Growing Family Medicine with In-Person Experiences

Growing Family Medicine with In-Person Experiences

The NDAFP builds community among family physicians while helping train tomorrow’s doctors.

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Every physician remembers what their first year of medical school was like: sitting through countless lectures, reading complicated textbooks, and trying to soak in as much information as they can. The experience can even lead students to question their commitment to becoming a doctor and serving patients for the rest of their career. That’s why the North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians (NDAFP) offers these medical students a refreshing opportunity to learn what it’s like to be a family physician in the state.

“We do two simple hands-on skills workshops for medical students to try out all the stuff they’re hearing about,” explained NDAFP Executive Director Brandy Jo Frei, who started working for the organization 15 years ago. “They can practice giving some stitches on different types of materials, a joint injection on a mannequin, or even an ultrasound with real patients. The 65 or so participants for each workshop come back with new ideas about their career paths.”

The NDAFP also offers a summer externship program where first year medical students have the opportunity to job shadow a practicing family physician in the state and gain practical experience with treating real patients. For students just starting on their journey to becoming a doctor, the externship allows them to see what their life might be like as a family physician in North Dakota.

In a time when physicians are stressed and overburdened with recordkeeping, family medicine allows them to establish a strong connection with their patients. Each day brings new experiences and the chance to contribute to the community.

A family physician may treat multiple generations of the same family in the course of one week. The NDAFP’s mission is to support these family physicians all the way from medical school to retirement. Although the organization is small, it has a respectable reputation for being simple and focused on the benefits they provide for members.

“What started out as an impromptu get-together 43 years ago between three physician friends has now grown to include 144 attendees from 26 states and other countries this past January.”

As with many associations, the NDAFP has been grappling with declining engagement from its members in recent years, although membership itself has remained steady.

As older physicians are retiring, younger members are not necessarily stepping in to fill the engagement void. With millennials, in particular, preferring to participate online, the NDAFP has been increasing its efforts to encourage faceto-face conversations and demonstrate the importance of connecting with peers at in-person meetings.

To help address this issue, NDAFP recently conducted a financial analysis to determine how to better reach all of its members and provide what they need with only one staff member and a handful of dedicated volunteers.

This past fall, the board of directors decided to slightly increase membership dues for everyone. That additional income will allow all members to attend the annual meeting for free (without any additional registration fees).

“This will give us more stable income, encourage the members to come to an in-person meeting for education and networking, and give them the opportunity to interact with medical students and meet residents,” Frei said. “With the financial analysis, we can show that engagement through our events is a huge benefit to them that costs them very little.”

In addition to the annual meeting, the NDAFP hosts the Big Sky Conference every January in Big Sky, Montana. It provides educational and networking opportunities for family physicians, as well as a chance to enjoy the crisp Rocky Mountain air. What started out as an impromptu get-together 43 years ago between three physician friends has now grown to include 144 attendees from 26 states and other countries this past January.

Since 1950, the NDAFP has been working on behalf of family physicians, medical students, and residents across North Dakota, whether located in larger cities or rural towns. Members can obtain CME credits at NDAFP events to receive the latest education and news and help them offer the best possible care to patients.

“I can’t imagine working for a better group of individuals,” Frei said with a smile. “I’m so appreciative of everything the members and volunteers do. The way they treat me is with the same respect and value that they treat their patients.”

To learn more about the NDAFP, visit their website at www.ndafp.org. NDAFP is just one of several Associations North member organizations located in North Dakota and South Dakota.

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