Resident Delegate’s Report from 2016 AAFP National Conference
Kristina Dakis, MD – UIC Family Medicine Residency

I always fall back in love with family medicine whenever I attend the AAFP National Conference for Family Medicine Residents and Students. This year was no exception! A record number of residents and students attended the conference this year, and 66 resolutions (the most ever!) were submitted to the Resident Congress, and some of them I served as a co-author. Most importantly, the weekend was energizing and reminded me why I’m so lucky to have chosen this career.

After representing Illinois as the student delegate in 2013, it was nice coming in knowing what to expect. For those who have not attended National Conference or the Congress, it is truly an exciting time. Students and residents have the opportunity to propose resolutions that could one day become AAFP policy and shape the future of our specialty. Resolutions proposed by residents this year included taking a stance on institutional racism, support of contraceptive implant training, incorporation of health policy training into residencies, OTC contraceptive access without age restrictions, and ensuring resident wellness. I teamed up with fellow IAFP leader [student board member] Emily Graber and other students/residents to propose a physician suicide prevention resolution and a resolution requesting a virtual AAFP platform for wellness and burnout prevention resources. The following day, I defended my own resolution in the Reference Committee hearing. I also testified in support of a few other resolutions including a resolution improving Mental Health Care in the Primary Care Setting. Overall, my experience s the resident delegate served as a strong reminder that we have the ability shape the future of family medicine.

In addition to participating in the Congress, I co-presented three workshops at National Conference on medical student and resident wellness. Over the past year, I have been working with MS4 Joseph Brodine from Georgetown University and our amazing advisor, Dr. Christina Kelly, on a Student and Resident Burnout Prevention Project through Family Medicine for America’s Health. As part of our project, we designed a workshop incorporating both a self-reflection exercise and a group discussion on culture change and promoting wellness in medical training. Joe and I also shared our personal struggles with balancing life and medical school/residency. In all three workshops, I was so inspired by our participants’ stories and ideas. It is clear that students and residents are committed to creating learning environments that value wellness and burnout prevention. We are bringing the workshop to the Resident and Student Breakout Session at the Annual Meeting this year on November 12th. I hope to see you there!

Yet, my favorite part of the conference was connecting with old friends…and making new ones! I was able to grab lunch with fellow University of Illinois at Chicago alumni who are now in Family Medicine residencies all over the country. IAFP also hosted a successful social event for Illinois residencies and medical students from across the country. A record number of medical students attended the conference this year, and it was awesome speaking with SO many people who were excited about a career family medicine! And of course, it is always an honor to represent my own residency, UIC.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend the 2016 National Conference of Residents and Students and to serve as the Illinois Resident Delegate. It was an energizing weekend spent collaborating with amazing people who I’m proud to call my colleagues.