Providing Advocacy, Representation and Leadership to Achieve our Mission

MDAFP’s mission is to support Maryland family physicians in their efforts to promote equity and optimize the health of our state’s patients, families and communities.

We continuously focus on building a sufficient family medicine workforce in Maryland and that includes keeping you, our practicing early to mid to near end of career Family Physicians, engaged, informed and valued. You are important to MDAFP, as well as your communities and patients you take care of. Our focus on you includes:

• Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians (LARP) – we have been advocating for increased funding and expanded access to these funds. I’m pleased to inform you that the funding for the next budget cycle is up to $3Million, after Governor Moore only approved $1Million for the 2024 cycle. Make sure you check this out to see if you qualify. You can also give us feedback, which helps us ensure the process is fair and equitable in our efforts to improve this program.
• We were able to get our state’s Preceptor Tax Credit updated in 2021 and its current benefits remain:
  • The credit certificate will be issued by MDH in the amount of $1,000 for each student whom the Physician, Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner acted as a preceptor without compensation.
  • The tax credit amount for individual preceptor for any taxable year may not exceed $10,000.
  • The total amount of income tax credit certificates in total may not exceed $100,000 for any taxable year.
• There are several other important issues we advocated at the State House for you this past legislative session and I encourage you to read more in the lobbying report in this issue.
• Education –
  • We offer an excellent CME conference every February with your needs in mind. Topics include a wide range of relevant and up-to-date evidence-based education designed purposely for Family Medicine.
  • We’ve recently partnered with The Maryland Health Care Commission in a Spring Virtual Symposium 2024: Enhancing Patient Experience Through Patient and Family Engagement. This well received, engaging event can still be accessed online. Emily, I’ve requested the link and will provide it to you before Wednesday.
• Primary Care Investment – your leadership is looking into ways to support members who are employed and those who own their own practice. We understand there are many areas we can provide support to address administrative burden and other issues that impact your wellbeing.
• We invest in special constituencies through AAFP’s National Conference of Constituency Leaders. Each year we send one chapter leader from each of the five under-represented constituency groups AAFP has identified – New Physician, Woman, Minority, IMG and LGBTQ+. This is a great opportunity for these members to build on their leadership skills and develop their ideas to present to the AAFP Congress of Delegates. Not only are they representing you on this national stage, but bringing back their ideas for change to our state chapter, too.

We’re also focusing on the future by putting time and resources into residents and students. AAFP’s National Conference for Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students has such a profound impact on students, allowing them to explore family medicine, meet residencies, and connect with peers—all in one location. And for residents, besides networking, some of the most valuable sessions have been around negotiating contracts, planning for career, and medical billing. The leadership opportunities at the National Conference are also so important. We support sending a full delegation to the Resident and Student respective Congresses, and our Foundation sends students on scholarships to attend the conference. All this is kicked off with our Pre-Conference dinner locally. The dinner is packed with activities: networking, conference orientation, resolution writing and a chance for residents and students to meet and network with our chapter’s leadership.

More benefits are being developed for all members, and your Academy is currently involved in state initiatives that will positively impact your practices. Watch for more in upcoming issues.

In the meantime, what keeps you up at night and what you need to help you be successful in your practice is what’s most important to MDAFP. We strive to offer benefits that uniquely matter to you at all stages of your career in Family Medicine.Please give your feedback formally when surveys and other requests are made, as well as informally when an issue or need arises by contacting me. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Becky Wimmer

MDAFP Executive Director