Academy's Key Contact List Surpasses 400 Names

The AAFP's key contact list now has grown to nearly 420 key contacts (4-page PDF; About PDFs) who are carrying the message of family medicine to legislators on Capitol Hill.

Key contacts, who reside in the districts of their congressional representatives or in the states of their senators, serve as liaisons to House and Senate members, conveying the Academy's messages and positions to lawmakers and raising awareness about various issues in Congress. They spend time building relationships with their members of Congress, often becoming a resource for congressional members and their staff members about issues affecting family medicine.

The AAFP's 419 key contacts can cover nearly 80 percent of Congress, and they give the Academy a strong grassroots voice in the Capitol. "This means that every time an issue of importance to family medicine comes up before Congress, we have key contacts contacting 419 members of Congress, telling them how this issue will impact family medicine," says Erica Fischer, the AAFP's grassroots advocacy specialist. "But hopefully, our key contacts pass the message onto their friends and colleagues so we will end up having thousands of messages being sent to Congress on any of our issues at any given time," adds Fischer.

"It is all about building relationships -- that is how you are able to best convey your messages," says Fischer. "Members of Congress are more likely to trust people they know. That's why we have key contacts out there building strong relationships."

The Academy matches one key contact for each member of Congress, and the goal is to develop 535 key contacts, one for every member of Congress. The key contacts serve as the Academy's "first line of offense," weighing in early and often on a variety of issues that include physician payment and the sustainable growth rate formula, reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program and funding for Title VII of the Public Health Service Act, says Fischer.

The AAFP, meanwhile, is developing a grassroots training guide for members interested in becoming more involved in advocacy. It will include information on the AAFP key contacts program and other ways members can become more involved, from writing letters and sending e-mails to hosting a fund-raiser.

To become an AAFP key contact, please contact the AAFP.