FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 1, 2020
Statement attributable to:
Gary L. LeRoy, MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
“In the face of a global, viral pandemic that has infected millions and resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the world must come together to fight COVID-19. Withdrawing from the World Health Organization in the face of a pandemic is irresponsible and will create a tremendous setback in efforts to eradicate this virus. The WHO also plays a critical role in addressing many areas of health and well-being including social determinants of health, noncommunicable disease prevention, communicable disease elimination and mental health promotion. The American Academy of Family Physicians urges the Administration to continue participation so that the important work of the WHO, especially near-term COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research, can continue.”
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Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with Dr. LeRoy, contact Megan Moriarty, 913-302-8627, or mmoriarty@aafp.org.
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About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 130,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine and the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, visit www.aafp.org. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.