Center for the History of Family Medicine Oral History Grant
Each year the Center for the History of Family Medicine provides one grant of up to $3,000 to support the creation of oral history interviews focused on family medicine. Our objective is to expand our oral history collection on family medicine by supporting serious research that uses oral history as a principal source and offers fresh perspectives on a subject area within the field. Grantees may use the funds for expenses related to oral history interviews, including travel, lodging expenses, and incidental research expenses.
Application process
We encourage all to apply and are committed to developing oral histories to advance the history of family medicine by the family medicine community who reflect the rich diversity of the specialty and the patients served.
The application period opens on July 1 and closes on September 15 at 11:59 PM (CST).
Please read the Oral History Grant Guidelines for a complete overview of the program, requirements, and award process.
Applicants may be researchers, AAFP State Chapters, physicians, students, residents, historians, scholars, educators, and other health professionals. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status. Non-US citizens are eligible but should contact the Center regarding visas and other required paperwork before applying. Interviews in languages other than English are not eligible for the grant.
Applicants will require:
Project abstract (maximum length: 150 words)
Project description (maximum length: 1000 words) including Scope of Research and list of Potential Interviewees with an explanation of why they are relevant to the project
Proposed Timeline (maximum length: 500 words)
Current Curriculum Vitae or resume
Budget Worksheet (download the worksheet here and upload it to the application)
All completed applications and supporting materials will be reviewed by the Oral History Grant Selection Subcommittee of the Board of Curators of the Center for the History of Family Medicine, consisting of distinguished family physicians, educators, and leaders in the specialty. The Subcommittee will make the final selection of the grant awardee, subject to the approval of the Board of Curators and the Board of Trustees of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation. Notification of Award will be sent to all applicants the last week of November.
Criteria for selection
On the significance of the research
On providing a fresh approach to the subject
For its potential to advance family medicine history
On the clarity, originality, and precision of the project proposal
On the potential for successful completion of the project within the contract period based on the applicant's experience conducting oral history research and potential for successfully contacting the interviewees who have agreed to participate in the project
On the proposed budget
Grant recipients must complete and submit the following documents and information to CHFM and the AAFP Foundation upon award notification:
Letter of Acceptance
W9
Headshot (for use on social media and other promotions)
Brief 2-3 sentence bio
Upon receipt of the above documents, 80% of the awarded funds will be distributed. The remaining 20% will be distributed at the end of the project once the following items have been submitted. Any unused awarded funds must be returned or subtracted from the remaining 20%.
Oral History Recording(s)
Transcript(s)
Oral History release forms (signed by each of the interviewees), and
Grant report form, including budget reconciliation
All grant recipients will agree to follow the principles of the Oral History Association. Oral history submissions must include transcription. The Center will have ownership of the oral history recordings. In addition, grantees will agree to deposit recordings and transcripts created under the grant to the Center through a secured cloud storage file transfer using one of the following file formats:
Audio recordings: mp3, m4a, ogg, wav, wma
Video recordings: mp4, m4v, ogv, webm, wmv
Within 30 days of project completion, the Grant Report Form must be completed and submitted to the CHFM manager.
Recent recipient
Benjamin Popokh
About his project:
"Exploring the Family in Family Medicine"
Family physicians are uniquely trained to care for entire family units, yet the families supporting these physicians remain largely absent from the historical record. This project seeks to document the voices of spouses, children, and parents of family physicians, with attention to their roles both within and beyond the clinic. Through oral history interviews, Popokh will examine how family members contribute as practice staff, navigate the challenges of the “medical marriage,” and experience the dual identity of living with, and sometimes being cared for by, a family physician.
Dr. Alexis Ramos
About her project:
"Healing Beyond Crisis: The Lasting Legacy of a Pandemic on the Health Community in an Underserved Population"
The COVID-19 pandemic has left a lasting mark on the healthcare system, particularly in underserved communities where resource limitations and health disparities posed significant challenges for patients and providers. This project aims to document and analyze the experiences of family medicine practitioners and other healthcare workers in an underserved urban community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AAFP Foundation strives to create a sense of belonging through an inclusive environment that embraces the family medicine community by recognizing individual uniqueness and contributions to family medicine.