Ohio students and residents joined others from across the country this past weekend for the American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP) National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students (National Conference). This year’s conference was hosted in a virtual format for the first time ever, and provided innovative opportunities for students and residents to learn and connect!
The virtual Expo Hall allowed attendees to visit booths uniquely designed by exhibitors and leave virtual business cards to schedule one on one appointments. Exhibit categories included residency programs, practice opportunities, fellowship programs, publishers, advocacy experts, medical missions, and medical products and services.
To allow for additional learning opportunities, the AAFP has made all educational content available for a short time post-conference. Numerous workshops, informational sessions, and main stage presentations all provided valuable insight to students on a variety of topics including the virtual match experience, how to be a family medicine influencer, and the community impact of family medicine.
Ohio delegates, selected by the OAFP Foundation, represented their fellow students and residents during the National Conference. Each delegate participated in online forums sharing their ideas and perspectives on important family medicine issues. They also participated in issue-based discussion groups and voted on national leadership positions.
Ohio’s National Conference Delegates were:
Resident Delegate: Brad Christoph, DO
The Ohio State University Family Medicine Residency
Resident Alternate Delegate: Zander Curtis, MD
Holzer Family Medicine Residency
Student Delegate: AuBree LaForce
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Student Alternate Delegate: Cynthia Pathmathasan
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Each year at National Conference, the OAFP Foundation takes the opportunity to gather all the attendees from Ohio for a reception. Although pandemic complications prevented an in-person gathering, over 40 students and residents participated in the first virtual Ohio-Only Reception on July 30. Participants heard from Ohio residency programs, learned about leadership opportunities from Mike Sevilla, MD, and Kelly Thibert, DO, MPH, and participated in breakout sessions with the Ohio National Conference Delegates.
- Cleveland Clinic Akron General Center for Family Medicine
- Doctors Hospital Ohio Health Family Medicine Residency
- Firelands Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program
- Grant Family Medicine Residency
- Miami Valley Academy of Family Physicians
- Riverside Family Medicine Residency
- Luke’s Hospital Family Medicine Residency
- The Ohio State University Family Medicine Residency.