I’m pleased to share an update from our recent Board of Directors strategic planning meeting, an always energizing and productive meeting that reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening family medicine across Maryland.

During our discussions, we centered our work for the coming years around three priority areas that reflect both our mission and the needs of our members:

1. Promote and Advocate for Primary Care Investment

Building on our existing advocacy successes, we will continue to work closely with the Maryland Department of Health and other stakeholders to ensure the new AHEAD value-based care program is designed to truly support primary care physicians. We remain committed to advancing the state’s goal of increasing primary care investment from 5% today to 10% by 2030, and we will continue to push for policies that recognize and reinforce the value family physicians bring to every community.

2. Grow and Maintain a Family Medicine Workforce

Our specialty thrives when we support both current and future family physicians. The board reaffirmed our commitment to regular engagement with all the Maryland family medicine residency programs. We will continue strengthening our relationships with Family Medicine Interest Groups (FMIGs) at each of our medical schools—helping ensure that more students see the rewards, opportunities, and joy of choosing family medicine.

3. Support and Promote Physician Well-being

None of our efforts matter if our physicians are exhausted, isolated, or overwhelmed. Our Physician Well-Being Workgroup has done tremendous work building opportunities for camaraderie and connection, including recent social gatherings that have been very well received. These efforts will continue and grow. We also reaffirmed our collaboration with our Public Health Workgroup as we work with the Maryland Department of Health and county health officers, ensuring that public health initiatives include the voice and perspective of family physicians while also fostering systems that support the well-being of our workforce.

As we move forward, I am proud of the incredible ideas and energy that came out of our strategic planning meeting. I look forward to placing these strategies into effect with the work of our board, committees, and academy staff. The work ahead is challenging but meaningful, and it will require commitment from all of us, but I am very optimistic in what we can accomplish together.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to your patients, your communities, and our profession. It is my honor to serve you.

Sincerely,

Amar Duggirala, DO, MPH, FAAFP

Your MDAFP President