A year of progress and promise: My reflections as AAFP president

Family medicine has always been about showing up—meeting patients where they are, and meeting challenges head on. This year as your president, I’ve seen what happens when that same spirit shapes our Academy. The progress has been real. The promise is undeniable. And it’s been my privilege to walk this path with you. One year ago in Phoenix, I shared our excitement about launching a new strategic plan for AAFP. Since the official launch this past June, dozens of dedicated members of Team AAFP have poured their hearts and energy into work organized around our four central pillars:  

• Elevating family medicine 
• Enhancing the well-being of family physicians 
• Improving systems that support family medicine 
• Strengthening the future of family medicine  

These pillars have guided our decisions and become the foundation upon which we build, adapt and respond to the changing needs of our members and the communities and individuals we serve. 

I am proud of the progress we’ve made this past year. Our more than 670 Advocacy Ambassadors have amplified the voice of family medicine with knowledge and passion, ensuring our priorities are heard not only in exam rooms, but in the halls of Congress, the White House, and state and local governments. I recall sitting in a congressional office during this year’s Family Medicine Advocacy Summit, surrounded by fellow family physicians. some seasoned, some new to advocacy. I watched with admiration as they confidently articulated the challenges our patients face and opportunities to improve access to care. Their stories reminded me—and our lawmakers—that advocacy is not just about policy, it’s about our families, our friends and our communities. 

Our Academy is continuing its commitment to ensuring families have access to trustworthy sources of information, especially during a time of uncertainty. Having a website like familydoctor.org, reviewed by family physicians and updated to reflect current best practices, is invaluable. I know patients and colleagues who use this website frequently to share reliable information, and it makes a real difference. I cannot wait to see the redesigned website this month.  

In addition to providing reliable health information to the public, the Academy is equally dedicated to sharing information that supports physicians in their professional growth and decision-making. For physicians at any stage of their career, having access to data on compensation, benefits and job satisfaction is essential. For the past few years, the AAFP’s Career Benchmark Dashboard survey has been key in helping meet this goal. The 2025 survey is live, and I encourage you to take the survey to help your colleagues get key information they need to meet career goals.  

Equally inspiring is the AAFP’s work to enhance physician well-being and clinical guidance knowledge. After listening to your experiences about the heavy responsibility family physicians carry, we built a roadmap to provide members with resources to ease administrative and emotional burden, foster autonomy, support personal renewal, build intentional connection and community, and lead with confidence in a culture of well-being. We’re also rebuilding our clinical guidance hubs to support members as they expand their clinical competency.  

Speaking of administrative burden, the AAFP has spent the last year studying how family physicians use artificial intelligence and how it stands to impact your practices. In August, we published our Starfield report, which outlines steps to support effective AI integration in primary care.  

There’s so much to celebrate when it comes to building a strong future for family medicine. Our Family Medicine Champions program celebrated another year of amazing work, and we reflected on one year of our Residency Ambassador Program. Additionally, seeing more students choose family medicine through the Be Their First initiative took me back to my own beginnings in family medicine. Seeing this next generation step forward with courage and optimism has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my time as your president.  

Yes, we’ve faced challenges and unpredictable shifts in policy and public health, but this year proved that nothing is beyond the reach of family medicine. As I pass the baton to Dr. Sarah Nosal, I am confident she will guide our next steps with vision and heart. What I carry with me most are the conversations, the stories and the unwavering dedication I’ve seen in you. It has been an honor to serve. 

Let’s keep moving forward—together. In our practices, in our communities and in this specialty we share. That is where progress takes root, and where the promise of family medicine shines brightly.