AAFP Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education

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Put your hard work in the spotlight. Apply for recognition of your valuable contribution to family medicine.

The AAFP Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education (AEGME) honors a select number of residents for their exemplary patient care, their interpersonal relationships with patients, physicians and faculty, and their demonstrated leadership and community involvement.

Since its establishment in 1952, nearly 1,000 second-year residents have received this distinguished honor. Here’s why you should apply to join them.

Selective
Just 12 recipients are selected each year from a national pool of highly qualified residents.
Recognizes excellence
Winners are evaluated on leadership, academic performance, patient care and community involvement.
Financial support
Each recipient gets a $2,500 scholarship plus three nights of hotel accommodations, airfare, and registration for the 2026 Family Medicine Experience, October 20-24 in Nashville, TN.
National recognition
An award from the AAFP confers prestige and significant career distinction among peers, mentors and potential employers.

Criteria for selection

Demonstrated leadership ability
Community involvement/social commitment
Exemplary patient care and interpersonal relationships

Eligibility requirements

Current AAFP resident members (Not a resident member? Join today!)
Eligible members in their second year of training at an ACGME-approved family medicine residency.

How to apply

The deadline to apply is May 27, 2026. Winners will be announced in August.

Complete the application form.
Request both your program director and an AAFP member complete reference forms. One reference from each representative is required.

Program director reference
AAFP member reference