The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) held its Virtual Membership Meeting on August 6, with more than 40 members in attendance.
During the virtual meeting, members voted to elect new leadership for the 2026-27 Academy year; heard from outgoing President Mary Krebs, MD, FAAFP, and incoming President Jaividhya Dasarathy, MD, FAAFP; recognized award recipients; approved a change to the OAFP Bylaws, and held a Town Hall on the role of the OAFP’s regional chapters and the value they provide to our members.
In addition, the OAFP Foundation (Foundation) provided program and fundraising updates and pulled the winner of the Past Presidents’ Quilt Raffle: Kate Mahler, CAE!
On August 14, the Foundation held its Legacy & Leadership reception to honor the mentors, students, alumni, donors, and champions who have made the Leroy A. Rodgers, MD, Preceptorship Program a national award-winning success, and its Mentorship Award recipient, Tamara Huson, MD, FAAFP.
The OAFP held its third Family Medicine Celebration (Celebration) on August 15 at The Grand Event Center in Grandview Heights, OH. Nearly 50 members reignited their passion for family medicine, networked, received updates, and shared insights with their colleagues.
The day opened with a warm welcome from Mike Sevilla, MD, FAAFP, chair of the Family Medicine Celebration Workgroup, who set the tone for a day of learning and recognition.
The morning continued with updates from national leadership as Tochi Iroku-Malize, MD, FAAFP, past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), shared the current trends and developments shaping family medicine; advocacy efforts supported by the AAFP; and explored opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, and engagement through AAFP programs. Dr. Iroku-Malize also led a session exploring how global health initiatives can be incorporated into family medicine education and practice, how academic scholarship can be translated into meaningful local advocacy and health policy, and how emerging applications of artificial intelligence (AI) are shaping primary care.
Attendees then heard from Nicholas Pennings, DO, DABOM, MFOMA, FACOFP, FAAFP, on practical strategies to navigate obesity management in primary care and from Mark Pothen, founder of Beacon Health, on AI in practice.
Many members were recognized for their leadership and dedication to the Academy. Dr. Iroku-Malize lead the AAFP Fellow Convocation and installed the 2026-27 OAFP Board of Directors and Dr. Dasarathy as president; and the Foundation concluded its summer fundraising efforts raising $16,000 to support its work. If you didn’t get a chance to participate, it’s never too late—make your contribution and help fuel the next generation of family medicine!
The heart of the Celebration was captured in the keynote address delivered by Gary LeRoy, MD, DABFM, FAAFP. His keynote, titled “Why This, Why Now, Why Us? Celebrating the Joy of Noticing Unnoticed Wisdom,” explored the factors influencing professional fulfillment and burnout, while encouraging family physicians to embrace their roles as trusted leaders, advocates, and healers, and to strengthen resilience and purpose through reflective practice and meaningful service.
Throughout the day, the spirit of collaboration and community was further amplified through interactive opportunities like themed lunch tables on topics ranging from women’s health to precepting and AI. These settings encouraged meaningful, informal dialogue among professionals with shared interests.
Advocacy remained a central theme throughout the Celebration, highlighted by a state update from Lauren Huddleston, JD, OAFP’s lobbyist, and a national update from Natalie Williams, AAFP’s senior manager, legislative affairs.