2025 Recipient of the Sandra L. Panther Fellowship Focuses on History of Wellness in Family Medicine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2025

 Media Contact: 
Celia Searles
Csearles@aafp.org 

Leawood, KS—The Center for the History of Family Medicine (CHFM) announced today Frank W. Stahnisch, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCPSC, a family physician in Calgary, Canada as the recipient of the 2025 Sandra L. Panther Fellowship in the History of Family Medicine.

“This research is topical during our times as we witness a growing polarization of societies and the rise of vaccine hesitancy,” Dr. Stahnisch said. “My project seeks to understand how scientific approaches have warded off holistic tendencies throughout the 20^th and 21^st century, leading to a widening rift between medicine and patients’ disappointment with the treatment provided by family medicine despite it’s multiple advances.”

This annual fellowship supports original research that uses CHFM’s collections to deepen understanding and appreciation of the specialty’s history. Dr. Stahnisch’s project, “Holism and Integration: Healing, Wellness, and Family Medicine Resources, 1870-2020” records how family medicine has emphasized well-being, not just disorders and disease. He explores the last 150 years of family medicine and different perspectives of health and wellness during that time.

“Family medicine is unique because we focus on preventive care just as much as we focus on addressing problems that have already arisen. Dr. Stahnisch’s project is an important dive into wellness and what it means to be healthy in the context of family medicine,” said Dr. Jay-Sheree Akambase, AAFP Foundation president. “The AAFP Foundation is proud to support his research and we look forward to reading his findings!”

CHFM sponsors a $3,000 fellowship in the History of Family Medicine each year. For more information, please visit the AAFP Foundation website.

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