American Academy of Family Physicians

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American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)

Formation	1947; 74 years ago (1947)
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Leawood, Kansas 38°55′18″N 94°37′43″W / 38.921718°N 94.628729°W / 38.921718; -94.628729Coordinates: 38°55′18″N 94°37′43″W / 38.921718°N 94.628729°W / 38.921718; -94.628729
Location	United States
Membership	136,700
Official language	English
President	Ada D. Stewart, MD, FAAFP
Key people	President-Elect Sterling N. Ransone Jr., MD, FAAFP Board Chair Gary L. LeRoy, MD, FAAFP
Staff	415
Website	aafp.org

HQ of the American Academy of Family Physicians in Leawood, Kansas

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) was founded in 1947 to promote and maintain high quality standards for family doctors who are providing continuing comprehensive health care to the public. It is one of the largest medical organizations in the United States, with 136,700 members in 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam, as well as internationally. The AAFP was instrumental in establishing family medicine - a derivative of classical general practice - as medicine's 20th primary specialty. The AMA's Council on Medical Education and the independent American Board of Medical Specialties granted approval to a certifying board in family medicine on February 8, 1969. The AAFP is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas.

Mission[]

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]

Strategic objectives[]

To fulfill its mission, the AAFP's strategic objectives include:

• Support and sustain family medicine practices that ensure the value of your comprehensive services.
• Reduce administrative complexity that detracts from patient care.
• Equip members with clinical expertise to provide high quality, evidence-based care and address health disparities.
• Grow a family physician workforce that fully represents our country’s diversity.

The AAFP also provides patients with free educational resources on its consumer health site.^[2]

Structure[]

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 LGBTQs). The Congress meets annually immediately prior to the Academy's Family Medicine Experience (FMX) event (formerly known as 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]

Publications[]

• AAFP News^[4]—the official news publication of the American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Family Physician—an editorially independent official peer-reviewed, clinical review medical journal for physicians and other health care professionals.
• Family Practice Management^[5]—a peer-reviewed, practice improvement journal dedicated to offering practical ideas for better practice, better patient care, and a better work life for family physicians.
• Annals of Family Medicine—a collaborative effort with six family medicine organizations

See also[]

• Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO)
• American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)
• American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP)
• American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• World Organization of Family Doctors (Wonca)

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• The AAFP Foundation
• American Family Physician—a journal by the AAFP]
• Family Practice Management—a journal by the AAFP]
• Annals of Family Medicine—a collaborative journal of the six family medicine organizations
• familydoctor.org—The AAFP's patient education site. Includes handouts, brochures, flowcharts and other resources for patients