Letter from the Board President

2023 marks an important landmark for the Foundation as we celebrate its 65th anniversary. This anniversary is significant to me because my peers, who were among the first Board Certified and residency-trained family physicians, are reaching retirement, and they remain dedicated to the profession through their endowments, financial contributions, mentorship, and leadership—and for this I am grateful.

While many incredible things are happening within the family medicine specialty, I’d like to highlight a few areas where I see success continuing to permeate through the walls of the AAFP Foundation.

Family Medicine Cares International held its annual delegation trip to the Dominican Republic in January, and the team put in so much work during the last couple of years to ensure a successful trip. I joined the delegation 10 years ago, and it’s a beautiful opportunity to serve the most vulnerable outside the U.S.

Family Medicine Cares USA continues to operate in 34 states (plus Puerto Rico), and these free clinics would not be where they are today if it weren’t for the help of the AAFP members, residents, and medical students who volunteer their time and talent toward this great cause.

Another incredible accomplishment is the Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute. The purpose of this year-long program is to form leaders in family medicine, and we’ve seen it truly takeoff! We’ve had program participants go on to become heads of medical societies and editors of journals, but we’ve also seen these leaders come back and serve on the Board of Directors for the AAFP and the Board of Trustees for the Foundation.

This is also our year to work on the strategic plan for the next three years. It might not be the most glamorous of responsibilities, but it is vital that we keep our vision for advancing the specialty at the forefront of our minds so that we continue to have a clear picture of where we’re headed.

We owe our successes and achievements over these last 65 years in large part to you, our donors, and our partners. Because of you we can thrive and advance family medicine through philanthropy—using humanitarian, educational, and scientific programming to improve health.

Thank you for all you have done to support our programs like Family Medicine Cares USA and International, the Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute and many more of the Foundation’s efforts.

With appreciation,

Dave