AAFP leadership opportunities
Your perspective is important to the specialty’s future.
By getting involved in leadership, you’ll be a part of a dynamic group of policy setters and family medicine leaders.
Your point of view matters to us. That's because every AAFP policy is determined by your involvement and creates the roadmap for our future efforts. You're an important part of building the organization’s—and the specialty's—future. Apply for an AAFP leadership position if you feel there’s more you can do to improve family medicine.
Family physician opportunities
The Congress of Delegates
The Academy's policy-making body, the AAFP Congress of Delegates (COD), elects officers and directors to serve on the AAFP Board of Directors. Congress membership consists of two delegates and two alternate delegates from each chapter.
Members who wish to become delegates or alternate delegates must be elected by their chapters. Contact your chapter for more information.
The AAFP Board of Directors
Any active AAFP member is eligible to serve on the board of directors as an at-large director. The nominating committee considers applications from members and groups such as chapters and member constituencies that want to recommend a potential nominee. The COD then votes for directors.
AAFP commissions
The AAFP commissions make recommendations to the Board regarding policy and development of new programs, projects and activities. Commission positions are competitive, and members are expected to participate in all meetings and activities. To be considered for commission appointments, a member must be nominated by their local or state chapter.
Resident and student opportunities
AAFP policies are decided by our members at every level. We actively recruit students and residents for leadership roles at AAFP. That means you can be part of creating the AAFP’s future from the very start. Lend your voice and use your passion for family medicine to make meaningful change.
Resident leadership opportunities
Consider applying to become a resident member of the AAFP Board of Directors, resident chair of FUTURE, or resident delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates. You can also serve in positions for outside organizations.
Student leadership opportunities
Consider applying to become the student member of the AAFP Board of Directors, student chair of FUTURE, or student delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates. You can also serve as an FMIG Network national and regional coordinator or student member for outside organizations.
How to apply for student and resident positions
The application process for AAFP and family medicine leadership positions starts with reviewing the eligibility requirements and responsibilities of the various positions available to students and residents. This information is included on each position page. You’ll also want to make sure you qualify and have an interest in one or more positions.
You should then contact your AAFP chapter (such as your state Academy of Family Physicians) to express interest and inquire about any additional processes, requirements, or support required or provided by your state.
Start preparing and requesting the application components, which include:
- Your curriculum vitae (CV)
- A letter of interest
- A letter of support from your program director for resident positions or medical school faculty for student positions
- A chapter support form completed by your AAFP state or constituent chapter (available in the application summary section of the position for which you are applying)
- Form completed by your medical school dean’s office acknowledging your good standing and institutional support for this leadership opportunity (students only)
- Completed conflict of interest form
Applications and all components will be managed through the AAFP’s online application system. Applicants can identify letter writers in the system, which will send an email to letter writers when it is time to submit their letter(s). Please ask letter writers to prepare for this ahead of time and let them know they can expect an email from the application system when it is time to submit the letter.
Some leadership positions are elected at AAFP’s FUTURE Conference. To run for one of these positions, you must attend FUTURE, be nominated for the position at either the Resident or Student Congress business sessions (National Congress of Family Medicine Residents or National Congress of Student Members), deliver a brief speech, and be prepared for a potential question-and-answer session. Review the candidate fact sheet for details and helpful information. Leadership positions that are elected at FUTURE include:
- AAFP Board of Directors
- Chair of the AAFP National Conference
- Alternate/Delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates
- FMIG Network National Coordinator
- STFM Board of Directors
- AAFP Foundation Board of Trustees
- AFMRD Board of Directors
How do I prepare my curriculum vitae?
There are many different formats for curriculum vitae. The purpose of a CV is to provide a succinct summary of your professional career. A good CV will concisely convey to a reviewer the breadth and depth of your experiences, training and interest. It need not include every area of interest. A CV is written for and tailored to the position for which you are applying. Use your best judgment to determine if the items included in your CV add to your candidacy for the position in question. Keep in mind that, for purposes of this process, your CV must be limited to one page front and back.
What do I include in a letter of interest?
The purpose of a letter of interest is to help the reviewer. A letter of interest should convey a sense of your personality, personal integrity, knowledge of the position and your writing skills. At the very least, your letter of interest should express your enthusiasm for the position.
Your letter should convey a sense of your:
- personality
- personal integrity
- level of interest in family medicine
- knowledge of and enthusiasm for the position
- communication skills
How do I obtain support from my AAFP state or constituent chapter?
Members of the AAFP are also members of their local constituent chapters affiliated with the AAFP. For most, your chapter will be your state’s Academy of Family Physicians. Because our organizations are affiliated, we encourage chapter input in the selection process for national leadership positions. Your chapter will have the opportunity to indicate whether you’ve been involved at the state level and any experiences you’ve had with the chapter, as well as to express support for your candidacy. If you aren’t already connected with staff or members from your chapter, contact them right away to discuss your interest in the position.
We know it may feel awkward to ask for support from someone who doesn't know you, but we encourage you to contact your chapter executive. If a chapter executive knew you in your previous state of residence, request that individual contact your new chapter executive to encourage consideration of your candidacy.
You can start with the chapter contact list.
Why is it important to obtain a letter of recommendation from the residency program director, recognition from the dean’s office, and a letter from a pre-doctoral director or other knowledgeable faculty?
Letters from these sources provide an assessment of your qualifications and potential. More importantly, requiring this communication helps to ensure that the issue of time away from your program or school has been discussed.
In making your request for letters of recommendation or completion of the special dean’s form, it is helpful to include specific information about the position you are seeking and how this opportunity relates to your education. It is also worth noting how you plan to share information gathered from meetings (e.g., volunteer to present during a brown bag lunch, grand rounds, etc.). Letters of recommendation must be on the institution’s letterhead.
How will I benefit from this involvement?
Among other things, you have the opportunity to:
- Network with family physicians from across the country
- Attend AAFP’s FUTURE conference
- Participate in the discussion of issues key to health care delivery and to family medicine
- Learn more about topics of special interest
- Cultivate organizational and communication skills
- Spend time with other resident and student leaders who share common interests and concerns
Are there special requirements for positions?
- You must be a current AAFP member to be elected or appointed to an AAFP position.
- Some positions require at least one year of experience in an AAFP position at the national level. Refer to the position descriptions for this information. The following are considered national level positions:
- Member of the AAFP Board of Directors
- Conference Chair
- Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the Congress
- Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) Network National Coordinator
- AAFP Commission member
- Board member of the AAFP Foundation, the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, or the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
What will it cost me to participate?
You should not incur any expenses to attend required meetings. Residents and students elected or appointed to AAFP positions are reimbursed for transportation expenses and paid a per diem for meals, taxi, hotel and other travel expenses when on official authorized Academy business. Resident and student leaders are encouraged to complete their expense vouchers at the end of a meeting and return them to staff as soon as possible.
Upon election or appointment, resident and student leaders receive detailed information about reimbursable expenses. Any amount reimbursed above actual expenses is considered taxable income. The AAFP submits a 1099 form to the IRS for the amounts paid. Those expenses for which documentation exists (hotel bill, meal receipts) can be deducted from the amount that is taxable.
How much time is involved?
You will be expected to attend all portions of assigned meetings, including AAFP FUTURE. Whenever possible, meetings are scheduled for weekends to minimize the number of days away from residency and school obligations. Check specific position descriptions for estimated meeting days.
Work is also done through electronic communications. Members spend 2-4 hours per month on electronic work. You will receive information specific to your position after elected or appointed.
Will my institution give me the time off to attend meetings?
If you plan to run for an elected position or apply for an appointment, you must be confident that you will be granted the time off to attend required meetings.
Residents should obtain a letter of recommendation from your residency program director. Students should have the medical school dean sign a special form (see AAFP Student Leadership Participation form in application section). There are also several steps that you can take to ensure support:
- Know your institution’s attendance policies.
- Find out if any of your classmates have served in AAFP positions.
- Share information about the position you are seeking and the general meeting schedule with the appropriate individuals.
- Explain what you hope to gain from the experience (eg, leadership development, advocacy, policy development).
- Volunteer to present relevant information from AAFP meetings during a brown bag lunch, grand rounds, etc.
Questions? Contact the AAFP Member Resource Center at aafp@aafp.org or (800) 274-2237.