Graham Center Holds Open House During Scientific Assembly

The AAFP's Robert Graham Center: Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care in Washington, D.C., which conducts health policy research and seeks to infuse the nation's health care debate with a family medicine perspective, is planning to hold an open house Sept. 28 during the Academy's Scientific Assembly in that city.

Established in 1999, the Graham Center has built relationships with other primary care advocates, welcomed interns and fellows, created a Web site, and changed its name in 2000 to acknowledge the role of former AAFP Executive Vice President Robert Graham, M.D., in envisioning the center. Within its first seven years, the center has produced 84 published articles, four book chapters, 45 one-page research summaries, two documents related to the Future of Family Medicine project and three documents developed for the Academy.

Robert Phillips, M.D., M.S.P.H., the center's director since 2004, says the Graham Center is still young by Washington terms. However, he says, the center already has influenced policy discussions on topics such as liability insurance, health professional shortage areas and funding for family medicine training through Title VII of the Public Health Service Act.

"Increasingly, we're seeing state chapters take up our work," Phillips adds. AAFP constituent chapters already are using center maps and analyses to show legislators that many family medicine residency graduates care for populations that would otherwise be underserved and to seek funding for the residencies.

“We would love to have members and state chapter staff come to our open house and let us know about the issues affecting them,” says Phillips. The open house is 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in Suite 201 at 1350 Connecticut Ave. N.W., which is directly above the Dupont Circle South exit on the Metro red line. The Graham Center's phone number is (202) 331-3360.