Letter from the Board President

As I reflect on my tenure as the President of the Board of Trustees, I am deeply grateful for the privilege of serving in this capacity for the past two years, as well as the remarkable journey I have been on during my 10 years of service on the board. It has been a truly rewarding experience filled with significant achievements, memorable moments, and meaningful connections.

One of the most humbling experiences during my term as president was helping lead the AAFP Foundation through the challenging times of the global pandemic. Witnessing the transition from virtual interactions back to in-person events and the renewed sense of human connection was truly heartwarming. We celebrated the hard work and dedication of our teams and continued to serve our members by bringing back live programming. It was a significant achievement, and I'm proud of how we navigated these unprecedented times.

A particular highlight from my time as president was our international humanitarian project in the Dominican Republic. The opportunity to restart and revitalize this endeavor was a truly gratifying experience. Our international work is a testament to the impact we can make globally, and it's a core part of our identity as an organization.

Countless stories have stuck with me over the years, but one theme that consistently resonates is our commitment to empowering and uplifting the next generation of family doctors. A standout moment was when we sent a full delegation to the Dominican Republic in 2023 with five resident participants. These young individuals attended the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students and gave a presentation about their international work experiences. During the Q&A session, their moving testimonials about how this experience had changed their lives were truly inspiring. They spoke about how the early support from the Foundation had launched them into their young careers as humanitarians, and this stood out as proof of the impact of our work.

My wife and I established an endowment for this purpose, which has allowed young professionals to participate in our Family Medicine Cares International program early in their careers. The sense of community that builds with our delegates during these humanitarian efforts and the profound impact on these young individuals are what truly affects the heart.

Looking to the future of the Foundation, I hope the work of the Foundation becomes as well-known and cherished as the Academy's other endeavors. While the AAFP is already respected for our continuing education, journal and professionalism, my aspiration is that most of our members become aware of the incredible work the Foundation has been doing for the past 65 years. I hope many of our members will feel compelled to support it with their talent, time, finances and connections to further its success. Increasing awareness and pride in the Foundation is a vital goal for us moving forward.

In conclusion, I would like to express profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve on the board for the past 10 years. These years have been a highlight of my career, and the experiences, achievements and connections I've made during my tenure on the board will remain. I'm truly thankful for the support and dedication of our members and staff, and I look forward to witnessing the continued growth and success of our Academy and its foundation. I know that our next Foundation president, Dr. Tomás Owens, will have a remarkable team to work with and more wonderful stories to create.

With warm regards and appreciation,

Dave