Ohio Academy of Family Physicians chapter leaders met in Kansas City, MO, May 5-7 for the American Academy of Family Physicians Annual Chapter Leader Forum (ACLF) and the National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL).
ACLF is the AAFP’s leadership development program for chapter-elected leaders, aspiring leaders, and chapter staff. Ohio members attending included Stan Anderson, MD, FAAFP; Jeff Bachtel, MD, FAAFP; Bryan Ghiloni, MD; Doug Harley, DO, FACOFP, FAAFP; Tom Houston, MD, FAAFP; Ryan Kauffman, MD, FAAFP; Gary LeRoy, MD, FAAFP; Renee Markovich, MD, FAAFP; Anna McMaster, MD; Elisabeth Righter, MD, FAAFP; Mike Sevilla, MD; Suellywn Stewart, MD; and Randy Wexler, MD, MPH, FAAFP. Staff members in attendance included Director of Events and Foundation Programs Kaitlin Smith; Director of Communications Megan Smith; and Executive Vice President Ann Spicer.
NCCL is AAFP’s premier policy development event for underrepresented constituencies, including women; minorities; new physicians; international medical graduates (IMG); and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) physicians or physicians who support GLBT issues. Ohio’s official delegates to NCCL included: Wayne Ford, MD (minority representative); Don Mack, MD (GLBT representative); Sarah Metzger, MD (women representative); Tamer Said, MD (IMG representative); and MiLinda Zabramba, MD (new physician representative). In addition to participating in leadership sessions, NCCL delegates write, debate, and vote on resolutions related to medical practice and patient health.
Other Ohio members attending NCCL included Jaividhya Dasarathy, MD, FAAFP, who served as IMG co-convener, and Anna Kauffman, MD, who served as women’s co-convener.
- An opening session and plenary featuring AAFP President Wanda Filer, MD, FAAFP, who gave an update on the AAFP’s activities around MACRA and the coming of payment reform—the future of health care. Dr. Filer announced the AAFP’s MACRA Ready campaign to support members every step of the way.
- A CMS MACRA Town Hall with CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt (via telephone) and CMS Deputy Chief of Staff Tim Gronniger (in person) on their plan to implement the new Medicare physician payment law. Mr. Gronniger answered a lot of members’ questions and addressed their concerns; he pledged to work side by side with the AAFP and family physicians:“We are going to become friends or good acquaintances throughout the MACRA process,” said Mr. Gronniger.
- Breakout sessions that covered governance, communications, advocacy, media relations, and membership issues
- An inspirational presentation by Baseball Player Jim Morris, played by actor Dennis Quaid in the film “The Rookie.” He shared his story about growing up poor in the small, west Texas town of Brownwood. After years of playing in the minor league, he retired, started a family, returned to school, and then debuted as a rookie pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
During the lunch program on May 6, the OAFP was recognized for achieving second place for extra large chapters in the category highest percent increase student membership 2015 and for sending a full delegation to the 2016 NCCL.
Attendees from Ohio joined leaders from the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians and Core Content Review of Family Medicine for dinner on May 5. Those Ohio members that were in attendance from Core included Dr. Houston; Dr. Markovich; Ratna Palakodeti, MD, FAAFP; Jon Seager, MD, FAAFP; and Dr. Stewart.
In 2017, the conference will be held Thursday-Saturday, April 27-29, 2017.