Wear the Foundation on our hearts

Before I introduce our Spring newsletter — my first as the new president of the Board — I’d like to share a little about myself. I grew up in a small town in Ohio with one stop light, and as a first-generation physician, had no guidance when it came to schooling. When I learned as an undergrad that I could do OB and Peds together in family medicine, I was sold and have not wavered since.

After med school in Ohio and residency in Georgia, I started practice in another small Ohio town called Hicksville (real name!). It had a hitching post, 25 beds and a one-room ER where I did full-scope family medicine with obstetrics, ER and nursing home rounds. It was never dull and I have many great stories from those days!

Then I moved to a family medicine residency program at Cleveland Clinic in Akron, Ohio, where I’ve worked for the last 22 years, teaching residents and doing patient care, newborn rounds and MAT therapy.

I believe in giving back and have donated to the AAFP Foundation since I was a resident — including sponsoring students for the Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute (ELI). In this issue, you’ll read about another physician donor with a long-standing connection to ELI.

Renee Markovich, MD, FAAFP

We also feature articles about Family Medicine Cares (FMC) USA and a Texas program that received grant funding from the Family Medicine Chapter Alliance . I attended those chapter alliance meetings and feel privileged to have so many good programs happening in our chapters — and for the ability to help fund them. Our support stretches their dollars and allows them to do more.

My medical school received one of the grants from FMC USA and is now treating underserved people in our area at its student-run free clinic. With all that is going on in our world, it’s nice that we can help provide a safe place for people to get care.

Lastly, this issue highlights one of our corporate donors. Collaborating with other organizations strengthens the Foundation’s efforts to improve health care in our communities, teach the next generation of family physicians, and cultivate leaders within our specialty to expand on its promise and ensure its continuity.

I have a catch phrase: “Wear the foundation on our hearts.” I encourage my fellow Foundation members to “wear your foundation heart in public” so people know we donate to a worthy cause.

My heart belongs to our mission of promoting students’ interest in family medicine as well as serving those in need. I also believe in helping others develop an attitude and aptitude for giving and hope this newsletter inspires your support. Every gift helps and is greatly appreciated.

Yours,

Renee Markovich, MD, FAAFP
President, AAFP Foundation