In June, OAFP Foundation Vice Chair Allison Macerollo, MD, and Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) Workforce Development Manager Caitlin Laudeman joined American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) members and staff at the 2025 HOSA Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Nashville, TN, to support the AAFP’s partnership with HOSA in providing judges for competitions, speaking to high school and junior high students about careers in family medicine and attending medical school, and speaking to HOSA advisors about the AAFP’s Family Medicine Champions program.
Dr. Macerollo joined AAFP staff for presentations for students considering medical school, and participated in a panel about the medical school experience with several Tennessee chapter members. HOSA students were eager to attend the sessions and had great questions for the speakers about medical school and family physician careers.
Caitlin joined AAFP staff for a presentation to HOSA advisors and healthcare workforce leaders about the Family Medicine Champions program – which has its own cohort for pre-medical school advisors. AAFP’s Family Medicine Champions program prepares individuals to connect with students, and those who support them, to shed light on what it really means to be a family physician. Champions are trained to support and recruit a diverse workforce and champion a positive vision for the future of family medicine by dispelling myths, clearing misconceptions, and advocating for the depth and breadth of opportunities within the specialty.
Dr. Macerollo and Caitlin also served as judges for the Family Medicine Physician Competitive event with AAFP members and staff from several other states. They were very impressed by the quality of presentations the students had – it was clear the students had spent extensive time researching family medicine careers and interviewing family physicians to prepare their presentations for competition. And hearing from students who are eager to become family physicians is always an inspiring experience!
HOSA’s 2026 ILC will take place Wednesday-Saturday, June 17-20, 2026, in Indianapolis, IN. There will be opportunities for family physicians, residents, and medical students to volunteer at the ILC in person and virtually – keep an eye out for information coming in spring 2026. There are also opportunities to volunteer at the state level throughout the year – the OAFP will share information as it is available.
“It was inspiring to see so many young people who are learning about family medicine and trying to see how they can help change the world in the future. I have worked with medical students for many years and always remain inspired by their enthusiasm and now to see this in younger students is a joy. These students came from all over the country and all different backgrounds and I loved every one of them. I feel confident they represented the healthcare of the future and hopefully many aspiring family physicians!” – Allison Macerollo, MD
AAFP’s Partnership with HOSA
HOSA is a student-led organization that promotes opportunities in health careers. It offers leadership development for middle school, high school, and college students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs, as well as others who are interested in health professions. The organization’s competitive events are designed to motivate its members to improve their knowledge and skills in a wide array of health fields.
In 2021, the AAFP partnered with HOSA to create a Family Medicine Career Test for participants at its ILC and at HOSA state leadership conferences (all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; and some U.S. territories have HOSA chapters). The family medicine test is one of many that offer students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in preparation for a future health profession, but it is the only HOSA test specific to a medical specialty.
Students can also compete by researching family medicine careers and interviewing family physicians, residents, and medical students, and giving a presentation to their peers about family medicine careers including training required, career outlook, compensation, satisfaction, career pathways, and more. If selected, they then compete against students at the state and international levels.
AAFP members across the country are interviewed for the family medicine presentation competition, and members and staff attend the HOSA state competitions and the ILC to serve as judges for the presentations.