News & Announcements
Help Welcome Fleet of Tall Ships into Port When You Attend 2016 Annual Conference & Expo
01/21/2016
A fleet of 20 tall ships will be racing across the Great Lakes this summer and among their ports of call will be Bay City, as highlighted in this MLive article. When the majestic ships begin arriving on the last day of the 2016 Michigan Family Medicine Annual Conference & Expo, taking place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Bay City July 11-14, you will have the opportunity to welcome them into port during a BBQ luncheon on the lawn.
Online conference registration for attendees will open in March, so save July 11-14 on your calendar now! Registration is now open for companies and organizations interested in sponsoring, exhibiting and/or advertising at the Annual Conference & Expo.
NEW! Shop & Earn Money for the MAFP Foundation
01/08/2016
When you shop for family, friends and yourself throughout the year, please consider shopping at AmazonSmile—it is a simple and automatic way for you to support the MAFP Foundation every time you shop, at no cost to you.
Registration Open for 2016 Annual Conference & Expo Sponsors, Exhibitors, Advertisers
01/08/2016
Registration is now open for companies and organizations interested in sharing their expert industry knowledge, goods and services with Michigan Family Physicians at the 2016 Michigan Family Medicine Annual Conference & Expo this July in Bay City. A variety of sponsorship, exhibitor and advertising opportunities are available for technical/for-profit companies and non-profit organizations.
"We appreciate the involvement of those who contributed to a sold-out Exhibit Hall at the 2015 Annual Conference & Expo, and we look forward to a lively exhibit floor during an extended exhibit schedule at the 2016 conference, providing more networking time than ever before," said Jenny Smith, MSA, Director of Professional Development & Strategic Initiatives. Companies and organizations that reserve their exhibit space by March 1 will receive a 10% discount.
What to Watch For This Election Year
01/08/2016
With a litany of issues potentially on the table for debate in the Michigan legislature prior to the November elections, the coming months promise a flurry of activity downtown. This article provides a preview of issues that may see action in the early part of the year; identifies variables that may impact the fiscal year 2016-17 budget process; gives you a glimpse of what to expect on the November ballot; and highlights MAFP's advocacy work to advance our 2016 policy priorities and help shape payment and delievery system reform.
Earn CME and Support MAFP through New Member-Benefit Program
12/18/2015
One of the many perks of MAFP membership is having access to exclusive member-only benefit programs and services, such as credit card processing, medical liability insurance, practice transformation assistance, and cost-effective vaccine supplies. We are excited to announce the addition of a new program to our member benefit suite—the opportunity to purchase AAFP Clinical Self-Study CME Packages to help you enhance your patient care and knowledge on common Family Medicine topics and help your state chapter earn additional revenue.
MAFP Releases Advocacy Priorities for Action in 2016
12/18/2015
As the state's largest physician specialty organization in Michigan, MAFP remains steadfastly dedicated to advocacy that reflects the best interests of Michigan's Family Physicians, Family Medicine Residents and medical students. As the year draws to a close, we wanted to share the Academy's priorities for action in 2016.
Federal Government Approves State's Crucial Second Healthy Michigan Waiver
12/17/2015
On December 17, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the state's second Healthy Michigan waiver, which was crucial for the continuation of the program for nearly 600,000 low-income, hardworking Michiganders that rely on Medicaid coverage through the plan for health insurance. "As specialists in primary care for individuals across the lifespan, Family Physicians witness every day how important it is to have health insurance. Far too often, patients come to us for care long after they should have, many times because they didn't have insurance and couldn't afford care, or because they are referred to us after visiting the emergency room, which is costly and does not build the patient-doctor relationship that facilitates better health outcomes through preventive care," said MAFP President Kim K. Yu, MD, FAAFP, in a statement applauding CMS' approval of the waiver.
Each year the AAFP Foundation provides Student Externship Matching Grants to stimulate interest among medical students to select a career and/or pursue research opportunities in Family Medicine. The MAFP Foundation has budgeted to sponsor a Student Externship in 2016, and we are seeking interested medical students and Family Medicine mentors/preceptors as identified by medical schools in Michigan. The AAFP Foundation provides $1,250 in funding, which is then matched by the MAFP Foundation. The funding is intended to support $2,000 for a medical student’s stipend and up to $500 for a mentor physician's participation as the externship host. Interested medical schools who have identified a student and a mentor/preceptor should submit a Letter of Intent to the MAFP Foundation no later than January 11, 2016.
West Bloomfield Family Physician Represents MAFP on Safe Senior Driving Initiative
12/10/2015
Last week, during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, the State of Michigan launched michigan.gov/agingdriver, a new website of resources to help aging seniors stay safe on the roads. "The comprehensive website also includes resources for healthcare professionals, including Family Physicians, who interact regularly with aging Michiganders who might be having difficulty navigating safely on the roadways, and navigating the resources that are available to help them," said Barbara Saul, DO, FAAFP of West Bloomfield and a member of the MAFP Board of Directors. Dr. Saul represents MAFP on the coalition of partner organizations that helped develop and provided resources for the website.
Teaching Health Centers Provide Community-based Residency Training Opportunities
12/06/2015
On December 1, MAFP Advocacy Committee member and associate professor of Family Medicine at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Julie Phillips, MD, MPH and MAFP Director of Government Affairs, Christin Nohner, MPP, traveled to Detroit for an enriching tour of a Teaching Health Center—one of just two such health centers in Michigan. The intention behind the THCGME model is intuitive: teach aspiring primary care physicians in settings where they are directly exposed to the community and the multitude of factors that influence health.