Happy Spring to my fellow Maryland Academy Family Physicians.

I'll admit—I was convinced Punxsutawney Phil was exaggerating and that we would not actually see another six weeks of winter after temperatures climbed into the low 80s. But Phil proved us wrong, and winter held on a bit longer. Still, here we are at the start of spring. There is a renewed sense of warmth, energy, and possibility in the air. The season is shifting, bringing with it budding plants, softer breezes, and the promise of new beginnings. Spring reminds us of renewal—of re-energizing, reinvigoration, and even a reset. As nature starts fresh, we are invited to do the same.

With that spirit of renewal, I would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all our Family Medicine programs on a successful Match. Maryland reached a 100% match placement, and this is something to be extremely proud of. We are excited to welcome a new group of family physicians to our state—an important step toward strengthening and sustaining our workforce. As you may recall, the second pillar of our Strategic Plan is to “Grow and Maintain a Sufficient Family Medicine Workforce,” and this achievement reflects meaningful progress toward that goal.

We recognize that there is still much work to be done and that Maryland can be a challenging environment in which to practice medicine. Contributing factors such as low commercial payer reimbursement rates, administrative burdens, and prior authorization requirements continue to impact recruitment and retention. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to targeted outreach and sustained engagement efforts to promote Family Medicine as a rewarding and viable career especially here in Maryland. We will remain active on addressing the above contributing factors to improve the recruitment and retention of Maryland Family Physicians as we know this can have an impact on our workforce shortage.

As your newly appointed President, one of my primary goals is to revitalize our Pathways to Family Medicine program, ensuring it remains a strong and effective pathway for the next generation of family physicians. Your voice—and your actions—matter every day, in every interaction. As family physicians, we are inherently leaders and ambassadors for our specialty, whether we always recognize it or not. The Academy provides a powerful platform to turn your daily work into meaningful, collective impact. If this work aligns with your passions or you are genuinely curious on how you can participate on this committee, now is the time to act.

Please know that the Academy remains committed to listening to your needs and staying closely attuned to the evolving healthcare landscape in our state. We will continue to advocate on your behalf and keep you informed as changes arise

Sincerely,

Gattu Panisri Rao, MD, MPH, FAAFP 

Your MDAFP President