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| Family Medicine Interest Groups |
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In 1995, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) established the National Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) Network as a way of improving communication between FMIGs around the country. LAFP has since been supporting the Louisiana FMIGs with funds, resources, and important tools to help:
Family Medicine Interest Groups (FMIGs) at each of Louisiana's three medical schools allow medical students the opportunity to learn and discover what it means to be a family physician. Each group is unique and many hold monthly or quarterly meetings featuring activities and speakers that present on a variety of family medicine's unique aspects.
This page provides helpful tools and resources to FMIGs, predoctoral coordinators, FMIG advisors, and student representatives. The Louisiana FMIGs
For more information on Louisiana FMIGs, please contact Membership Coordinator Jade Verret or visit AAFP's Virtual FMIG - an online resource for all your FMIG needs.
FMIG Support Program: 2010-2011 Guidelines & Procedures Funding Administration
Funding Eligibility
Use of Funds
Expense Reimbursement
AAFP 2010-2011 Funding Initiative The AAFP and AAFP Foundation have again partnered to provide crucial financial support to campus-based FMIGs at U.S. allopathic medical schools in order to enhance student interest in family medicine. Each campus-based FMIG is eligible to receive a $600 grant in academic year 2010-2011. In order to be eligible for funding, you must follow the guidelines outlined below. Click here for more information.
FMIGs should also explore local funding opportunities through community foundations, medical schools, residency programs, and county chapters. Each campus-based FMIG is eligible to receive a $600 grant in the 2010-2011 academic year. To receive the grant, each FMIG must complete the following requirements by December 1, 2010:
Questions? Email Jennifer Galt or call 800-274-2237, ext. 6725.
FMIG Leadership: 2010-2011 LAFP Role Recommendations One way Program of Excellence (PoE) Award winners successfully coordinate their FMIGs is to assign or elect members to positions of responsibility or leadership. LAFP has researched and identified key roles and responsibilities consistent across many FMIGs.
Students who are AAFP members can sign up to be the designated Student Membership Coordinator for their medical school. In doing so, your FMIG will receive numerous materials from the AAFP and earn incentives for increasing AAFP student membership. Both the membership coordinator and the FMIG earn incentives. In addition to the above duties, all FMIG officers should attend regular officer meetings and scheduled FMIG events. In an effort to better connect with each FMIG and work together to promote family medicine, LAFP has created a student representativ position. Each year, FMIGs will be required to designate two student representative who will then serve as your school's representative and contact for the LAFP.
The LAFP student liaison responsibilities within the committee are as follows:
Your FMIG may designate an officer to be the student representative, add this responsibility to an existing position, or develop another way of recruiting and designating the LAFP student representative you think will work well for you and your FMIG.
There are incentives for FMIGs who recruit students to become members of the LAFP/AAFP. The incentive plan is as follows:
25 new AAFP student applications - $25 50 new AAFP student applications - $50 75 new AAFP student applications - $75 100 new AAFP student applications - $100 150 new AAFP student applications - $150 More information is available here (AAFP members only), or you can email Julie Herzog for more information. Communicating with Your FMIG Members There are many ways to disseminate information about the upcoming events and activities to your peers. Here are some suggestions:
Quarterly newsletter or targeted emails:
Provide updates on FMIG activities, invite and remind them to join your events, and include a short survey to obtain feedback on various topics. Posters and postcards:
Use them to promote specific events and encourage students to join your FMIG and/or AAFP/LAFP. Bulletin boards:
Encourage participation by posting sign-up sheets or promotional materials ahead of time and send email reminders as the event draws near. Reaching out to Residents There are 10 family medicine residency programs in Louisiana; several are likely in the vicinity of your campus. In an effort to increase communication and develop a relationship between your FMIG and local residency program(s), we encourage you to reach out to and collaborate with the program faculty, staff, and residents.
There are several ways for residents to get involved:
To assist you in reaching in your efforts, we created a template you can use when emailing the residents:
Dear Family Medicine Residents,
My name is [name] and I'm writing on behalf of [school name] Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG). As you probably know, we're a medical student-run campus organization, supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation and the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians Foundation. Throughout the year, we coordinate various events and activities to expose medical students to the scope and nature of family medicine.
In an effort to promote the specialty, we're reaching out to you and your residency program to explore a possible collaboration. We find that students' interest in family medicine increases significantly when they are given the opportunity to meet and interact with family medicine residents and family physicians in their community. We get a first-hand glimpse into the diversity of family medicine as well as the rewards of being a family physician.
[Insert information on how you want the residents to get involved. If you are contacting them about a specific event you would want them to be a part of, include event logistics and details on the time commitment.]
We hope you consider becoming involved with our FMIG. I know our students would look forward to the opportunity to learn more about your personal experience as a family medicine resident as well as understanding more about the specialty of family medicine. I'm confident the students will greatly appreciate your time.
[Insert contact information.]
Thank you for considering our invitation.
Best regards,
[Name]
Other Contacts:
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