Physician advocacy during election season. The midterm election season is here, and Minnesota family physicians can play an important role in promoting civic engagement and advocating for their patients and communities. The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) offer opportunities for physicians to support legislative priorities, encourage civic participation and get involved in the political process. Your voice as a family physician matters and can make a difference in the health of your community. Promote civic engagement. Family physicians can promote civic engagement in several ways, including supporting nonpartisan voter registration efforts among colleagues and talking with patients about the importance of participating in elections. Participate in local elections. The Minnesota Public Health Association highlights the connection between voting and health, noting that local elections affect many aspects of everyday life, including public health and housing. Family physicians can help remove barriers to participation by discussing the importance of local elections with patients in a nonpartisan way. Engage in Civic Health Month. August is Civic Health Month, an opportunity to highlight the connection between civic participation and health. Vot-ER, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that partners with the AAFP, offers resources physicians can use to engage patients in civic health discussions. The AAFP, the American Medical Association (AMA) and others have long advocated for physicians to ask their patients about voting to prioritize equity. Take part as a private citizen. This election year, every seat in the Minnesota Legislature is on the ballot. Whether speaking with incumbents seeking reelection or candidates running for office, family physicians have a unique opportunity to help shape the future of health care in Minnesota. As frontline physicians, family doctors see firsthand the policies that help patients thrive and the barriers that make it harder for individuals and communities to access care. By sharing real-world experiences and patient-centered perspectives, family physicians can help elected officials better understand the opportunities and challenges facing Minnesota's health care system and inform decisions that strengthen the health of its state. Attend district meetings and town halls. Beyond encouraging patients to vote, family physicians can take an active, nonpartisan role in the political process themselves. Members of Congress typically spend more time in their home states and districts in August, creating one of the year's best opportunities to attend a district meeting or town hall and share how policy decisions affect patient care. Learn about candidates. For a nonpartisan look at the candidates on the ballot, the League of Women Voters Minnesota hosts candidate forums across the state throughout the election season. The League does not support or oppose any candidate or party, and local chapters welcome volunteers to help organize and staff these events. Serve as an election judge. Family physicians looking for a hands-on, nonpartisan way to serve can also apply to become an election judge. Minnesota needs nearly 30,000 election judges statewide to help run the primary and general election, and state law allows election judges to take time off work to serve without losing pay. Understand your rights as a physician. Physicians have the same political rights and freedoms as any other citizen. The AMA's Code of Medical Ethics affirms that physicians may lobby for political parties or candidates and get involved with campaigns of their choosing. Family physicians who choose to participate in this kind of individual political activity are encouraged to do so as private citizens, keeping it separate from their professional role and patient care responsibilities. Get involved in Family Medicine Advocacy. Plug into MAFP advocacy. Join the MAFP's Family Medicine Advocacy Day on February 4, 2027, and connect directly with legislators about issues affecting your patients and practice. Throughout the year, the MAFP also provides opportunities to engage in advocacy efforts and community conversations around topics important to family medicine, respond to action alerts during the legislative session and share your experiences to help shape health policy in Minnesota through its Legislative Committee. Become an Advocacy Ambassador. Launched in 2025, the AAFP's Advocacy Ambassador program builds relationships among physicians and members of Congress and other elected officials who support family medicine's legislative priorities. Advocacy Ambassadors represent family medicine; engage with patients, policymakers and peers; and provide resources for peers and patients through education on public policy and health issues. Ambassadors have access to training modules, FamMedPAC events and more. Interested in becoming an Advocacy Ambassador? Visit the AAFP Advocacy Ambassador webpage. Speak out for family medicine. Use the AAFP's Speak Out tool to directly engage with your federal and state representatives. Timely messaging templates make it easy to make your voice heard on family medicine issues. Active campaigns include telling Congress to strengthen Medicare physician payment, support H-1B physicians and pass the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act.

Physicians group honors Campbell med school for exceptional contributions. August 4, 2026 The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has honored Campbell medical school with "Excellence in Professional Development," part of the organization's 2026 Program of Excellence Awards, announced July 31. The AAFP recognized 21 Family Medicine Interest Groups (FMIGs) and one outstanding faculty adviser for their exceptional contributions, a news release says. FMIGs are student-led organizations, supported by faculty advisers and their medical schools. Through hands-on learning experiences, volunteer service, clinical exposure and leadership opportunities, FMIGs help students explore the specialty and prepare for careers in family medicine, according to the release. "It is an honor to see our students recognized by the AAFP for their outstanding work," said Dr. Robert Agnello, Family Medicine chair and assistant professor of Campbell medical school. "The FMIG embodies the core values of family medicine through leadership, service, advocacy and a commitment to caring for rural and underserved populations," he said. "This award is a testament to the exceptional students and faculty who make our program strong." These interest groups were selected for the meaningful impact they have on their medical school communities through innovative efforts to inspire and recruit more students to pursue careers in family medicine, AAFP says. "This recognition is a wonderful reflection of our mission and the importance of primary care at the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine," said Dean Dr. David Tolentino. "Our students have built a Family Medicine Interest Group that not only promotes the specialty but also creates meaningful opportunities for professional growth, service and mentorship." Tolentino said he is grateful to Agnello and Dr. Tiffany Lowe Clayton, Family Medicine vice chair, for their leadership and encouragement offered to students each day. "Family medicine is at the heart of our mission to serve rural and underserved communities, and we are honored to see our students and faculty recognized nationally by the AAFP," he added. The Program of Excellence Awards honors the FMIGs for their overall contributions to family medicine and for inspiring the future family physician workforce, the AAFP release says. Winners were recognized at FUTURE, the national conference for family medicine students and residents, where medical students and residents come together to connect, learn and advance their careers. The conference was held in Kansas City, Missouri, from July 29 to Aug.1. "FMIGs play a crucial role in developing the next generation of family physicians," said Dr. Sarah C. Nosal, AAFP president. "So much of what family physicians do is in relationship building, and that same spirit of community is what brings more students to the specialty. Molding the future of primary care is a big role, but FMIGs show the rest of us what is possible when we commit to our communities." The AAFP is the largest national association of family physicians, representing 124,500 physicians and medical students. The AAFP supports every stage of a family physician's career and provides evidence-based resources, advocacy and community to empower family medicine.

AAFP celebrates leadership, learning at 2026 Annual Meeting. July 27, 2026 The Alabama Academy of Family Physicians successfully concluded its 2026 Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium on June 28 at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, bringing together family medicine physicians, residents, and allied health professionals for four days of education, collaboration, and fellowship. Held June 25-28, the meeting delivered 14 hours of CME-accredited education across a robust schedule of sessions addressing critical topics in family medicine. Physicians participated in sessions ranging from thyroid and obesity management to controlled substances prescribing, USPSTF guidelines, heart failure care, urology updates, and adult ADHD management. Topics reflecting the evolving landscape of family medicine - including GLP-1 medications, menopause hormone therapy, and artificial intelligence in practice - ensured attendees gained current, clinically applicable knowledge. Beyond the classroom, the meeting fostered the collegial spirit that defines the Academy. The Thursday evening Get Acquainted Party provided an informal setting for physicians to reconnect and build relationships. The exhibit hall became a hub for strolling lunches and vendor interactions, creating natural opportunities for professional exchange and fellowship. Throughout the symposium, colleagues discussed best practices, shared clinical insights, and strengthened the bonds that unite Alabama's family medicine community. The Academy is proud to welcome Dr. Amy Clark, MD as its incoming president. A Family Medicine physician at Hometown Family Care in Athens, Alabama, Dr. Clark brings dedicated expertise in family medicine and a commitment to advancing the specialty. A 2011 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Dr. Clark is board certified in Family Practice and continues to set an example of clinical excellence and professional leadership. Married with two children, Dr. Clark represents the integrated approach that defines modern family medicine - balancing thriving clinical practice with meaningful engagement in the profession. The meeting reaffirmed the Academy's commitment to medical education at all levels. Residents and students attended dedicated sessions alongside practicing physicians, creating a continuum of learning that prepares the next generation of family medicine leaders. As the Academy moves forward under Dr. Clark's leadership, the 2026 Annual Meeting demonstrated the enduring value of bringing the family medicine community together - to learn, to connect, and to advance the specialty in Alabama.