Family Medicine Champions

Family Medicine Champions are guides along the pathway and process of medical education, providing information, tools, and support to recruit a diverse workforce and champion a positive vision for the future of family medicine. Champions are prepared to dispel myths, clear up misconceptions, advocate for and share the depth and breadth of opportunities within the specialty.

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.

Connect with your passion, your community, and your purpose and help shape the future of family medicine! This certificate-granting program prepares participants to educate aspiring health care workers about the bright future of family medicine.

Program Objectives:

Understand and be able to describe the need for family physicians in many communities and why now is the time to consider this career path.
Accurately describe medical school and residency requirements, training options, and practice settings for family physicians.
Describe the benefits and challenges of being a family physician, the role of the health care team, lifestyle, and work-life balance.
Address realities of the financial implications of a career in family medicine, including the cost of medical education and accurate family medicine employment and payment prospects.
Explain the role family physicians play in primary care, preventive health, and to advance health equity.
Paint a picture of “why” family medicine.
Appreciate various pathways to medicine and support students who are underrepresented in medicine with empathy and humility.
Connect with students and explain how their values and interests connect with family medicine.

Register for this free, self-paced program taking place January – May 2025 to join the next class of Family Medicine Champions. Modules will be offered virtually, with opportunities to engage in discussions and activities.

How does it work?

Family Medicine Champions will receive education and access to an exclusive community of individuals who support and guide students. Participants will be equipped to address misconceptions and uncover the facts about what family medicine is, and the myriad of opportunities available to family doctors. Topics include:

What is Family Medicine?
A Week in the Life of a Family Physician
The Educational Path to Family Medicine
The Future of Family Medicine (or The Business of Medicine)
Personal Finance – Medical School Cost, Student Debt, Salaries, and Income
Finding Financial Support
Defining Primary Care and Understanding Primary Care Medical Careers
Workforce Projections and the Need for Family Physicians
Family Medicine’s Role in Striving for Health Equity
Understanding Student Aspirations
Supporting Underrepresented Students to Build Workforce Diversity
Connecting Students with Resources and Support, Mentorship Skills

How the AAFP Supports Student Choice

Learn about what AAFP is doing to support students interested in family medicine.

Other Ways to Get Involved

Become a preceptor. U.S. medical schools face a drastic shortage of community preceptors in family medicine. Find a precepting opportunity and mentor the next generation of physicians. Learn how to get started.

Contact your local AAFP Chapter and ﬁnd out how you can help engage medical students, advocate for policy change, and develop the workforce. Find your chapter.

Get involved in your community. Ask young patients what they want to be, volunteer to speak at a local school or youth club, and search for opportunities to encourage STEM education. The AAFP has slide decks, videos, and other presentation tools to help you talk about family medicine. Find AAFP resources.

Questions?

Curious about what YOU can do to support the next generation of family physicians?

Contact:
Ashley Bentley, MBA, CAE
Abentley@aafp.org
(913) 906-6367