Initiatives

The Foundation has as its goal to advance primary health care throughout Louisiana by supporting the specialty of Family Medicine.

The Foundation is achieving this goal by: 
  • Supporting the goals and projects of the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians
  • To encourage premedical and medical students to pursue the specialty of family medicine
  • Developing programs that encourage and assist students in choosing a career in Family Medicine
  • Developing and providing funding resources to promote and support of the specialty of Family Medicine
  • To provide Louisiana family practice residents with educational opportunities that might not otherwise be available. 
  • Developing projects that promote the health care of citizens throughout Louisiana
Current Statewide Initiatives
Louisiana Tar Wars
A pro-health, tobacco-free education program and poster contest for 4th & 5th grade students.  Physician and health care providers present an interactive lesson on the health effects of tobacco use, the reasons why people use tobacco and truth in advertising with marketing tobacco. The program motivates youth to make positive health choices.  Students that have participated in the Tar Wars program are eligible to participate in the State and National Tar Wars Poster Contest. For more information about the Tar Wars Program, to become a volunteer and for more poster contest information click here.  
 
Tobacco Cessation
Tobacco addiction causes 440,000 deaths in the United States each year, making it the most preventable cause of death. Of the 46 million current U.S. smokers, 70 percent say they would like to quit. Family physicians are taking a frontline approach to helping these smokers meet their goal. The AAFP's tobacco cessation program, "Ask and Act," encourages family physicians to ASK all patients about tobacco use, then to ACT to help them quit.  For more information about Ask and Act and for tobacco cessation online resources, please visit their website at  http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/clinical/publichealth/tobacco/askandact.html.
Developing Family Medicine's Future Physicians
Medical students at each of Louisiana's three medical schools represent the future of primary care and family medicine. The LAFP Foundation supports their education and training by working with each medical school and offering programs that introduce future physicians to the family medicine specialty.

Family Medicine Interest Groups
Sponsoring student-led interest groups at each of the three medical schools located in LA. The Foundation provides funding for student activities and projects relating to family medicine and preventative health care.

Family Medicine Externship Program
This program allows first-year medical students the opportunity to spend four weeks shadowing a family physician. The object of the program is to reach medical students early in their education and encourage them to consider the specialty of family medicine.

Family Medicine Scholarships
The Foundation offers scholarships to medical students interested in practicing family medicine.

Family Medicine Mentoring Program 
This program gives medical students and residents the ability to have a family physician as a mentor through phone conversations and electronic networking to meeting for coffee or a shadowing experience. This program gives students and residents an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a family physician, shadow them and ask questions throughout their medical school and residency career.