It’s a great pleasure for me to connect with you as your new Board President and share what’s happening at the AAFP Foundation. The Foundation gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude for the profession we serve and love – and, in the year ahead, those opportunities will be expanding!

One of the most exciting developments is the relaunch of Family Medicine Cares International (FMCI). A successful relaunch of FMCI is one of the Board’s priorities for 2022. Our program in Haiti was stalled by a number of issues, including weather, political turmoil, and the pandemic. After careful, comprehensive research, the Foundation is now moving forward with a new FMCI program in the Dominican Republic. You’ll find details on that, and information on ways to be involved, in this story.

Another 2022 priority for the Board of Trustees is to make significant progress on the three-year strategic plan. We’re at the mid-point in the plan now, and the Board is focused on making demonstrable improvement. We’ll keep you posted throughout the year on progress.

A third measure of success for the year will be to develop an off-boarding process that encourages experienced family physician leaders and former trustees to stay engaged with the Foundation and the Academy. We want to make it easier for these talented doctors to stay actively involved with workgroups and special interest groups. The AAFP Foundation and the Academy are big organizations; our goal is to create a system that helps physicians navigate their way through and find spots where they can continue to contribute their wisdom.

On the flip side of that, another theme we have witnessed over the past two years is that early-career leaders are really stepping up. Their enthusiasm and expertise helped family medicine pivot during the pandemic, as we have – by necessity – changed how we work. Together, we are redefining how family medicine will look with the evolving use of technology. You’ll find an update on the Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leaders Institute here.

Speaking of early-career leaders, take a look at this engaging profile on Morgan Weiler, a fourth-year medical student and winner of the Center for the History of Family Medicine’s first essay contest. Her report on how COVID-19 has impacted family physicians and their communities speaks to the heart of what we do and why we do it, even when faced with incredible personal and professional challenges.

As the pandemic continues, I encourage you to take care of yourself and your health care colleagues. No matter where we are in our careers, we’re all in this together.

With appreciation,

Dave