Practical tips from a GME Award-winner who came full circle

Early career recognition opens doors

During the summer of 2018, on a particularly busy morning during a hospitalist rotation, my phone started buzzing repeatedly as I was heading to lunch. I remember feeling a brief wave of panic, instinctively assuming it must be related to patients on the floor. Instead, it was message after message from colleagues and mentors congratulating me. That unexpected moment—equal parts surprising and validating—has stayed with me ever since.

Each year, only 12 family medicine residents nationwide are selected for this award, a fact that didn’t fully register for me until later. At the time, what stayed with me most was the quiet but powerful sense of validation—the feeling that in the midst of a demanding training year someone had truly seen the work I was doing and the values guiding it.

That recognition distinguished me among my peers in meaningful ways, opening doors during the job search and as I began to explore leadership roles in education, advocacy and organized family medicine.

The experience was further shaped by the opportunity to attend the AAFP’s Family Medicine Experience (FMX). Beyond the cutting-edge clinical education and inspiring main stage speakers, FMX offered something equally important: connection. Being in the same space as fellow award recipients—each one accomplished, thoughtful and aspirational—was both grounding and motivating. It was a reminder that excellence in family medicine is not a solitary pursuit, but a shared commitment to evidence-based, empathic, patient-centered care, carried forward by a remarkable community.

Tips for a strong GME Award application

The application period for the 2026 GME Awards is open through May 27. For those considering applying, I offer two practical pearls.

1. Give yourself time. In medicine—and especially during residency—we are constantly juggling responsibilities, leaving little space for reflection. Reflection does not happen accidentally. Schedule time to work on the application the same way you would schedule studying for the In-Training Exam or chart-checking for the next day. That intentional pause allows you to clearly articulate your experiences and, just as importantly, recognize how much you have already accomplished.
2. Since your application’s first reference form must be completed by your program director, be intentional in selecting a second mentor who has worked with you over time and can speak meaningfully to your growth and development. Even on a standardized form, there is something especially powerful about a long-term advocate—someone who knows your journey well and can speak to it with confidence and authenticity.

I now serve on the AAFP’s Commission on Membership and Member Services, and the experience feels truly full circle. I feel privileged to help select recipients of the same award that meant so much to me. Reviewing applications is both inspiring and humbling; the quality of submissions is consistently outstanding and reflects the depth of talent, commitment and leadership in our specialty. Being part of this process has reinforced just how impactful early recognition can be, and how fortunate family medicine is to have such an exceptional next generation of physicians.

Astrud Villareal, MD, FAAFP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and an associate program director of the UT Southwestern Family Medicine Residency. She is the immediate past president of the Dallas chapter of the Texas AFP.