Dear OAFP Members,
My name is AuBree LaForce. I’m a third-year medical student at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, and a student trustee on the OAFP Foundation (Foundation) Board of Trustees. I’m writing to you today to share my family medicine story and highlight the role that the Foundation has had. I hope to inspire you to support more medical students in realizing their passion for family medicine.
My journey with the Foundation started after my first year of medical school. During the summer between M1 and M2, I took part in what will always be one of the biggest career-affirming experiences I’ve had. I participated in the Foundation’s Leroy A. Rodgers, MD, Preceptorship Program. Through this experience, I was able to witness firsthand the valuable impact a family physician has on the community and the amazing connection that can be made between physician and patient. And I did all of this in my own backyard – a place I hope to return to in the near future to put roots down as a family physician.
Overall, through amazing mentorship and clinical teachings, this experience solidified my decision that family medicine was my calling and allowed me to envision what my impact will be on my future patients.
Following my summer experience, I entered my second year of medical school incredibly enthused and excited to continue to pursue my goal of specializing in family medicine. I decided to build on my connection with the Foundation and apply to be a student trustee on the Foundation Board. It is here that I found a network of support that nourished my passion for family medicine and provided experiences that I would not have had elsewhere. Each physician provided guidance and encouraged me to share my insight as one of the students at the table. This connection easily boosted my confidence and empowered me to apply to serve as the Ohio student delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students.
The experience as Ohio student delegate led to my most recent accomplishment – being appointed the 2019-20 AAFP Student Delegate to the American Medical Association – Medical Student Section.
None of these experiences would have been possible without amazing physicians like you that have donated to the Foundation. Many of you have invested your dollars into my career as a family physician, and have been an instrumental support and influence on my medical school journey.
Simply put, I would not be where I am without those individuals. My hope for my future is to be a family medicine physician serving in a rural or underserved community in northeast Ohio.
The Foundation plays a pivotal role in the recruitment of future family physicians and will put your donation straight to work. Please consider supporting more medical students like me so they may realize their passion for family medicine – donate today!
All the best,
AuBree LaForce | Doctor of Medicine Candidate, Class of 2021
Northeast Ohio Medical University
2018 Leroy A Rodgers, MD, Preceptorship Program participant
2019 Ohio Student Delegate to AAFP National Conference
2018 – present OAFP Foundation Student Trustee
2019-20 AAFP Student Delegate to AMA-MSS