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About Us
General Information About Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians and Foundation
THE PAFP'S VISION
The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians and its Foundation is (a) the leading influential resource among family physicians and physicians in training in Pennsylvania; (b) the primary voice on health care issues with state legislative and administrative branches of government, media and professional health organizations; (c) a benchmark state on the national level; (d) the standard-setter for organized medicine and (e) the leader on health care issues in the community.
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THE PAFP'S MISSION
The Academy and its Foundation will support its members through advocacy and education to ensure a physician-coordinated, patient-centered medical home for every Pennsylvanian.
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- Improving Quality of Care: Through our nonprofit Foundation, we educate our members on the most current information important to the specialty. Annually, we offer about 128.5 hours of continuing medical education (CME) through various programs. Our flagship CME program is our CME conferences series, but the Foundation also offers CME online via webcasts and monographs.
The PAFP Foundation also manages public health programs such as Tar Wars, and provides family medicine representation in statewide public health efforts partnering with the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and many others.
The Quality Initiatives department teaches patient-centered performance enhancement and continuous quality improvement through its collaboratives and collects data on the impact these activities have on patient populations, including those with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Regional member meetings focus on helping family practices become patient-centered medical homes - provide local, free opportunities for networking and CME.
- Supporting Issues Important to Family Physicians: The PAFP provides members with a full-service, comprehensive state government affairs team whose activities include legislative and regulatory monitoring, direct and grassroots lobbying, legal services and public relations. We continually strive to advocate on all policy levels and keep our members well-informed of these efforts.
- Promoting the Growth of Family Medicine: We proudly promote family medicine through a variety of student and resident programs, including financial support for medical students to attend national conferences. Residents and students actively serve on our commissions. Two student members and two resident members also serve as voting members of our Board of Directors and as voting delegates to the PAFP House of Delegates.
- Keeping Members Involved and Informed: We keep our members up-to-date on all of our activities through our bimonthly digital magazine, Keystone Physician; our biweekly member newsletter, Progress Notes; plus current online information. Members also are always welcome at cluster meetings, business and networking sessions held twice a year in Harrisburg. Regional member meetings provide local, free opportunities for networking and continuing medical education (CME).
- Connect with the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians: Your participation can make a difference in the growth of the family medicine specialty. Connect with the PAFP and learn more about how we serve Pennsylvania family physicians.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
The PAFP has assembled a brochure about family medicine in Pennsylvania that explains the family medicine specialty, how family physicians treat patients, and what role the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians has in the process. Please click on the image below to read more about who we are and what we do.
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PAFP AND FOUNDATION STRUCTURE
The PAFP is unified with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Members of the PAFP are automatically members of the AAFP, and vice versa.
The PAFP’s Executive Committee includes the President, President-elect, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Executive Vice President (CEO).
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- Cluster: Commissions (standing task forces), the PAFP Board of Directors and PAFP and Foundation Board of Trustees meet two weekends a year at what is commonly called "cluster." Each commission meets individually and then reports to the Board of Directors. The Public Policy Commission usually kicks off these meetings with an evening meeting on Thursday of the spring cluster meeting and Friday of the fall cluster meeting. It is held separately because it typically lasts longer and has more attendees than any other commission. Other commissions currently include Practice Advocacy, Planning, Member Services, Student and Resident Affairs and Finance. PAFP and PAFP Foundation meetings are open to all members.
- Assemblies: PAFP assemblies include the Student Assembly, Resident Assembly and Assembly of Family Practice Residency Program Directors and Family Practice Department Chairs. Each year, elections are held to appoint leaders to best represent the individual constituencies for the coming year at both state and national conferences. The assemblies also submit resolutions to be considered by the PAFP House of Delegates at the Annual Business Meeting, held in concert with spring cluster.
All committees, commissions and assemblies are staffed by at least one PAFP employee to serve the needs of that particular group.
- House of Delegates: The House of Delegates is an all-member annual business meeting that convenes once a year at a "Clinical Education Series" event. Members who attend vote on resolutions and recommendations submitted by other members.
- Town Hall: Town hall meetings are held at each CME conference event to give members a chance to ask questions and make comments to board members and other physician leaders.
- PAFP Foundation: PAFP board members serve as the PAFP Foundation Board of Trustees. Donors to the PAFP Foundation provide invaluable feedback on programs and strategic initiatives. They are also eligible for nonvoting positions on the PAFP Education Commission and Board of Directors.
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