IAFP Chapter Delegate Report on 2007 AAFP National Conference
By Katie Eichinger, SIU School of Medicine

 I had the privilege and pleasure to serve as the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians student delegate to the AAFP National Congress of Medical Students (NCMS) in Kansas City , MO from August 1-4.  There were many opportunities throughout the conference to explore and better understand the specialty of Family Medicine. 

 Although much of my time was spent attending the business sessions of the NCMS, there was still time to visit the exhibit hall and attend a number of workshops.  There were many new additions to this year’s conference.  For example, bins were available to donate your hotel toiletries to the area homeless shelters and the first business session was a combined session of both the student and resident delegates.  Popular service projects held at this year’s conference included a blood drive in the exhibit hall and an opportunity to serve lunch at the Kansas City Community Kitchen.

 Besides accommodating a successful blood drive, the exhibit hall was bustling with over 300 Family Medicine residency programs from across the nation.  There were also numerous other booths containing great information ranging from the newest medical equipment to loan repayment.  Also, when networking with so many residencies became too taxing, conference attendees could relax with a free chair massage at the Comfort Station.

 Of course, there were invaluable workshops and procedure clinics taking place throughout the weekend that addressed such topics as dental emergencies for family physicians to negotiating a fair employment agreement.  In addition to learning pearls of wisdom from the workshops and procedural clinics, attendees also had the opportunity to gain wonderful insight on the everyday rewards and challenges of practicing family medicine from guest speakers.  Such speakers included the president of the AAFP, Rick Kellerman, MD, FAAFP, who welcomed us all at the opening session and challenged us all to be the future of family medicine.  David Satcher, MD, PHD, FAAFP, director of the Center of Excellence on Health Disparities and former Surgeon General along with Kevin Grumbach, MD, who co-authored Understanding Health Policy – A Clinical Approach and Improving Primary Care: Strategies and Tools for a Better Practice gave inspiring speeches.   

 Overall, the conference was a success and a fun time, too!  It is a great place to learn important clinical skills, career planning, and practice management as well as developing leadership skills that will enhance the practices of future family physicians.  I encourage student members to attend next year’s conference, which will also be held in Kansas City in the beginning of August.  Next year’s theme of Global Health is very proactive and - if it is anything like this year’s conference - it should not be missed.