The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) established the Pisacano Leadership Foundation (PLF, formerly the Nicholas J. Pisacano, MD, Memorial Foundation) in 1991 in tribute to the founder and first Executive Director. Dr. Pisacano is recognized as one of the leaders in the effort to have family medicine accepted as a major specialty. Dr. Pisacano believed that the welfare of the patient was utmost, and that physicians should be broadly educated. With these ideals in mind, the PLF seeks to promote a level of excellence and dedication in students committed to a career in family medicine by providing scholarships and leadership training.

The Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program offers many career development opportunities, as well as scholarship funding, to the future leaders of family medicine. The Pisacano Scholars participate in annual Leadership Skills Development Symposia and are offered a multitude of educational programs and mentoring relationships with current leaders in the field of family medicine.

These programs are designed to enhance the overall leadership skills of the Pisacano Scholars; to provide them with the historical context and scope of family medicine; and to allow the Scholars to network and form professional relationships within their field. Examples of these programs are:

• Negotiation Skills
• Problem-Based Learning
• Journal Writing and the Peer-Review Process
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Professional Presentation and Media Skills
• Health Policy and Primary Care Research
• Teaching Skills for Family Medicine
• Advocacy and Lobbying Skills for Family Medicine
• Primary Care Research and Study Design
• The Future of Family Medicine.

This premier leadership program is extremely competitive. Third-year medical students are eligible to apply. Only students who demonstrate a strong commitment to the specialty of family medicine will be considered. In addition, each applicant must show demonstrable leadership qualities, academic performance, including evidence of clinical excellence and application of knowledge to clinical care, and communication skills and service. The level of financial need is not considered in the selection process.

Scholarship funding is offered to honor the achievements of student and resident scholars, with hopes of slightly lowering the growing burden of educational debt as scholars embark on a career in family medicine. Upon selection, each Pisacano scholar will receive an annual scholarship of $5,000 during their final year of medical school and their first three years of family medicine training (four years total, regardless of residency length).

For additional information on the leadership program and to apply, visit the PLF website. Applications are due Friday, May 1.