AAFP Recognizes Outstanding Family Medicine Groups

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2022

Contact:
Julie Hirschhorn
jhirschhorn@aafp.org

LEAWOOD, Kan. — The American Academy of Family Physicians has named 14 medical school Family Medicine Interest Groups (FMIGs) as 2022 Program of Excellence Award winners. These FMIGs are chosen for their work to promote the specialty of family medicine at their medical schools and in their communities.

FMIGs are medical school-sponsored, student- and faculty-run organizations that give students a chance to learn more about the specialty of family medicine through workshops, leadership development, and community service and clinical experiences. They equip students with leadership skills that will help them in their future practices and communities. Through FMIGs, students also form supportive relationships with peers and mentors.

The Program of Excellence Awards recognize FMIGs for their efforts to promote interest in family medicine careers at a time when family physicians are in especially high demand for their comprehensive primary care expertise.

"In the face of a changing health care landscape, medical schools nationwide have pivoted their programming to prepare students for the unexpected — from navigating a pandemic to distributing vaccines to changing the way we think about public health,” said Margot Savoy, MD, MPH, senior vice president for education at the AAFP. “We commend this year’s FMIG Program of Excellence Award winners for their commitment to helping the next generation of doctors understand what it means to be a family physician. They are also helping build a strong primary care workforce that ensures patients can access equitable, comprehensive health care.”

Winners of the overall 2022 Program of Excellence Award are:

• University of California Irvine School of Medicine Family Medicine Interest Group
• University of Washington: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho Family Medicine Interest Group
• Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine at University of Iowa Family Medicine Interest Group
• Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara SOM Family Medicine Interest Group
• Northeast Ohio Medical University Family Medicine Interest Group
• University of Texas Medical Branch Family Medicine Interest Group

This year’s AAFP Program of Excellence Awards also acknowledge excellence in specific categories:

• Award for Excellence in Community Service: John A. Burns School of Medicine – Honolulu, Hawaii
• Award for Excellence in Promoting Scope and Diversity of Family Medicine: University of
• Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita
• Award for Excellence in Professional Development: Saint James School of Medicine – British Overseas Territory of Anguilla
• Award for Excellence in Exposure to Family Medicine and Family Physicians: University
• of California, Riverside Family and Preventative Medicine Interest Group
• Award for Excellence in Current Issues or Innovations in Family Medicine: Frank H. Netter
• MD School of Medicine - Quinnipiac University – Hamden, Connecticut
• Award for Excellence in Collaboration: University of Rochester Medical Center – Rochester, New York
• Award for Excellence in New Initiatives: University of Colorado – Aurora, Colorado
• Award for Excellence in Promoting the Value of Primary Care: Pennsylvania State
• University – State College, Pennsylvania

This year’s winners were honored during the AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students, which took place in Kansas City, Missouri, July 28-30. The annual event provides opportunities to network with residency programs and other students and residents, hear from family medicine leaders and participate in practical education sessions.

The AAFP publishes winning applications to share best practices and innovative programming ideas with other FMIGs and family medicine educators nationwide. For program details and resources, visit the AAFP’s dedicated web page. A complete list of winners can be found on AAFP’s website.

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