Reviewing Progress, Refining Our Path Forward

As we prepare to enter year four of our five-year strategic plan, your Board of Directors is conducting its annual strategic planning session and will be led by your President-Elect Pani Rao, MD, MPH, FAAFP. This important work allows us to assess our progress, celebrate our achievements, and ensure we're positioned to finish strong as we approach the final stretch of our current plan.

The Importance of Year Four

Year four of a strategic plan is a pivotal moment. We've gained three years of valuable implementation experience and insights, and we now have the clarity to make our final year truly impactful. This is when momentum builds another level, priorities materialize, and we set the stage for both completing our current commitments and envisioning what comes next.

This annual planning process allows us to:

• Evaluate our progress – We’ll review the goals we set and assess what we've accomplished over the past three years. What strategies have been most effective? Where have we exceeded expectations, and where do we need to focus our final year efforts?
• Respond to change – The healthcare landscape has continued to evolve since we developed our original plan. Annual reviews ensure we remain agile and responsive to new challenges and opportunities affecting family physicians and your patients.
• Strengthen what works – By identifying our successes, we can double down on initiatives that are delivering real value to members and advancing family medicine in Maryland.
• Reallocate resources strategically – As we enter our final two years, we can focus resources on completing key initiatives and ensuring we achieve the outcomes we committed to.
• Refine our tactics – While our overarching vision remains constant, year four is the time to ensure every action in our final years drives us toward successful completion of our strategic goals.
• Prepare for what's next – With two years remaining, we'll also begin considering what should shape our next strategic planning cycle.

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Building on Our Foundation

Over the past three years, we've made significant strides in advancing our strategic priorities. The work we've accomplished together has positioned MDAFP as a stronger advocate for family physicians and the communities you serve. Now, we have the opportunity to build on that foundation and accelerate our impact.

Your Continued Input Matters

Your Board will be engaging in thoughtful reflection and planning this coming weekend. The insights and feedback you've provided throughout the past three years have been invaluable in shaping our direction. As we refine our strategies for the next phase, we remain committed to listening to your needs, challenges, and ideas.

If you have thoughts about MDAFP's priorities, programs, or initiatives that you'd like the Board to consider, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or any Board member. Your perspective helps ensure our strategic plan remains grounded in the realities of practicing family medicine in Maryland.

Looking Ahead

Strategic planning is not a one-time event but an ongoing commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. This annual review demonstrates the Board's dedication to being good stewards of our organization and ensuring that MDAFP remains relevant, responsive, and impactful.

I'm excited about the work ahead and grateful for your continued engagement with and support of MDAFP. Together, we're building an organization that truly serves family physicians and strengthens the vital role we play in Maryland's healthcare system.

Thank you for all you do for your patients, your communities, and your profession

Kind regards,

Becky Wimmer

Your Executive Director