Are you interested in being more involved with your Academy or receiving a scholarship to harness your leadership potential? Would you like to participate in a summer program to learn more about family medicine? If so, you are in the right spot!
Today’s medical students are the future of the specialty. The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians highly values the contributions made by medical students 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. 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 and the Foundation are 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.
Leroy A. Rogers, MD, Preceptorship Program (first- and second-year medical students only)
Through the Foundation’s Leroy A. Rodgers, MD, Preceptorship Program, the Foundation offers grant funding to the departments of family medicine at the state’s medical schools for participating students’ preceptorship rotation stipends. Stipends are $375 per week for a four week preceptorship rotation. The maximum stipend for any one rotation is $1,500.
Preceptorships match first- and second-year medical students with practicing family physicians in urban and rural settings for a period of four weeks during the summer months.
The Foundation disburses stipend funding directly to the departments of family medicine upon completion and submission of the participating students’ program requirements to the Foundation. These funds are provided in full to participating students. Indirect costs are not provided to the institution and grant funds may not be used for this purpose.
Program Requirements:
- Student must be an OAFP member
- The medical school contact will submit the name of the student and medical school years completed to the Foundation
- Student preceptors’ name and practice location (street address and phone number) must be submitted to the Foundation
- The number of weeks in the preceptorship rotation must be submitted to the Foundation
- Student will complete a report describing the value and/or impact of their preceptorship experience (photos of the student with the preceptor and/or during rotation activities are appreciated).
Please note that the requirements above are what is required to receive funding from the Foundation. Each medical school may have their own application and interview process. Please contact your corresponding medical school program coordinator listed below for specific application information and deadlines for participating in the program:
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine – Stephanie Cummings or call 216.286.6727
- Northeast Ohio Medical University –Mary Sherman or call 330.325.6172
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine – Michelle Bobo or call 740.593.0465
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine –Allison Macerollo, MD, or call 614.688.6490
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine –Hillary Mount, MD
- University of Toledo College of Medicine –Lindsey Brillhart or call 419.383.5557
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine –Juanita Griffin or call 937.245.7226
Each Ohio medical school’s department of family medicine develops, implements, and evaluates its summer preceptorship/externship program curriculum and requirements. Through their respective departments of family medicine, participating students are selected and matched with a practicing family physician from urban and rural practice communities. The family physician preceptors volunteer to mentor the students. During these educational rotations students not only gain intensive exposure to family medicine’s whole person orientation – witnessing the continuous, comprehensive, and collaborative patient-centered care provided by family physicians; but, also experience and observe the difference family physicians make in the lives of the people in their communities – particularly those underserved in urban, rural, and special needs communities.
Federally Qualified Health Center Component.
The Foundation has partnered with the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) to provide medical students the opportunity to complete their rotation in a federally qualified health center (FQHC) or community health center (CHC) in Ohio. If you are interested in this practice setting, please let your medical school contact know. He or she will work with Foundation staff to coordinate a placement. To learn more about FQHC’s, visit the OACHC website.
Since 1990, over 1,000 medical students’ preceptorship experiences with family physician preceptors have been funded through the Leroy A. Rodgers, MD, Preceptorship Program. Program outcomes show one-third of all participants choose the family medicine specialty, and three-quarters of participants overall enter primary care career specialties.
The Leroy A. Rodgers, MD, Preceptorship Program is funded by donations from individuals, corporate partners, and the OAFP’s regional chapters and grants from the AAFP Foundation, the AAFP Foundation’s Family Medicine Philanthropic Consortium, and the OACHC through its Ohio Primary Care Workforce Initiative (OPCWI)*.
If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact Director of Foundation & Strategic Programs Kaitlin McGuffie or call 800.724.7327.
*OPCWI funding was made possible in part by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The information and views expressed by OPCWI herein do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of ODH; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the State of Ohio.
Student Director on the OAFP Board of Directors
The student director works with other members of the board to ensure that OAFP activities are focused appropriately to achieve the Academy’s mission and strategic plan. He or she serves as a member of the OAFP board representing Ohio’s medical students through attendance at board meetings by contributing to the discussion and representing the student voice. The student director should also serve as a resource to fellow students and encourage involvement in the OAFP among peers. A student alternate director will also be elected in the event of unavoidable absence of the student director, to serve with full voting privileges.
The student 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 student director or alternate director on the OAFP Board of Directors, please contact Executive Vice President Ann Spicer or call 800.724.7327. For more information, read the Standard Operating Procedures for Officers and the Board.
Student Trustee on the OAFP Foundation Board of Trustees
The student trustee works with other trustees to ensure that Foundation activities are focused appropriately to achieve the Foundation’s mission and development plan. He or she serves as a member of the Foundation board representing the students through attendance at board meetings by contributing to the discussion and representing the student voice. The student trustee should also serve as a resource to fellow students. A student alternate trustee will also be elected in the event of unavoidable absence of the student trustee, to serve with full voting privileges.
The student trustee and alternate trustee serve a one-year term that begins 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 student trustee or alternate trustee on the Foundation Board of Trustees, please contact Director of Foundation & Strategic Programs Kaitlin McGuffie or call 800.724.7327. For more information, please read the OAFP Foundation Board of Trustees Manual.
Student Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians
National Congress of Medical Students
The student delegate and alternate delegate attend the American Academy of Family Physicians National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students Thursday-Saturday, July 30-August 1, 2020, in Kansas City, MO, to represent Ohio’s students during discussions, debates, and elections at the congress sessions. Student delegates and alternate delegates receive scholarships up to $1,200 in eligible expenses to attend the conference from the OAFP Foundation.
Delegates get to:
- Represent OAFP’s student members at national policy making forums
- Run or apply for elected positions and other leadership opportunities in the AAFP
- Receive instruction in parliamentary procedure and informed decision making
- Participate in special 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 students.
Eligible candidates must:
- Have participated in one OAFP activity
- Be a student in good standing with the OAFP and the AAFP
- Be a student in good standing at their medical school
- Disclose other funding received to attend the conference (please note: other funding received by official Ohio delegates to attend the conference will be deducted from the Foundation scholarship).
Eligible candidates must submit:
- A completed student application (application available each spring)
- A current CV
- A statement of interest (no more than one typewritten page) explaining your interest in family medicine and why you wish to represent Ohio at the congress.
Deadline to apply is each year in mid-May.
If you are interested in or have questions about serving as a student delegate or alternate delegate, please contact Director of Foundation & Strategic Programs Kaitlin McGuffie or call 800.724.7327.
Student Scholarships to the American Academy of Family Physicians National Conference of
Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students
The OAFP Foundation will offer up to 10 medical student scholarships (from non-selected American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation’s (AAFP Foundation) Family Medicine Leads Scholarship applicants) to attend the AAFP’s National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students (National Conference).
National Conference will be held Thursday-Saturday, July 30-August 1, 2020, in Kansas City, MO.
Selected students will receive $600 to help offset the registration, travel, lodging, and meal expenses of attending the National Conference.
To be considered for the scholarship, students must apply for the AAFP Foundation’s Family Medicine Leads Scholarships for National Conference. Ohio medical students that are not selected by the AAFP Foundation for a Family Medicine Leads Scholarship will automatically be eligible for the OAFP Foundation’s scholarship. Notification of the OAFP Foundation’s scholarship selection will be made by Friday, June 14.
Selected students will receive their scholarship during the Ohio-Only reception in Kansas City (near the event location).
Please contact Director of Foundation & Strategic Programs Kaitlin McGuffie or call 800.724.7327 with questions about this scholarship opportunity.
Please note: Students selected for the OAFP Foundation’s delegate and alternate delegate scholarships, are not eligible.
Student Delegate to the Family Medicine Celebration
Each year, the OAFP hosts an annual meeting, the Family Medicine Celebration, to discuss policy and functions of the organization as well as offer continuing medical education programming on a variety of topics. An annual awards dinner is also held and physicians are honored. Up to five students are selected to attend the meeting as official student 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 Family Medicine Celebration, please contact Director of Foundation & Strategic Programs Kaitlin McGuffie or call 800.742.7327.
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 student 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 medical school 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 medical school 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 University Give Me the Time Off to Attend Meetings?
If you plan to run for an elected position or apply for an appointment, you must be confident that you will be granted the time off to attend required meetings.
There are also several steps that you can take to ensure support:
- Know your medical school’s attendance policies
- Find out if any of your classmates have served in AAFP 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 (eg, leadership development, advocacy, policy development)
- Volunteer to present relevant information from AAFP meetings during a brown bag lunch, FMIG meeting, class, etc.
