The Family Medicine Champions program is a free, self-paced training that prepares physicians, students, and faculty to advocate for the specialty and connect with future health professionals. Through expert-led modules, you’ll learn to dispel myths, clarify misconceptions, and highlight the depth and breadth of family medicine careers.
Family Medicine Champions are guides along the pathway and process of medical education, providing information, tools and support to recruit a diverse workforce and promote a positive vision for the future of family medicine. Champions dispel myths, clarify misconceptions and advocate for the specialty’s wide-ranging opportunities.
As a foundation of the AAFP’s priority to strengthen pathways to family medicine, the program will prepare individuals to connect with students — and those who support them — to shed light on what it really means to be a family physician.
Whether you're advising premeds, mentoring students, or presenting to future clinicians, this program gives you the tools to lead.
Connect with your passion, your community and your purpose while you help shape the future of family medicine! Registration is open now through Jan. 9, 2026 for the next class that starts on Jan. 16, 2026.
Enhance your advocacy skills while earning 4.5 CME credits — at no cost. This self-paced online program is designed to fit into your busy schedule.
This program is ideal for anyone guiding students toward a future in medicine, including:
By completing this free, self-paced program, you’ll gain:
Family Medicine Champions is a free, self-guided program. Modules are offered virtually, with opportunities to engage in discussions and activities.
You’ll complete 12 modules that cover the following topics:
Presenters:
Learning Objectives:
Description:
This module introduces family medicine as a comprehensive specialty defined by first-contact, continuous, coordinated and comprehensive care. It highlights the breadth of practice—treating patients of all ages, genders and organ systems—and emphasizes how family physicians serve communities of all sizes, often caring for underserved populations and providing essential primary care.
Presenters:
Learning Objectives:
Description:
Through real-life stories and data from AAFP members, this module depicts a “typical” week in family medicine and the wide variety of roles family physicians play. It showcases career diversity in fields such as academic medicine, administration, sports medicine, rural and global health and more—highlighting the profound impact family physicians have on individuals and communities.
Presenter:
Tochi Iroku-Malize, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP
Learning Objectives:
Description:
Learners explore the rewarding yet demanding journey toward a career in family medicine, from medical school through residency. The module underscores self-care, well-being and the evolving residency requirements designed to prepare future physicians for a flexible, lifelong career in a changing healthcare environment.
Presenter:
Lauren Hughes, MD, MPH, MSc, MHCDS, FAAFP
Learning Objectives:
Description:
This module offers an overview of the U.S. healthcare system—its structure, financing and coverage models—and explains family medicine’s central role in building sustainable, patient-centered systems. It also addresses common misconceptions about the specialty and emphasizes physician well-being and the value of family medicine in healthcare reform.
Presenters:
Learning Objectives:
Description:
Students gain essential financial literacy skills, including managing educational debt and planning for a stable future. The module dispels myths about family medicine income by noting that family physicians’ average earnings place them among the top 6% of U.S. households and provides tools and resources for financial planning.
Presenter:
Julie Gilbert
Learning Objectives:
Description:
This session guides students in finding and utilizing financial aid opportunities, such as scholarships, grants, and loan repayment programs. It encourages building relationships with financial advisors and reinforces that family medicine offers a secure and rewarding financial future despite the costs of medical education.
Presenter:
Yalda Jabbarpour, MD
Learning Objectives:
Description:
The module clarifies that primary care is a type of care—not a specific specialty—characterized by being first-contact, continuous, comprehensive and coordinated. It presents evidence showing that strong primary care systems lead to better outcomes, patient satisfaction and reduced costs, positioning family medicine as the foundation of effective healthcare.
Presenter:
Yalda Jabbarpour, MD
Learning Objectives:
Description:
This module emphasizes the critical need for family physicians, who deliver more primary care than any other specialty. It advocates for the specialty’s significance, highlighting strong employment prospects and the essential role family physicians play in ensuring access to quality, comprehensive care for all.
Presenter:
Christen Johnson, MD, MPH
Learning Objectives:
Description:
Focusing on health equity, this module explores how family physicians can recognize and address SDOH to improve patient and community outcomes. It highlights their leadership in treating diverse populations, dispels myths about the specialty and showcases practical tools for combating inequities at both the clinical and community levels.
Presenters:
Learning Objectives:
Description:
This module helps mentors understand and support students’ career interests and motivations. It offers guidance for addressing barriers, identifying role models and mentors, and fostering confidence in exploring varied, fulfilling family medicine career paths.
Presenters:
Learning Objectives:
Description:
Participants learn about the importance of recruiting and supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine (URM). The session explores systemic barriers and stresses intentional outreach to build a more diverse, equitable family medicine workforce.
Presenter:
Janet Nwaukoni, DO
Learning Objective:
Describe how to access basic resources and support.
Description:
This final module teaches how to connect students—at all stages of education—with mentorship, guidance, and learning opportunities. It includes leveraging social media and professional organizations to promote awareness and engagement in family medicine.
“Champions expanded my understanding of the facets of family medicine that I hear a lot of questions about: What is family medicine? What does the educational pathway look like? What does a career in family medicine provide? What are the financial barriers, workforce outlooks, etc. I had a good basic understanding of these topics, and the program provided additional examples and resources in these areas to share with medical students when talking about family medicine. The presentations and conversations I share with students are now more tailored to their individual experiences, and I can follow up with resources from the program that correct myths about family medicine and support them in their next steps.”
Caitlin Laudeman
Workforce development manager at the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians
“This program is essential because it equips trusted messengers with the skills and confidence to influence career decision-making in a positive, informed way. It helps demystify the specialty, especially for students who may not have role models in family medicine. When students hear clear, compelling and consistent messages about what we do and why it matters, they can more easily see themselves in this career.”
Christina Kelly, MD, FAAFP
Associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland
“Anyone can be a champion for family medicine. Though there are many similarities between family physicians, there are also many differences that make them unique. One family physician’s life may look drastically different from another’s. With that being said, I believe it is important for all students to consider taking a closer look into what a career in family medicine may look like for them. The Champions program provides students with the resources to further look into a career in family medicine and to then continue advocating for it.”
Jonathan Bakly
Third-year student at the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
After completing the Family Medicine Champions program, participants join a growing, nationwide network committed to strengthening the future of family medicine. This next phase empowers Champions to continue their impact through ongoing connection, shared experiences and opportunities for leadership.
Program modules include:
Family Medicine Champions is a self-guided program. Each of the 12 modules takes a maximum of one hour to complete. We recommend a pace of completing three modules per month.
Just a commitment to family medicine and a desire to inspire others.
There are monthly virtual review/discussion sessions for cohort participants to help share what you learn and facilitate networking. More details are provided upon registration.
Have questions about the program? Curious about what you can do to support the next generation of family physicians? Contact:
Sara Davis
sdavis@aafp.org
(913) 906-6255
Learn about what AAFP is doing to support students interested in family medicine.