Dr. Drew Baird is a member of the core faculty of the Family Medicine Residency Program at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood, Texas; an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland; and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Medical Education at the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine in Bryan, Texas. He graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana. He completed his family medicine residency at Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia.
Each year, the American Family Physician (AFP) editing team selects the AFP Article of Year to honor authors for their excellent scholarly contributions to family medicine. The winning article is selected based on the most online views and highest ratings from AFP editors.
The 2025 Article of the Year award goes to Drs. Drew Baird, Caleb Dickison, and Hayley Spires for “Lower Extremity Abnormalities in Children,” which was published in the February 2025 issue.
Lower extremity abnormalities are commonly seen in primary care, and many children are unnecessarily referred to pediatric orthopedists. This article helps readers evaluate variations and determine when referral is appropriate. Common variations include intoeing (metatarsus adductus, internal tibial torsion, and femoral anteversion); out-toeing (external tibial torsion, femoral retroversion, and pes planus); and angular variations (genu varum and genu valgum).
Dr. Caleb Dickison is a member of the core faculty of the Family Medicine Residency Program at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, and an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, West Des Moines, Iowa. He completed his family medicine residency at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and the National Capital Consortium's Military Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Physicians can use the clear assessment criteria and prognostic insights to reassure parents with concerns about normal variations in their children.
History and physical examination are key to distinguishing normal variations from pathologic deformities. The article includes considerations for a range of historical factors, and it uses illustrations, photos, and videos to demonstrate assessment of physical aspects such as foot progression angle, thigh-foot angle, and hip rotation.
The award will be presented this month at the Congress of Delegates Award Luncheon at the AAFP FMX 2026 conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. Hayley Spires is an attending physician in the Department of Primary Care at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky, and completed her family medicine residency at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center.
