue to serve on the AAFP board of directors. Previously, he served as speaker for two years and vice speaker for two years. The AAFP represents more than 94,000 physicians and medical students nationwide.

Weida is professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey. He is medical director of the University Physician Group at Fishburn Road, which is affiliated with the Hershey Medical Center.

A member of the AAFP since 1977, Weida has served on numerous commissions and committees, including those whose work has focused on resident and student issues, finance, marketing and public relations, new physicians, insurance and financial services, bylaws and scientific programs. He has been a delegate or an alternate delegate to the Congress of Delegates since 1988. In addition, he served on the editorial board of Family Practice Management, the AAFP’s practice management journal. He also reviews patient education materials for the Family Health Foundation of America. Weida has testified on behalf of the AAFP to the Practicing Physician Advisory Council of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

A member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) since 1977, Weida has served on numerous committees and task forces at the state level. He held the offices of vice-speaker and speaker of the PAFP House of Delegates for a combined seven years; as well as president, president-elect and vice president. Additionally, Weida has served on several committees of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and on the board of the Family Health Foundation of Pennsylvania.

Weida earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., and Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, Philadelphia. He completed his family medicine residency at Lancaster General Hospital. He 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. Weida also has earned a Certificate of Added Qualification in Geriatric Medicine from the American Board of Family Medicine.

Weida is a member of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) and is a fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. He served on the editorial board of Pennsylvania Medicine, affiliated with the Pennsylvania Medical Society. In 1998, Harrisburg Magazine listed him among the top doctors in the Harrisburg area. He also has been included in The Best Doctors in America database since 2002, published by Best Doctors, Inc. In 1983, he joined a solo medical office in Lititz, Pa., and during a 13-year period increased the practice to include four physicians and four physician assistants. In 1993, Weida’s practice won the AAFP/STFM Patient Care Award for patient education by a physician.

Weida is actively involved in the greater Harrisburg community. He is honorary director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Lancaster County and currently volunteers with Susquehanna Service Dogs, a program that trains and provides service and hearing dogs to assist children and adults with physical disabilities.