For the fourth year in a row, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) named the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) a Program of Excellence for its exemplary efforts to grow and support interest in family medicine. It was one of 18 medical school FMIGs to win the 2018 award.
DFMCH and FMIG representatives received the award on August 3, 2018, at the AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students in Kansas City.
Representatives from the DFMCH and the FMIG receive the AAFP’s Program of Excellence award (Photo: AAFP)
Front row, from left: Kerry Zimdars (M2 and FMIG Student Leader); Carter Johnson (M2); Kelly Loberger (M2 and FMIG Student Leader); Courtney Bork (M2 and FMIG Student Leader); Joyce Jeardeau (FMIG staff advisor); Kristin Hildebrandt (M4); Devin Walsh-Felz (M4); Brittany McAdams (M4); Lily Thompson (M4). Back row: Christa Pittner-Smith, MD (Student Mentor/Advisor); Jacob Bryan, MD (FMIG Faculty Advisor); John Ziegler (M2 and FMIG Student Leader); Logan Wilz (M4); Brian Kroll (M4); Natalie Hemmerich (M4); Lawrence Moore (M4)
Learning, Mentorship and Exposure to Family Medicine
The FMIG is a student-run organization supported by the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) and the AAFP. Led by faculty advisor Jacob Bryan, MD, and staff advisor Joyce Jeardeau, ACUME, it excites, promotes and supports medical student interest in family medicine through active learning, mentorship and exposure to the scope of family medicine.
The FMIG kicks off each academic year with an annual lecture-discussion called “What is Family Medicine.” The event teaches first-year SMPH students how family medicine relates to patient education, social justice, community service, patient access and equity and health care outcomes—and can serve as an eye-opener for students who may not otherwise have thought of entering the specialty.
Throughout the year, the FMIG also sponsors:
- an annual procedures fair;
- a “Meet the Doctors” dinner;
- events to help interested third- and fourth-year students apply for family medicine residency and celebrate those who do successfully match;
- a community clothing drive;
- monthly noontime seminars;
- an FMIG leadership retreat; and
- the Basic Life Support in Obstetrics (BLSO) course.
The FMIG also offers opportunities to shadow family medicine residents on call at St. Mary’s Hospital and University Hospital, and promotes scholarships for students to attend the AAFP National Conference each summer and Family Medicine Midwest Conference each fall.
The FMIG is also closely connected with the DFMCH Office of Medical Student Education’s medical student mentoring program, which pairs students with DFMCH faculty mentors who share their interests and who can help facilitate research projects and presentations.
For more information about the SMPH FMIG’s programming, read its full 2018 Program of Excellence application.
Thanks to everyone who makes the FMIG a success, and congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
Published: August 2018