Everything we do is infused with the energy with which we do it.  If we are frantic, life will be frantic.  If we are peaceful, life will be peaceful

-Marianne Williamson, author

Thanks for your input

Thanks to those who completed the Student member survey. We decided to postpone the results until the September issue. 

There they were, stern and serious as could be -- the reference committee.  The men and women who could shoot down my idea that I believed in so fervently.  Not to mention, the countless others sitting in the audience who could come up to the microphone at any time to speak against my resolution.  I had run my statement through my mind countless times, yet my heart still pounded as I approached the microphone.

"I have no choice," I thought to myself.  "I can't leave this conference without defending something I've believed in for so long."

What happens next?

The future of family medicine convened in Kansas City August 1-3 for the annual AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students.  Illinois was well-represented by student and resident delegates, residency programs and Illinois leaders. 

Some highlights:

-18 Illinois residency programs were in the exhibit hall

-UIC student Mustafa Alavi was elected FMIG National Coordinator, following in the footsteps of UIC graduate Lauren Kendall, MD

-Our student delegate, Kristina Dakis of UIC, authored and passed a resolution asking AAFP to encourage medical schools to include the humanities as part of the curriculum.

-UIC and SIU Springfield FMIGs were honored as Programs of Excellence at the AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students in Kansas City.  They were two of only 10 FMIGs nationwide to receive the honor.  Want to learn more about these programs?  Take a look at their activities and their FMIG structure (UIC and SIU).  Congratulations to their FMIG leaders, Kristina Dakis at UIC and Amelia Frank at SIU.  

UIC FMIG

SIU Springfield FMIG

Students representing you at this year's AAFP Congress of Delegates:

Theo Hensley, MD, student delegate and current resident, ETSU Family Medicine, Bristol, TN

Tate Hinkle, student delegate, University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Medicine

One of the most important things they do at the Congress is casting votes for your future AAFP President and three directors to serve on the AAFP Board. These individuals help to represent our specialty in the public eye and drive our mission of patient-centered health care for all forward.

Please click on the link below and browse the bios and CVs for the candidates for these offices. Your delegates want input on who you think might best represent the interests of residents and students (who are the future of our specialty) and any questions you might like them to pose to the candidates at the candidates' forum.

http://www.aafp.org/online/candidates/home.html

Then send your email questions to Student president Aaron Goldstein agoldst2@uic.edu to forward on to our national delegates. 

If you have a news item to share, email it to Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com.

Gautham Rao, MD of Evanston is quoted in an Associated Press article this week with his reaction to the new study in JAMA that showed a significant reduction in high blood pressure for patients who had no co-pays and were treated with a simple pill.  The potential positives of reducing HBP rates on lowering heart attacks, strokes and health care costs shows promise.   

James Cunnar, MD of Naperville is president of the SIU School of Medicine Alumni Society and had the honor of presenting the white coats at SIU's White Coat Ceremony on August 16, according to the Southern Illinoisan.

Janet Albers, MD of Springfield authored a letter to the editor in the State Journal Register on August 14^th explaining the role of health centers and encouraging all Springfield area residents in need of care to access the high-quality, compassionate care available at the area's two health centers.

Timothy Miller, MD and Kristin Newcome, MD of Forsyth were featured in an August 11 Decatur Herald and Review article about their move to a direct primary care membership practice, also known as concierge practice.  They are the first such practice in the Decatur area.

The Oak Park Citizen Involvement Commission recognizes the efforts of all volunteers who serve on Village Advisory Boards and presents awards to commissioners nominated for outstanding service. Ravi Grivois-Shah, MD was the 2013 Outstanding Commissioner award winner for his work on the Board of Health and was honored at a special ceremony on July 29.

Past President David J. Hagan, MD was quoted in an Aug. 5 Champaign News Gazette article about Illinois' new law legalizing medical marijuana.  Hagan does not plan to use marijuana in his treatment plans for patients.