Are you interested in being more involved with your Academy or receiving a scholarship to harness your leadership potential? If so, you are in the right spot!
Today’s family medicine residents are the future of the specialty. The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) highly values the contributions made by family medicine residents and recognizes the importance of training future leaders of medicine.
There are many ways to begin or continue your leadership journey in family medicine, specifically with the OAFP and the OAFP Foundation (Foundation). If you’re interested in starting with committee work, there’s a spot for you. If you want to take your leadership skills to the next level and apply for a director position on the OAFP Board of Directors or trustee position on the Foundation Board of Trustees, there’s an opportunity for that too. The OAFP is here to help build you into the best leader you can be.
For a list of committees, workgroups, taskforces, and resource teams you can participate on, visit the Get Involved page.
Resident Director on the OAFP Board of Directors
The resident director works with other members of the board to ensure OAFP activities are focused appropriately to achieve the Academy’s mission and strategic plan. They serve as a member of the OAFP board representing the residents through attendance at board meetings by contributing to the discussion and representing the resident voice. The resident director should also serve as a resource to fellow residents and encourage involvement in the OAFP among peers. A resident alternate director will also be elected in the event of unavoidable absence of the resident director, to serve with full voting privileges.
The resident director and alternate director serve a one-year term from August to August each year.
The deadline to apply is each year at the end of May.
If you are interested in serving as a resident director or alternate director on the OAFP Board of Directors, please contact Executive Vice President Kate Mahler, CAE, or call 800.724.7327. For more information, read the Standard Operating Procedures for Officers and the Board.
Resident Trustee on the OAFP Foundation Board of Trustees
The resident trustee works with other trustees to ensure that OAFP Foundation (Foundation) activities are focused appropriately to achieve the Foundation’s mission and development plan. They serve as a member of the Foundation board representing residents through attendance at board meetings by contributing to the discussion and representing the resident voice. The resident trustee should also serve as a resource to fellow residents. A resident alternate trustee will also be elected in the event of unavoidable absence of the resident trustee, to serve with full voting privileges.
The resident trustee and alternate trustee serve a one-year term that begins yearly on July 1 and ends on June 30.
The deadline to apply is each year at the beginning of June.
If you are interested in serving as a resident trustee or alternate trustee on the Foundation Board of Trustees, please contact Kaitlin McGuffie or call 800.724.7327. For more information, please read the OAFP Foundation Board of Trustees Manual.
Resident Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians
National Congress of Family Medicine Residents
Apply today to represent your fellow Ohio family medicine residents at the National Congress of Family Medicine Residents (NCFMR) hosted in conjunction with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students (National Conference) Thursday-Saturday, July 27-29.
The resident delegate and alternate delegate will represent Ohio’s residents during discussions, resolution writing, and elections at the congress sessions. While any resident member of the AAFP may participate in congress discussions and resolution writing, only chapter delegates are eligible to vote in elections. The alternate resident delegate serves in a partner role to the delegate and as a backup in case the delegate is not able to vote.
Delegates and alternate delegates will:
- Represent OAFP’s resident members at national policy making forums
- Vote for elected positions and other leadership opportunities in the AAFP
- Receive instruction in parliamentary procedure and informed decision making
- Participate in discussion groups and develop and debate resolutions
- Learn about the AAFP’s strategic priorities and how the Academy and other key organizations are addressing issues of importance to residents.
Eligible candidates must:
- Have participated in at least one OAFP activity (event, program, committee, etc.)
- Be a resident member in good standing with the OAFP and the AAFP
- Be a resident in good standing at their residency program
- Disclose additional funding received to attend the conference (Please note: additional funding received by the selected delegate/alternate will be deducted from the reimbursement amount available).
Eligible candidates must submit:
- A completed resident delegate application
- A current CV
- A statement of interest explaining your interest in family medicine and why you wish to represent Ohio residents at the congress (no more than one typewritten page).
Post-conference, the delegate and alternate delegate must submit:
- A written report of their experience
- Receipts for travel reimbursement.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 3. The OAFP Foundation Executive Committee will select a delegate and alternate delegate; selected applicants will be notified by Thursday, June 1. The delegate and alternate delegate will have applicable travel expenses to participate in the congress and National Conference reimbursed by the OAFP Foundation – this includes early bird conference registration, airfare, mileage, and hotel. The Expense Reimbursement Policy will be provided to the delegate and alternate delegate upon selection.
If you have questions about the resident delegate role or application process, please contact Events & Office Coordinator Saeeda Fotheringham.
Resident Delegate to the Annual Membership Meeting
Each year, the OAFP hosts an annual meeting to discuss policy and functions of the organization. The 2022 Annual Membership Meeting will again be held virtually. Up to five resident members are selected to attend the meeting as official resident delegates. Each of the five delegates have voting privileges during the business portions of the meeting.
If interested in serving as a delegate to the Annual Membership Meeting, please contact Events & Office Coordinator Saeeda Fotheringham or call 800.742.7327.
Resident Employment Contract Review Stipend
We know how complex it is to be a graduating resident and we want to help you make your transition to practicing full-time family medicine as easy as possible. Putting our money where our mouth is, the OAFP is providing member residents with financial support to have your Ohio employment contract reviewed by an attorney of your choosing—it’s our way to say thank you for making the health of all Ohioans primary!
Qualifications and Stipulations
The OAFP will support a maximum of 25 OAFP member residents with financial support to cover half of the cost of a legal Ohio employment contract review (not to exceed $400 per resident) with proof of a valid receipt from your attorney and completed stipend request form.
Financial support is available only to OAFP resident members who will be practicing in Ohio, provided on a first come, first served basis, and is limited to two residents per residency program per calendar year.
Please send completed request form and proof of valid receipt to Emily Pavoni or call 800.742.7327 with questions.
Questions about Serving?
We understand you might have some questions, so below are some answers to get you started! Please contact the OAFP office or call 800.742.7327 with any additional questions.
How Will I Benefit from this Involvement?
Among other things, you have the opportunity to:
- Network with family physicians from across the state during OAFP events and meetings
- Participate in the discussion of issues key to health care delivery and to family medicine
- Learn more about topics of special interest
- Cultivate organizational and communication skills
- Spend time with other resident leaders who share common interests and concerns.
Are there Special Requirements for Positions?
- You must be a current OAFP member to be elected or selected for any position
- For some positions, preference will be given to applicants who are currently serving or have served on an OAFP committee, workgroup, taskforce, or resource team
- Should be in good standing at your residency program and with the Academy.
How Much Time is Involved?
You will be expected to attend all portions of assigned meetings. Whenever possible, meetings are scheduled over the weekends to minimize the number of days away from residency obligations. Please check specific position descriptions for estimated meeting days.
Work is also done through electronic communications. You will receive information specific to your position after being elected or selected.
Will My Program Give Me the Time Off to Attend Meetings?
If you plan to run for an elected position or apply for a scholarship, you must be confident that you will be granted the time off to attend required meetings.
You should obtain a letter of recommendation from your residency program director and there are also several steps that you can take to ensure support:
- Know your program’s attendance policies
- Find out if any of your classmates have served in OAFP or OAFP Foundation positions
- Share information about the position you are seeking and the general meeting schedule with the appropriate individuals
- Explain what you hope to gain from the experience (i.e., leadership development, advocacy, policy development)
- Volunteer to present relevant information from your involvement during a brown bag lunch, grand rounds, etc.
