AAFP has integrated the tenets of Future of Family Medicine into all aspects of its new governance structure by matching commissions' scope of work with those of FFM goals, according to Academy leadership.
The leaders -- AAFP President Mary Frank, M.D., of Mill Valley, Calif.; Board Chair Michael Fleming, M.D., of Shreveport, La.; President-elect Larry Fields, M.D., of Ashland, Ky.; and EVP Douglas Henley, M.D., of Leawood, Kan. -- described the new Academy structure and answered questions during a May 6 town hall discussion at the National Conference of Special Constituencies and the Annual Leadership Forum here.
New Governance Sets Academy Focus on FFM Tenets
By Leslie Champlin
5/13/2005
AAFP President Mary Frank, M.D., describes the system by which current commission and committee members will transition to the Academy's new governance structure during a town hall discussion at ALF and NCSC. President-elect Larry Fields, M.D., also served on the panel.
The new governance structure comprises nine commissions. Each commission's scope of work contains tasks that will move the Academy toward meeting FFM goals. Four commissions have mandated subcommittees that preserve student, resident, international graduate and special constituency interests and that continue the Academy's focus on social justice issues such as health disparities, patients in underserved rural and urban areas, and challenges family physicians face in providing care in underserved areas. Also, each commission can appoint issue-specific subcommittees that will serve for the time required to meet their assignments.
The commissions have broad scopes of work and the new structure encourages multiple avenues for addressing member concerns because an issue can go to more than one commission, when necessary, said Frank. As a result, more than one commission can provide its perspective to final Academy action.
"As a board, we love it when we see issues come through several commissions because then we know all the points are looked at and we've got a rich program," she told town hall participants.
Fleming agreed. "In the past, the commissions worked in silos," he said. "We want to get out of the silos."
The new governance structure also will ensure greater efficiency in use of members' dues, said Fields. "This provides a direct line between our strategic plan, the commission structure and the budget," he said. "We needed to make the structure more nimble to implement the strategic plan."
Equally important, the new structure maintains current commission and committee members' expertise and service, said Frank. Those now serving on commissions and committees will receive offers to serve in new positions that most closely match their service and interests, she explained.
The nominations process will continue to rely on chapter input. Frank and Fields said the new structure enables chapters to think beyond geographic limits and to submit names for service based on their credentials rather than whether they meet a geographic quota.
"If you've got good people with good credentials, submit their names," said Frank. "We're looking at credentials first, not geography."
For more information on the governance structure, visit "New AAFP Structure Puts Focus on Meeting Strategic Goals."
The commissions have broad scopes of work and the new structure encourages multiple avenues for addressing member concerns because an issue can go to more than one commission, when necessary, said Frank. As a result, more than one commission can provide its perspective to final Academy action.
"As a board, we love it when we see issues come through several commissions because then we know all the points are looked at and we've got a rich program," she told town hall participants.
Fleming agreed. "In the past, the commissions worked in silos," he said. "We want to get out of the silos."
The new governance structure also will ensure greater efficiency in use of members' dues, said Fields. "This provides a direct line between our strategic plan, the commission structure and the budget," he said. "We needed to make the structure more nimble to implement the strategic plan."
Equally important, the new structure maintains current commission and committee members' expertise and service, said Frank. Those now serving on commissions and committees will receive offers to serve in new positions that most closely match their service and interests, she explained.
The nominations process will continue to rely on chapter input. Frank and Fields said the new structure enables chapters to think beyond geographic limits and to submit names for service based on their credentials rather than whether they meet a geographic quota.
"If you've got good people with good credentials, submit their names," said Frank. "We're looking at credentials first, not geography."
For more information on the governance structure, visit "New AAFP Structure Puts Focus on Meeting Strategic Goals."
