| American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1947 |
| Type | professional association |
| Headquarters | Leawood, Kansas |
| Location | United States |
| Membership | 100,300 |
| Official languages | English |
| AAFP 2011-2012 President | Glen R Stream, MD, FAAFP |
| Staff | 390 |
| Website | aafp.org |
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) was founded in 1947 to promote the science and art of family medicine. It is one of the largest medical organizations in the United States, with over 100,000 members. The AAFP was instrumental in establishing family medicine as a recognized medical specialty; a certifying board was approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties in 1969. The AAFP is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas.
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The mission of the AAFP is to improve the health of patients, families and communities by serving the needs of members with professionalism and creativity.[1]
To fulfill its mission, the AAFP has four main strategic objectives: advocacy, practice enhancement, education and health of the public.
In its advocacy efforts, the AAFP aims to shape health care policy through interactions with government, the public, business and the health care industry. These efforts include, advancing health care for all, the Patient-Centered Medical home model of care, and increasing the family physician workforce.
The AAFP is committed to helping its members fulfill their practice and career goals by assisting their practices in becoming designated Patient-Centered Medical Homes, promoting ongoing imperative for practice transformation through education and communication and assisting members in achieving financial success through optimal practice management.
To promote high-quality, innovative education for physicians, residents and medical students that encompasses the art, science, evidence and socioeconomics of family medicine, the AAFP supports its members’ pursuit of lifelong learning by providing Continuing Medical Education. The AAFP works to increase funding streams for undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education, and strives to develop mechanisms that will increase the Part II maintenance of certification passing rate of family medicine residency graduates.
To better the health of the public, the AAFP has assumed a leadership role in health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management. The AAFP works to involve family physicians in targeted public health activities such as tobacco cessation, obesity prevention, and encouraging exercise and immunizations. The AAFP also provides patients with free educational resources on its award-winning consumer health site.[2]
The AAFP is governed by a Congress of Delegates composed of two delegates from each of its 55 constituent chapters, as well as from resident and student groups, new physicians, and the special constituencies (women, minorities, international medical graduates, and GLBTs). The Congress meets annually immediately prior to the Academy's Scientific Assembly and has sole power to establish policies and define principles. These policies are carried out between annual meetings by the Board of Directors and a number of standing and special commissions and committees. Delegates to the Congress of Delegates elect the Board, which in turn appoints commission and committee members. Constituent chapters are organized similarly.[3]