Resident AAFP leaders
Meet the American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP) resident leaders and learn what drives them and how you can join them.
Residents can make significant contributions to family medicine as members of the wide variety of boards, commissions and inter-organizational teams that shape the AAFP. Experience in a leadership role provides valuable career insights and unique mentorship opportunities.
Most resident leaders serve a one-year term, many beginning in the fall.
As medical care and health care reform undergo pivotal changes, the voice of family medicine's next generation of physicians is critical in shaping a future that aligns with the core principles of primary care. Learn what drew current leaders to their roles and find out what they hope to achieve through their skills and passion for family medicine.
Elected national AAFP leaders
Derek Southwick, MD
Contact Dr. Southwick
“As resident member of the AAFP Board of Directors, I hope to elevate the voice of trainees while ensuring the Academy continues to meet the needs of family physicians at every stage of their careers. I want to strengthen pathways for leadership development, amplify advocacy around primary care workforce issues and highlight innovations that improve both patient care and physician well-being. Most of all, I aim to be a strong, reliable bridge between residents and the Board, making sure our perspectives help shape the future of family medicine.”
Taree Chadwick, MD
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“Every time I attend our student and resident conference, I leave inspired—a feeling that stays with me throughout the year. Whether you're there to network, build clinical skills, explore residency options, write resolutions or simply observe, FUTURE offers a powerful platform to be seen, heard and to find your community. It sparks a sense of purpose that lasts far beyond the conference itself. In this role, I hope to continue encouraging students and residents to discover their voice, pursue their passion and find the community that will support them along their journeys and in their career.”
Maria Paula Castro Reales, MD
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“As a resident delegate, I am most excited to learn from the physicians who have come before me and are shaping the field of family medicine while simultaneously bringing a new perspective to modern problems. I also hope to encourage more young family physicians and residents to feel empowered and to engage in advocacy. At the same time, I believe it is essential to confront and reduce burnout by creating an environment where new physicians and residents feel heard, supported and genuinely considered. I want to ensure that family medicine residents and students considering family medicine feel valued and recognize that they, too, can ignite meaningful change through active advocacy.”
Claire Namboodri, MD
Contact Dr. Namboodri
“I hope to uplift the voices of residents nationwide by ensuring our training experiences, workforce challenges and patient care realities are reflected in AAFP policy. My goal is to advocate for greater investment in primary care and address systemic barriers that threaten equitable access, while building consensus with colleagues to advance policies that strengthen both our profession and the communities we serve.”
Appointees to AAFP commissions
Julie Ngo, MD
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“I am excited to help create engaging and future-driven work in continued professional development. I hope to ensure our field has the tools to stay at the forefront of medicine as well as adapt to our ever-changing world.”
Raekwon Timmons, DO
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“I hope to help advance policies and practices that truly ensure every patient and every physician—regardless of background or circumstance—feels respected, valued and supported. My goal is to help build lasting systems of equity in family medicine, where inclusion isn’t an initiative, but the foundation of how we care for one another.”
Rachel Dunn, MD
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“I hope to bring a new voice and energy to the passionate group of people fighting for family medicine and our patients. I am so excited to learn from those already doing this work and contribute to their mission.”
Urvi Pandit, DO, fellow
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“I hope to elevate the voices and needs of trainees while helping shape evidence-based policies that advance health equity and improve public health outcomes. I aim to contribute meaningful insights that strengthen the scientific foundation of family medicine and support healthier communities nationwide.”
Grace Kelly, MD
Contact Dr. Kelly
“I hope to gain more insight on how to improve and retain residents and new physicians as active members of the AAFP.”
Sheryl Fuehrer, MD
Contact Dr. Fuehrer
“As the resident member of the Commission on Quality and Practice, I hope to support recommendations that are patient-centered, practical and kind to busy clinicians. I’m especially interested in preventive care, health equity and reworking workflows that feel like they were designed in another century. If I can also help fellow residents feel more confident engaging in QI, all the better. Please reach out, I'd love to bring your ideas and suggestions to the table.”
Caryssa Lim Chang, MD, MPH
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“In my role, I hope to work with students and residents to expand opportunities for family medicine training in various practice settings, promote equitable learning and assessment methods within family medicine training and advocate for the inclusion of timely and relevant curricular content in both family medicine clerkships and residency programs. In my role, I hope to further the mission and goals of FamMedPAC in supporting legislators and health policy initiatives that protect the family medicine profession, promote community welfare and provide quality health care to our patients. I seek to encourage medical students, residents and practicing physicians to join me in making a difference on Capitol Hill.”
Representatives and liaisons to other organizations
Samantha Leadbetter, MD
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“In my role as resident trustee, I hope to spread the word about the amazing work of the AAFP Foundation to residents and family docs near and far. The Foundation has amazing programs that I hope more people will apply for and engage in. I also hope to bring the resident perspective to Foundation meetings and help make sure that our perspective is taken into account.”
Michelle Le, DO
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“I hope to strengthen the resident voice in AFMRD decision-making, ensuring policies and resources reflect the realities of training and workforce needs. I aim to share best practices from my own program to help other residencies innovate and thrive. Ultimately, I want to foster collaboration across programs to grow the family medicine workforce and enhance the educational experience for all residents.”
Angelika Kwak, MD, MPH
Contact Dr. Kwak
“As the AAFP delegate to the AMA-RFS, I hope to amplify the voice of family medicine within organized medicine by advocating for policies that strengthen primary care, reduce barriers to patient access and support resident well-being. I will ensure that family medicine has a strong voice in policymaking while empowering other residents and students to engage in advocacy, recognizing the importance of our collective voice. I also hope to mentor peers to engage in advocacy, building a strong pipeline of future leaders in family medicine. Above all, I strive to bring love and compassion into this work, grounding leadership in the values that define family medicine.”
Garrett Knesse, MD
Contact Dr. Knesse
“After many years of working with the Academy as a student and resident leader—stemming from work with the family medicine interest group national leadership, congressional delegations and commission on education involvement—I am ecstatic to take the leap into representation of family medicine residents on behalf of the AAFP as a delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates. I hope to use my role as a representative and cumulative experience working alongside the academy to voice the interest, concerns and aspirations for family medicine as they integrate with medical society largely and organized medicine as a whole. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with your comments, concerns and interests should you have them surrounding our business with the AMA delegation.”
Jantzen J. Faulkner, DO
Contact Dr. Faulkner
AAFP advisory and program boards
Timothy Ihongbe, MD, MPH, PhD
Contact Dr. Ihongbe
“There is a growing need to strengthen engagement in primary care research among family medicine residents and students. As a member of the Annals of Family Medicine Editorial Advisory Board, I hope to help bridge this gap by promoting scholarly involvement among residents and students. Furthermore, traditional avenues for disseminating primary care research often may not effectively reach resident physicians and students. I hope to contribute to expanding dissemination strategies by leveraging more accessible and pragmatic channels such as social media routes, to ensure that valuable research findings reach and resonate with the intended audience.”
Ali R. Greenberg, MD, MSPH, MS
Contact Dr. Greenberg
“Now, more than ever, we must protect inclusive and representative learning spaces. As residents, we understand firsthand the need to integrate a DEIA framework and progressive mindset into every facet of training—from AI to immigrant health, from ultrasound to reproductive justice and gender-affirming care. These aren’t just abstract ideals—they’re essential to ethical, responsible and patient-centered medicine and are paramount at a time when the integrity of our health care system is already in jeopardy. As the STFM resident representative, I am eager to help champion a bold, justice-driven vision for medical education—one that reflects our realities and our resolve. I hope to serve, not just to represent, but to mobilize our collective insight to help drive forward evidence-based, sustainable and impactful work in family medicine training and education and beyond.”
Komal Gangar, MBBS
Contact Dr. Gangar
“As the AFP resident representative, I plan to bring a voice and vision of residents role in medical education and research. I hope to help shape content that supports trainees in developing strong clinical reasoning and staying grounded in patient-centered care. I aim to make the journal more accessible and engaging to medical students and residents and promote diverse perspectives within the journal to better reflect the communities we serve. Ultimately, I hope my contributions help inspire other residents to engage with scholarship and leadership in our specialty.”
FAQ
What leadership roles are available for family medicine residents?
Family medicine residents can serve in elected national leadership positions, commissions, advisory boards and as representatives to other organizations, providing valuable experience and advocacy opportunities.
How can family medicine residents get involved in leadership within the AAFP?
Residents can apply for leadership roles through the AAFP, participate in commissions, attend leadership summits and engage in advocacy and mentorship programs designed to develop their skills.
What are the benefits of serving as a resident leader in family medicine?
Serving as a resident leader offers mentorship, career insight, networking opportunities and a platform to influence family medicine policies and education.
How long do resident leadership positions typically last?
Most resident leaders serve a one-year term, often beginning in the fall, allowing residents to contribute meaningfully during their training.
What is the role of resident leaders in shaping family medicine policy?
Resident leaders provide a voice for the next generation of family physicians in policy discussions, advocacy efforts and strategic planning within the AAFP and related organizations.
How does resident leadership experience benefit a family physician’s career?
Leadership experience enhances professional development, builds advocacy skills, expands professional networks and can open doors to future leadership and career advancement opportunities.
What mentorship opportunities are available through resident leadership roles?
Resident leaders often receive mentorship from experienced family physicians and have opportunities to mentor peers, fostering growth and leadership skills.
How does the AAFP support resident leaders in family medicine?
The AAFP provides resources, training, networking events and platforms for resident leaders to engage in meaningful leadership and advocacy activities.
What is the significance of resident representation on the AAFP Board of Directors?
Resident representation ensures that the perspectives and needs of family medicine residents are included in high-level decision-making and policy development.
How can family medicine residents balance leadership roles with clinical responsibilities?
Effective time management, support from residency programs and prioritizing leadership activities that align with career goals help residents balance these roles successfully.