MAFP Attends Kansas City Conference

MAFP BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF ATTEND TWO NATIONAL CONFERENCES

Kristen Kern, Dr. David Wheat, Dr. Katherine Patterson, Dr. Sue Simmons, Claire Rome.

Several MAFP staff members as well as MAFP physician board members attended AAFP conferences held simultaneously in Kansas City, MO, April 25-27, 2017.  The Annual Chapter Leader Forum (ACLF) is the AAFP’s leadership development program for chapter-elected leaders, aspiring chapter leaders, and chapter staff. Among other roles, ACLF functions as an orientation for emerging leaders who serve on chapter boards, as well as professional development for new and seasoned chapter staff.  New chapter staff members Kristen Kern, Public Awareness Director, and Claire Rome, Membership Director, attended an orientation session for new staff, then joined Beth Embry, Executive Director, Katie Patterson, MD, Board Vice President, and David Wheat, MD, Board Secretary for targeted breakout sessions on chapter governance, advocacy, and communication.

As an added bonus, your MAFP chapter was recognized in two ways. We received the first place award among medium sized chapters for the Highest Percent Retention of New Physicians in 2016 and for having 100% Resident Membership.

“I enjoyed networking with leaders from across the country,” Patterson said. I was able to identify areas in my personal and professional life that could easily be improved by using technology which I was unaware of. Physician well-being is also forefront in my mind after encountering many fabulous speakers on this topic.”

Dr. Christy Vowell at National Conference of Constituency Leaders, representing New Physicians.

“This was such a wonderful meeting on so many fronts. The enthusiasm that everyone brought to the table on advocacy, burnout, constituency, and leadership was great”, Wheat said. “We had exceptional speakers with some ideas that I can bring back and hopefully incorporate into my personal life, my leadership role and into our chapter. Kyle Maynard’s motivational speech was truly inspirational. It also showed how we as family physicians can help our patients as they struggle through trying times. I would encourage anyone who can, to try to attend the conference in the future. It is well worth your time and effort.”

National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) is the AAFP’s leadership and policy development event for under-represented constituencies. NCCL serves as a platform for different perspectives and concerns of AAFP members to help bring about change.  Christy Vowell, DO, Director at Large, and Sue Simmons, MD, President, attended NCCL as constituency leaders for new physicians and women physicians respectively.

“I was impressed by the energy to pursue dramatic changes in Family Medicine with the Young Physicians constituency,” Vowell said. “The influence of AAFP on a national political level was inspiring to me to know I have a voice. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting other family physicians across the nation who shared similar frustrations and opportunities. This conference was well worth attending!”