“During the interviewing process, CMH is highly unique in that they really strive to provide you with the job you want. They were able to tailor my contract to provide me with opportunities to broaden my skill set, which will allow me to continue to practice both clinical and hospital medicine. They are very open-minded and administration is willing to work with you. I feel well cared for and very appreciated at CMH, which is rare in an employer! I definitely feel that I made the right choice with CMH.”
Did you go into healthcare because you wanted to help people? Us too!
Citizens Memorial is a fully-integrated healthcare system focused on providing exceptional patient care. Many organizations may say that, but CMH is different. You can practice medicine without all the red tape and drama you might find at other healthcare organizations. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by a strong support system of other physicians and patient care teams who are engaged and connected to our mission-driven culture.
citizensmemorial.com
FB @citizensmemorial
DONNA SHELBY
Director of Physician Recruiting donna.shelby@citizensmemorial.com p 417-328-6273 | c 417-399-4333 citizensmemorial.com
Citizens Memorial Hospital is the perfect place to have a thriving medical practice and enjoy the Ozark Mountains and beautiful surrounding lakes.
You’re going to love CMH and southwest Missouri!
ALYSON ANKROM
Physician Recruiting alyson.ankrom@citizensmemorial.com p 417-328-6238 | c 281-773-0777 citizensmemorial.com
DISTRICT 1 DIRECTOR Arihant Jain, MD, FAAFP (Cameron)
ALTERNATE BRAD GARSTANG, MD (KANSAS CITY)
DISTRICT 2 DIRECTOR Kelsey Davis-Humes, DO (Memphis)
ALTERNATE ROBERT SCHNEIDER, DO, FAAFP (KIRKSVILLE)
DISTRICT 3 DIRECTOR Christian Verry, MD (St. Louis)
DIRECTOR KENTO SONODA, MD, FAAFP (ST. LOUIS)
ALTERNATE STACY JEFFERSON, MD (ST. LOUIS)
DISTRICT 4 DIRECTOR VACANT
ALTERNATE JENNIFER SCHEER, MD, FAAFP (GERALD)
DISTRICT 5 DIRECTOR AMANDA SHIPP, MD (VERSAILLES)
ALTERNATE VACANT
DISTRICT 6 DIRECTOR DAVID PULLIAM, DO, FAAFP (HIGGINSVILLE)
ALTERNATE MISTY TODD, MD (SEDALIA)
DISTRICT 7 DIRECTOR CHAD BYLE, MD, FAAFP (KANSAS CITY)
DIRECTOR JACOB SHEPHERD, MD, FAAFP (LEES SUMMIT)
ALTERNATE RACHEL HAILEY, MD, FAAFP (LEES SUMMIT)
DISTRICT 8 DIRECTOR ANDI SELBY, DO, FAAFP (BRANSON)
ALTERNATE BARBARA MILLER, MD, FAAFP (BUFFALO)
DISTRICT 9 DIRECTOR DOUGLAS CRASE, MD (LICKING)
ALTERNATE VACANT
DISTRICT 10 DIRECTOR JENNY EICHHORN, MD (JACKSON)
ALTERNATE VACANT
DIRECTOR AT LARGE ERIC LESH, DO (JACKSON)
RESIDENT DIRECTORS
Noah Brown, MD (Mercy)
Karstan Luchini, DO, MS (UMKC) – Alternate
STUDENT DIRECTORS
Taylor LaVelle (UMC)
Vacant – Alternate
AAFP DELEGATES
Peter Koopman, MD, FAAFP
Kate Lichtenberg, DO, FAAFP
Sarah Cole, DO, FAAFP (Alternate)
Jamie Ulbrich, MD, FAAFP (Alternate)
MAFP TEAM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Bill Plank, CAE
MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS Brittany Bussey
The information contained in Missouri Family Physician is for informational purposes only. The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed, or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained has been provided by the individual/organization stated. The opinions expressed in each article are the opinions of its author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of MAFP. Therefore, Missouri Family Physician carries no respsonsibility for the opinion expressed thereon.
Missouri Academy of Family Physicians, 722 West High Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 • p. 573.635.0830 • f. 573.635.0148
Website: mo-afp.org • Email: office@mo-afp.org
CONTENTS
A Letter from the MAFP Board Chair
Best Wishes MAFP: A Reflection of a Decade of Service
Plank Announced as MAFP Executive Director
2023-24 Officer Annual Reports
2024 Congress of Delegates Reports
Meet the 2024-2025 MAFP Board of Directors
Future of Family Medicine: Student Essay Contest
32nd Annual Fall Conference Recap
Annual Meeting Celebrates Family Physicians
MAFP Installs 76th President
Missouri Academy Installs New Officers
Schultz Named MAFP Family Physician of the Year
Fellows Conferred at Annual Meeting
Campbell Receives MAFP Distinguished Service Award
Goodrich Named MAFP Outstanding Resident of the Year
Hahn Receives MAFP Exemplary Teaching Award
Missouri Preceptor Tax Credits Available
2025 Advocacy Day Flyer
Donor Recognition
February 24-25, 2025
MAFP Advocacy Day - Courtyard Marriott, Jefferson City www.mo-afp.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/ February 25, 2025
MAFP Board of Directors Meeting - Courtyard Marriott, Jefferson City (in-person & virtual)
September 12-13, 2025
Midwest Obesity Symposium - Hermann, MO
November 6-8, 2025:
33rd Annual Fall Conference - InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, Kansas City, MO www.mo-afp.org/cme-events/annual-fall-conference/
MISSOURI FAMILY PHYSICIAN
Afsheen Patel, MD Board Chair
Kansas City, MO
A Letter from the MAFP Board Chair
Iam very excited for what 2025 and beyond has in store for the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. Our organization is undergoing a phase of change that, as the 2025 Board Chair, I would like to share with all of our members. First, this and subsequent magazines may feel a little different to you.
For the past several years we have rotated clinical topics to create issues focused on specific areas. Our Member Services Commission (who oversees the magazine) decided that is not reflective of the family physician practice environment so are switching to magazine issues comprised of various topics. I am excited about this as it feels more like my clinic – just today I relied on my training in hypertension, diabetes, obesity, mental health, and pediatrics to help my patients. I would like to extend a personal invitation to all of our members to submit clinical articles of any topic to our team for consideration. A Call for Articles is included on the back cover of this magazine and
Mission Statement:
I encourage you to share with any colleagues interested in scholarly activities. Students and residents are welcome to submit abstracts with attending physician collaboration and all clinical articles are subjected to peer review. Please reach out to the MAFP team with any questions you may have on the process.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A PERSONAL INVITATION TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERS TO SUBMIT CLINICAL ARTICLES OF ANY TOPIC TO OUR TEAM FOR CONSIDERATION.
Speaking of our MAFP team, I want to extend my most heartfelt thanks to Kathy Pabst for her 10 years of service with MAFP. As many of you know, Kathy retired at the end of 2024 and is probably having way too much fun with her grandchildren or traveling to some beautiful location as you read this.
I am excited to announce our new Executive Director, Bill Plank, CAE. Bill is no stranger to us as he has been with MAFP for five years and is well-suited to assume the duties of Executive Director. Bill has been involved with many aspects of MAFP programs and management over the past five years and I know we are in good hands with him.
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians is dedicated to optimizing the health of the patients, families and communities of Missouri by supporting family physicians in providing patient care, advocacy, education and research.
MAFP
As I began writing a farewell message, I thought about how to frame the message. Do I want it to be a letter or article about our successes over the past 10 years? I decided to focus on a letter because I feel the personal connection between myself, the MAFP team, and you, our members, has provided opportunities for growth and acknowledgement of the organization. But the overall theme is that “we” have a great team working together for family physicians and your patients.
The MAFP recently recognized my service as your executive director at the Awards and Installation dinner during the Annual Fall Conference. I was surrounded by my favorite people, my family and MAFP members. I have grown over the years with many of you as role models and mentors. Prior to my time with MAFP, I always aspired to lead a prestigious group and I feel blessed that family medicine chose me.
I am filled with a mix of emotions – very bittersweet. Your unwavering support, friendship, and guidance have been the cornerstone of my service to Missouri’s family physicians. Working alongside such dedicated individuals has been an honor and a privilege.
We’ve made significant progress amplifying the voice of Missouri’s family physicians. We passed legislation creating a preceptor tax credit for primary care, we increased primary care residency slots with general revenue, we increased funding for graduate medical education, and we stood the line on scope of practice issues. We focused on workforce development with our family medicine residents and students. Most recently, we have started the Family Medicine Residency Learning Collaborative which is in the early stages of development. During the same timeframe that COVID-19 was spreading across our state, MAFP became one of the three founding organizations of the Missouri Immunization Coalition.
We have engaged on the national level with members serving on the AAFP board of directors, commissions, and chapter leadership. I served as a member of the AAFP Chapter Executive Advisory Council for three years which supported the collaborative efforts of the AAFP and its 55 chapters. I also served as a member of the Commission on Federal and State Policy which afforded us the opportunity to present our work on new advocacy initiatives in Missouri at the AAFP Family Medicine Advocacy Summit and State Legislative Conference.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to MAFP’s past and present volunteer board members, the membership, and partners for embracing and supporting MAFP’s vision as we’ve worked to implement meaningful change. Everything I did for MAFP, I did for you.
A Reflection of a Decade of Service
Kathy Pabst, MBA, CAE, Former Executive Director
While my work at the academy ends, your work continues. Caring for your patients, involved in your communities, and engaged with the Academy. But don’t forget about you…take care of you too.
Just to let you know a little about what my future holds, I look forward to spending more time with my family, especially Olivia and William, my grands. While I will miss the daily interactions and the sense of purpose that work provided, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
In closing, I want to leave you with this thought: cherish the moments, value the relationships, and never stop learning. The journey is as important as the destination, and I am grateful for every step of mine.
Plank Announced as MAFP Executive Director
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians has announced the promotion of Bill Plank, CAE to the position of Executive Director.
In this new capacity, Plank will serve as the chief administrative officer and conduct the activities of the Academy as determined by the Board of Directors. Plank has served as the Assistant Executive Director since joining MAFP in 2020.
Prior to joining MAFP, Plank spent over 15 years in private industry with a focus on the financial services sector where he held several leadership and community-focused roles. Leaning on his community involvement, he realized a passion for association work and made a career switch to serve a greater purpose. Upon joining MAFP, Bill quickly shifted his focus to association and non-profit work earning the Certified Association Executive credential from the American Society of Association Executives and achieving the American Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Champion designation. He currently serves as the Presidentelect of the Missouri Society of Association Executives.
According to MAFP Board Chair, Afsheen Patel, MD of Lee’s Summit, “The MAFP Board of Directors is very pleased to have Bill as our new Executive Director. We are excited for him to use his vast experience to continue great service to our members and advance family medicine. We fully expect he will be an asset in the years to come that allows us to provide our members with the services they deserve while enabling us to achieve our goals as an organization. Bill’s ascension to Executive Director is the culmination of a multi-year succession plan to ensure our members benefit from the knowledge and skills acquired over time while ensuring the continued level of excellence Missouri’s Family Physicians have come to expect from our organization.”
WE FULLY EXPECT HE WILL BE AN ASSET IN THE YEARS TO COME THAT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE OUR MEMBERS WITH THE SERVICES THEY DESERVE WHILE ENABLING US TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS AS AN ORGANIZATION.
2023-24 Officer Annual Reports
Kara Mayes, MD, FAAFP Board Chair
Every year I am surprised by how quickly time passes. While writing my last annual report for the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians, I find it difficult to believe that my term as Board Chair has already ended. It seems like only a few years ago that I attended my first MAFP meeting as the alternate delegate from the St. Louis region. At my first meeting, I was incredibly impressed by the caliber of physicians on our board, especially the leadership. I did not imagine that I would potentially follow in their footsteps. Within a few years I was asked to serve as co-chair for the education commission and continued to grow my leadership skills on the board. MAFP leadership has been invaluable for my personal development over the recent years. I have learned about family medicine practices across the state, from small rural private practice and DPC practices to large academic faculty groups. I learned so much about our state and national governments and the roles they play in our practices and in our patients’ health.
In 2024, the board has had many great accomplishments. After several years of significant changes due to the pandemic, we have enjoyed some stability in our goals but we have also been navigating some big changes. We have continued to make progress on our current strategic plan. Our virtual CME and regional meetings were continued and well received by our members. Our Advocacy Commission led a successful Advocacy Day in Jefferson City in February with many family physicians, students, and residents in attendance. One of our big changes was the location of our Annual Fall Conference changing to Kansas City instead of Big Cedar Lodge in Branson. The Education Commission did a wonderful job with this transition. While we will all miss the fall colors at Big Cedar, I personally enjoyed the more modern rooms in Kansas City and I enjoy the camaraderie and learning at AFC regardless of its location.
It has been an honor to share my last year of MAFP leadership with Kathy Pabst in her last year as our Chapter Executive. For ten years, Kathy has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the growth and success of our academy. All of our board leadership benefits from Kathy and the rest of the staff who ensure that we’re staying on track throughout the year. Kathy’s retirement is well earned, and we know she will enjoy getting to spend additional time with her grandchildren and traveling around the country. The board will be in excellent hands with Bill Plank assuming the role in 2025.
Thank you to all our MAFP members for allowing me to serve the Academy the past nine years. Becoming more involved in family medicine outside of our exam rooms is important for our profession to evolve and improve. Consider adding your voice as well, by serving on our board, attending conferences or Advocacy Day, or finding other organizations that positively impact our
communities. Here’s to a great 2025 for the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians and to all of you.
Afsheen Patel, MD President
It has been an honor and pleasure serving as the president of MAFP this year. Our board is made up of a group of physicians with a wide variety of practice types and settings, and we are all working together to make our specialty as strong as possible in the state. I have always loved the variety available to family physicians and love that we all have similar goals in caring for our patients, regardless of setting and scope.
This year I joined my son’s middle school PTO as their president. It has been a rewarding experience working with students, educators, and district members. It aligns perfectly with our strategic plan and being able to connect with students at an earlier stage of life and introducing them to family medicine and the wonderful service we provide to the community. At MAFP, I am lucky to have incredible staff in our chapter office who can take care of the daily operations of an organization of this size. I also have an excellent team of physicians on the Executive Commission that will continue to lead the Academy in the future. I am fortunate to continue to serve on the MAFP Executive Commission for another year as Board Chair.
During my year as President, I have been able to represent the MAFP in many settings. I participated in advocacy at the state level with MAFP’s Advocacy Day. This year’s AAFP Annual Chapter Leadership Forum was an excellent insight into further leading family medicine into the future. We discussed the role of AI and the possibility of a physician union to better advocate for providers at a national level. I look forward to interacting with high school students interested in family medicine as a career through HOSA’s family medicine competitive event next year. I enjoyed my first-time attendance at AAFP’s Congress of Delegates last month and getting to observe the policy decisions on such a large scale.
Once again, I want to encourage you to take a more active role in your Academy. Serve on a commission, come to Advocacy Day in Jefferson City in February, or attend our Annual Fall Conference in 2025. You can support our programs by contributing to our MAFP PAC and/or the Family Health Foundation of Missouri. You can also engage with the Academy by authoring an article for the Missouri Family Physician magazine or share your knowledge with a talk at our CME conference or virtual CME sessions.
Thank you to everyone who supported the MAFP this year, it has been an honor to serve as your president and I plan to continue my involvement as much as possible in the future.
Natalie Long, MD President-Elect
2024 has been a busy year for the Missouri Academy. As president-elect, I have had the opportunity to observe an outstanding group of leaders address key issues facing family physicians in our state and country, and promote family medicine to medical students, residents, and patients.
This year remained a busy year for our advocacy efforts. Scope of practice legislation continues to be an annual concern. MAFP partnered with MSMA and MAOPS to jointly oppose independent practice for APRNs with success. It is clear that it will take collaboration and joint efforts to make deeper impacts. Expanding primary care residency training positions was a huge accomplishment and we will continue to advocate on our members’ behalf on ongoing issues like scope of practice, reimbursement, minimizing administrative burdens, and other important issues. Attending Advocacy Day is always a rewarding time to connect with other family doctors and talk about these issues with our state representatives and senators.
I also had the opportunity to interact with future generations of health professionals and hopefully inspire future family physicians by volunteering to judge a family medicine presentation event at the Missouri state HOSA competition in March. Hearing high school students speak enthusiastically about family medicine makes me hopeful that we can continue to encourage and recruit passionate, intelligent individuals into our profession.
Attending the AAFP’s Annual Chapter Leadership Forum allowed me to meet with other chapter leaders from across the country to discuss important issues many states face. How to connect and support our membership was a common theme. One of our goals is to provide members with the services and tools they need to be successful. This includes ongoing efforts to enhance our CME offerings both at large meetings like the Annual Fall Conference, virtual CME options, smaller, topic focused sessions, and our quarterly magazine, Missouri Family Physician. Educating and encouraging medical students and residents to grow into successful family physicians is another priority. Thank you for another great year. I am looking forward to serving as President of the Academy, with ongoing strategic planning sessions and some big leadership changes. Much appreciation to Kathy Pabst for her vision and excited to continue to dream big with Bill Plank as incoming Executive Director.
Beth Rosemergey, DO, FAAFP
Vice President
I have learned a lot this past year serving as your Vice President of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. I am honored to work along with an amazing group of physicians on the Executive Commission and our truly first-class chapter staff. I appreciate all of the
opportunities for advocacy training and leadership development afforded to me as Vice President.
I started my journey in October 2023, by attending the AAFP Congress of Delegates (COD). I want you to know that the MAFP has an outstanding team of delegates who represent the concerns of our patients and family physicians across Missouri on a national level. Witnessing the COD was both energizing and informative. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see how the sausage gets made. I also encourage everyone to do their part by completing your MAFP annual advocacy survey. It really is how your voice gets heard. I stayed after COD to attend FMX and again was reminded what a diverse, passionate, and talented group we are as family physicians.
Next up, building on a community theme, was our 2023 Annual Fall Conference at Big Cedar Lodge. The educational sessions were outstanding and the opportunity to network is always a gift. At our annual membership meeting, I was installed as vice president and appreciated being witness to honoring our outgoing Chair and our outstanding Missouri Family Physician and Resident of the Year. As the networking continued, I enjoyed some BBQ with a great group of family docs who attended our first Kansas City Regional meeting in December 2023.
In February of 2024, I accompanied our president-elect and chapter staff to the annual Multi-State Forum in Phoenix, AZ. This conference allows us to develop connections with other state chapter leaders from our region as well as an opportunity to hear from the AAFP leadership regarding chapter concerns and issues. It was an opportunity to really see what an amazing job Kathy Pabst has done for our Missouri Chapter. She is clearly a leader among her colleagues. It was also an honor to highlight some of the great advocacy work that we have done in Missouri resulting in the legislative wins of GME expansion and the Preceptor Tax Credit. Immediately following that conference was our Missouri Advocacy Day in Jefferson City and it was just in time to practice those advocacy skills, meeting with our representatives and senators! Advocacy Day never disappoints. One of the highlights for me is always seeing our medical students engage and begin their advocacy journey.
The AAFP Chapter Leadership Forum and National Conference of Constituency Leaders was next up in April. More opportunity to connect on a national level with chapter leaders on advocacy, leadership development, and work on being a catalyst for positive change. All of this preparation culminated for me as I attended the AAFP Family Medicine Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC in May. There you can really learn the tactics that will serve you well as a champion for family medicine and in the awesome setting of Capitol Hill. Now I have connections through the AAFP Speak Out tools to amplify my voice with my congressional representatives.
In June, I was honored to be part of a panel of family physicians at the MAFP Transition to Practice Conference discussing the breadth of careers available to those who choose family medicine. Of all the things that I do in my day job and volunteer work, interacting with students (along with my continuity patients) is what ultimately brings me joy and purpose. This was a great opportunity to connect with students and I learned a ton about my fellow presenters’ family medicine journeysagain appreciating our diversity. We had our 2024 KC Regional
meeting at the KC Zoo Polar Bear exhibit on a hot evening in July connecting once again with fellow family physicians. Just a great way to round out the year.
As I write this, I am looking forward with great anticipation to our Annual Fall Conference in Kansas City in November 2024! I feel well prepared and excited to become President-elect at our annual membership meeting and am looking forward to this next year serving the family of family medicine in Missouri. I encourage you and challenge you to say yes to some kind of professional service. I guarantee you that any time invested in this work is worth it. It brings so much personal purpose and matters so much to the health and well-being of our patients and fellow physicians here in Missouri and across the country.
Lisa Mayes, DO Secretary/Treasurer
As we continue the implementation of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians’ (MAFP) strategic plan, we are looking forward to how to best serve our members’ needs and provide value for their membership. We are in the final year of our plan and have already begun looking to the next opportunity to dream big.
The MAFP programs and operations are funded through member dues, fees for member activities, and support from vendors and sponsors. The MAFP continues to be financially sound as membership, programs, and services are meeting budgeted expectations. The investments have turned around and are again increasing this year. The interest earned is reinvested into the reserves and not utilized in daily operations of the MAFP.
The membership dues were increased in 2024 from $300 to $325 per year. Also, following AAFP’s lead to discount new physician dues, the MAFP board agreed to reduce the annual new physician membership dues by 50% for the first three years after residency. We are expected to meet budgeted collections and appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy. The AAFP collects membership dues on our behalf and have changed their invoicing cycle for 2025. We did transfer funds from our short-term reserves to cover the additional expenses included in the strategic plan as well as the cash flow for the new invoicing cycle.
Next year’s annual budget is year 3 of the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan with several new initiatives continuing to expand CME sessions, residents and student leadership development, and advocacy efforts. The board reviews the plan at each board meeting along with our progress toward accomplishing the goals.
Fiduciary responsibility is provided by the MAFP Board of Directors with direct oversight of the financial operations of the Academy. Reporting and processes ensure our funds are used and focused on member-centered services.
RESIDENT BOARD REPORT
Noah Brown, MD Resident Director
Karstan Luchini, DO Alternate Resident Director
CAPITAL REGION MEDICAL CENTER FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY
Program Director: Daniel Gibson, DO
APDs: Dr. Morgan Schiermeier, MD; Dr. Jared James, MD
Per Class: Three (3), Four (4), Three (3); 10 total, Will graduate 4 this year
Chief Resident: Ishvara Om, DO
Social Presence: www.crmc.org; Instagram: @ crmcfamilymedicine, Facebook: Capital Region Medical Center
Updates: We have a complete point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum, available integrative medicine curriculum with both online and in-person components, BOTOX training, dermal filler training, and international medicine rotation to Ghana.
CAPITAL REGION MEDICAL CENTER FAMILY MEDICINE
Program Director: Daniel Gibson, DO
APDs: Dr. Morgan Schiermeier, MD; Dr. Jared James, MD
Per Class: Three (3), Four (4), Three (3); 10 total
Social Presence: Instagram: crmcfamilymedicine, Facebook: Capital Region Medical Center, Website: crmc.org
COXHEALTH FAMILY MEDICINE
Program Director: Shelby Hahn, MD
APD: Kristin Crymes, DO
Per Class: Ten (10), Ten (10), Ten (10); 30 total
Chief Residents: Alex Bean, MD and Michelle Smith, MD
Social Presence: Instagram: coxhealthfmr, Facebook: CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency, Website: www.coxhealth.com/fmr
Updates: Recent Graduates: Jackson Bagby, DO – University of Nebraska Sports Medicine Fellowship (Omaha, NE)
Alexandra Cooke, DO – Swedish Family Medicine Residency –First Hill OB Fellowship (Seattle, WA)
Christopher Flud, MD – CoxHealth Branson Hospitalist (Branson, MO)
Rebecca Fryer Gordon, DO – Phelps Health Bond Building (Rolla, MO)
Alex Hagaman, DO – Regional Family Medicine East Branch Clinic (Mountain Home, AR)
Kayla Hufham, MD – CoxHealth Center Branson West (Branson West, MO)
Trey Hufham, MD – CoxHealth Springfield Inpatient Physicians (Springfield, MO)
Jennifer Kaberline, MD – University Health Community Care (Grain Valley, MO)
Taylor Wehmeyer, DO - CoxHealth Springfield Inpatient Physicians (Springfield, MO)
We started a Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group in July. The co-presidents are Melanie Kim, DO (PGY3) and Erica Casey, MD (PGY2).
Michelle Smith, MD (PGY3, co-chief) is starting a Family Medicine Interest Group not only for our residents, but for medical students in the area who are interested in FM. The group will give them an opportunity to network, meet family medicine physicians, learn about current topics, and have fun!
STILL OPTI-NORTHEAST REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY
Program Director: Jill Kerr, DO
Per Class: Four (4), Four (4), Four (4); 12 Total Social Presence: Website: www.atsuresidency.com
MERCY FAMILY MEDICINE
Program Director: Sarah Cole, DO
APD: Stefanie White, MD
Per Class: 8-6-6
Chief Residents: Rebecca Jadwisiak, DO and Jordan Wills, MD
Social Presence: Instagram: mercy_stl_fm, Facebook: mercystlfamilymedresidency, Website: www.mercy. net/healthcare-education/graduate/st-louis/family-medicine
Updates: 2024 Graduates:
Jason Maddox, DO – Mercy Family Medicine faculty –St. Louis, MO
Rikki Koebler, DO – Mercy Primary Care, Des Peres –St. Louis, MO
Lauren Malinowski, DO – Mercy Clinic Family Medicine –Wildwood, MO
Peyton Bennett, DO – Meritas Health – Kansas City, MO
Hannah Yasin, MD – Mercy Clinic Primary Care, North St. Louis – St. Louis, MO
Mafeth Lim, DO – Anderson Medical Group – Collinsville, IL
Mercy Family Medicine has been approved to increase to 8-8-8 for a total of 24 residents. The new intern class is our first class with 8 residents. With increasing the number of residents, we have also expanded our residency program to Mercy Primary Care – Ferguson, where 2 residents of the new class have their continuity clinic. We have also hired new faculty physicians, Dr. Whitney Kaefring and Dr. Jason Maddox.
RESEARCH FAMILY MEDICINE
Program Director: Kavitha Arabindoo, MD, FAAFP, MPH
APD: Ashley Cefalu, DO
Per Class: Eight (8) residents, total of 24
Chief Residents: Dr. Raven Weiss, MD and Dr. Rachel Murray, DO Social Presence: Instagram: researchfamilymedicine, Website: http://researchresidency.com
Updates: We currently are offering 3 tracks in addition to our core curriculum – OMM, Integrative Medicine and Community Medicine (based at KC Care). A hospitalist track is also in the works.
We have a new faculty member, Dr. Drake Duckworth, who joined us in December 2023, who enjoys practicing and teaching in the outpatient and inpatient settings and incorporates POCUS in both settings.
As for our graduating class of 12 residents in 2024: A very mixed class –one went to St. Joe, MO; one to St. Louis, MO; one went back to California, one went back to Arizona, one to Iowa, one to Arkansas, one to Georgia and five stayed back in the KC area. Two of them are working as hospitalists, one in urgent care and the rest in primary care (one with OB).
LEE’S SUMMIT FAMILY MEDICINE
Program Director: Lawrence M. Gibbs, MD
Associate Program Director: Karen Foote, MD
Per Class: Approved for 18 ACGME slots
Chief Residents: Dr. Max Grove, DO and Dr. Mariyam Sadikot, MBBS Social Presence: Instagram: lsfamilymed, Website: https:// hcahealthcaregme.com/locations/lees-summit-medical-center/ family-medicine-residency/
Updates:
Welcomed new Program Coordinator, Alissa Iseman, in July 2024.
Welcomed new faculty, Dr. Kris DeNagel, MD (CAQ Sports Medicine) in July 2024.
Welcomed in our third class of residents to complete our 6-6-6 program at 18 residents! Happy to finally be complete and have all three training years in place.
Started our Walk with a Doc program in partnership with our local Parks and Recreation Department. This also aligns well with our Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum which is integrated into our general curriculum over the 3 years
No graduates yet but did have one looking into fellowship opportunities in Hospice and Palliative care
Have an Instagram account now (not sure if completed by time of last update). (https://www.instagram.com/lsfamilymed/)
SSM HEALTH/SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY
Program Director: Elizabeth Keegan-Garrett, MD
Associate Program Director: Jay Brieler, MD
Per Class: Six (6) residents, total of 18
Social Presence: Instagram: slumedfam
ST. LUKE’S DES PERES FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY
Program Director: Dr. Joseph Eickmeyer, DO
Assistant Program Director: Dr. Brittany Herrin, DO
Per class: Four (4) PGY1, Four (4) PGY2, Five (5) PGY3;
Chief Residents: Alex Downey, DO
Social Presence: Website: https://www.stlukes-stl.com/ DesPeres/health-professionals/medical-residency.html
Updates: Graduated 4 residents:
Dr. Kayla Beashore, DO - Practice back home in Kansas City
Dr. Jason Wood, DO - Practice with BJC in Festus, MO
Dr. Neil Bobenhouse, DO - Practice with BJC St. Louis, MO
Dr. Max Hesse, MD - Practice with St. Luke’s in Arnold, MO
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI FAMILY MEDICINECOLUMBIA
Program Director: Erika Ringdahl, MD
Per Class: Fourteen (14) (plus 2 Sedalia R1s)
Chief Residents: Sam Holt-McNair, Elise Sherman, Emma Cooper, Paige Beauparlant
Social Presence: Instagram: Mizzoufamilymed;
Facebook: University of Missouri Family Medicine Residency Website: https://medicine.missouri.edu/departments/familyand-community-medicine/residency
Updates: Two of our 2024 graduating residents are entering sports medicine fellowships and two are entering geriatrics fellowships. Five graduates will be staying on as MU faculty. Seven graduates overall will be practicing in Missouri. We hosted our 26th national Chief Resident Leadership Workshop for FM Chief Residents from across the country in April 2024 and our 12th annual Chief Resident Leadership Workshop for University of Missouri Chief residents in May 2024. For the latter, we had 40 Chiefs from 18 different specialties register. We are planning the inaugural Mid-Year Chief Resident Leadership Workshop for all University of Missouri Chief Residents December 4, 2024.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI FAMILY MEDICINE –BOTHWELL
Program Director: Misty Todd, MD
Per class: Two (2)
Chief Residents: Levi Harris, DO and Brittany Pendergraft, MD
Social Presence: Instagram: bothwellruralfmr, Website: www.brhc.org/residency
Updates: Match 2024 became our first full complement, clinic move to bigger building, 2 national presentations, 1 peer reviewed article, two resident nominations as star physicians in the facility. First graduating class of residents at the end of this academic year
KCU-GME CONSORTIUM/FREEMAN PROGRAM
Program Director: Barbara H. Miller, MD, FAAFP
Assistant Program Director: Mariam Akhtar, MD
Per class: Five (5) per class, 15 total
Chief Residents: Michael Kulasekera, DO and Andrea Pelate, MD
Social Presence: Website: www.freemanhealth.com/graduatemedical-education
Updates: The KCU-Freeman FM Residency program now has filled all three years of residents, which is a major milestone. In our current first-year class, four of the five residents are from the Joplin area. We have two resident clinics now associated with Freeman Health System, serving patients in Joplin and the more rural area around Neosho. We are in the third year of a $2.5 million HRSA grant enhancing resident/ faculty training in mental and behavioral health, with a goal of meeting the growing need for evidence-based mental health care in this area.
UMKC FAMILY MEDICINE
Program Director: J. Lane Wilson, MD
APDS: Kevin Gray, MD, CAQSM, FAAFP; Jennifer Livingston, MD; Carlie Nikel, PsyD
Per class: Twelve (12) per class, 36 total
Chief Residents: Rachel Bentley, MD; John Kaschke, MD; Nicholas Yeisley, MD
Social Presence: Facebook: UMKCFM, Website: https://med.umkc.edu/fm/
STUDENT BOARD REPORT
Mikala Cessac
Student Director
University of Missouri—Columbia
Taylor Lavalle
Alternate Student Director
University of Missouri- Columbia
KANSAS CITY UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND BIOSCIENCES – KANSAS CITY CAMPUS
Goal: To promote the distinct philosophy of osteopathic family medicine through advocacy, education, and leadership.
Activity since last board meeting: Attended MAFP conference in Springfield, Attended AAFP National Conference in Kansas City, Attended ACOFP National Conference in New Orleans, Primary Care Week featuring a Virtual Panel of PCP’s and a Joint Injection Workshop, Sports Physical Exams for a local community center & middle school, Acupuncture Workshop, NourishKC Community Kitchen volunteering, Harvesters Food Bank volunteering FMIG Leadership (FMIG is part of Primary Care Club/ACOFP at KCU):
Adam Gregni (Vice President) adam.gregni@kansascity.edu
Nick Diaz-Hui (First Year Rep) nick.diazhui@kansascity.edu
Alina Poothurail (First Year Rep) alina.poothurail@kansascity.edu
JOPLIN CAMPUS
Goal: To inform students on the possibilities in Family Medicine and help students gain a passion and understanding for primary care.
Activity since last board meeting: Speaker - COL Dr. Fawks, Volunteering - Score 1 and oral health, Volunteering - Brush with Kindness, Volunteering - Race 4 Hope, Breast Cancer Awareness 5k, Infant and Child CPR and Intubation clinic, CoxHealth Residency Panel, Primary Care Week Panel
FMIG Leadership (FMIG is part of Primary Care Club/ACOFP at KCU):
First-year representative: Ranika Williams (Ranika.williams@ kansascity.edu)
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Goal: The Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) serves to educate and encourage students who are interested in pursuing a career in family medicine, or those who are i nterested to learn more about the field. We host lunch meetings where students can learn more about being a practicing physician, family medicine and its subspecialties. We also host procedure nights throughout the year where students can meet faculty and learn how to perform common procedures that are done in the clinic.
Activity since last board meeting: Procedure night at Mercy Hospital with their FM residents, Family Medicine Match Panel, Scrubs sale fundraiser, ‘What is Family Medicine’ Intro Talk; F amily Medicine Residency Fair, Residency Interview Practice Night, Primary Care Week Panel
FMIG Leadership: Isabella De La Torre- isabella.delatorre@ health.slu.edu, Rachel Hsu- rachel.hsu@health.slu.edu, Julia Hickman- julia.hickman@health.slu.edu
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Goal: Inform medical students about the exciting field of family medicine
Activity since last board meeting: Ronald McDonald House, Soup Kitchen volunteering, residency informational meetings
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Goal: We aim to spread the knowledge and interest in Family Medicine at our school and find ways to directly impact our communities.
Activity since last board meeting: KC Health Fair, Various Physician speakers, Post-match panel, Intro to FM meeting FMIG Leadership: Neehar Shah (nsnhc@umsystem.edu); Jordan De la Rosa (jgkwxn@umsystem.edu)
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Goal: Given the lack of FM department at WashU, our mission is to promote the importance of family medicine by fostering student interest in the specialty, encouraging exploration of its broad scope, and supporting the development of future physicians dedicated to providing compassionate care to individuals and communities.
Activity since last board meeting: Family Medicine PLUS Talk: A session focused on exploring fellowship opportunities within family medicine, highlighting various paths such as sports medicine, geriatrics, and global health, to provide
students with insight into specialized areas of the field.
Med-Peds x FMIG Collaboration event: A joint event between FMIG and the Med-Peds interest group, focusing on the intersection of family medicine and Med-Peds, and how both specialties approach patient-centered care across all ages.
“Coffee with a Doc” initiative: Organized casual conversations between medical students and local physicians to discuss career paths in family medicine.
FMIG Leadership: Sydney Murray, FMIG Lead- msydney@wustl.edu
A. T. STILL UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES: OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOL
Goal: A new goal of our club this year is to educate everyone on just how customizable Family Medicine is!
Activity since last board meeting: Family Medicine Physicians Panel, Circumcision Workshop, Perineal Repair Workshop, Acupuncture, Various OMT events, Pap Smear Event, etc.
FMIG Leadership: Courtney Shubert (President) sa210785@ atsu.edu
2024 CONGRESS OF DELEGATES REPORT
The Missouri delegation along with MAFP President, Afsheen Patel, MD, Executive Director Kathy Pabst, MBA, CAE, and Assistant Executive Director Bill Plank, CAE were in Phoenix, AZ from September 23 through September 25 for the 2024 Congress of Delegates (COD). There were multiple new processes introduced this year. This was the first COD where online testimony was collected ahead of time from August 23 through September 3 and Reference Committee Reports were available prior to the beginning of COD. More than 40 resolutions were considered.
There was an opportunity to extract resolutions for debate and a second set of Reference Committees met onsite during Congress. The Speakers managed the process well and the Delegates were pleased with the flow. For a summary of highlights, please visit: https://www.aafp.org/ news/2024-congress-fmx/cod-action.html.
This was also the first election of board members with the slate provided by the Nominating Committee. Led by Reid Blackwelder, MD, FAAFP, former AAFP President from Tennessee, the committee vetted candidates that applied in February 2024. Chapters were also still able to nominate candidates and the final slate was announced April 15, 2024. There were 6 candidates put forward and in the end, Shannon Dowler, MD, CPE, FAAFP, (North Carolina), Elisabeth Fowlie-Mock, MD, MPH, FAAFP, (Maine), and Kathleen Mueller, MD, FAAFP, (Connecticut) were elected. Since this is a new process, the Nominating Committee did put forth suggestions to the Rules Committee for some possible updates for the next cycle.
Sarah Nosal, MD, MBA, FAAFP, (New York) was elected as the next President-Elect while Jen Brull, MD, FAAFP, (Colorado) moved to President and Steve Furr, MD, FAAFP, (Alabama) moved to Board Chair. Russell Kohl, MD, FAAFP, (Oklahoma) was re-elected as Speaker and Daron Gersch, MD, FAAFP, (Minnesota) was re-elected as Vice-Speaker.
Medical student Mikala Cessac, MS4, at the University of MissouriColumbia, was installed as the Student Director to the Board. She was elected by her peers at the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Students in August, 2024. Student doctor Cessac will be a voting member of the Board and will serve a one-year term. She will also serve as a liaison to one of the commissions during her tenure.
Peter Koopman, MD, FAAFP, served as Chair of the Reference Committee for Advocacy and Sarah Cole, DO, FAAFP, served as an Observer on the Reference Committee for Organization, Finance, and Education. Both of these reference committees met prior to the start of COD. Drs. Koopman and Cole, along with Kate Lichtenberg, DO, MPH, FAAFP, served on the onsite reference committees.
As reported in the October-December, 2024 issue of the Missouri Family Physician magazine, Missouri is well represented at the national level. Keith Ratcliff, MD, FAAFP, will begin a 3-year term on the AAFP Nominating Committee. Resident Director Kelly Dougherty, MD, PGY3, Mercy Family Medicine Residency, is serving her second year on the AAFP Foundation. Payal Morari, MS2, Kansas City University is the student delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates.
Your Delegation appreciates the trust you put in us to represent you to the governing body of the American Academy of Family Physicians and we welcome your comments and questions.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Koopman, MD, FAAFP
Kate Lichtenberg, DO, MPH, FAAFP
Sarah Cole, DO, FAAFP
Jamie Ulbrich, MD, FAAFP
The Maternal Health Access Project (MHAP) & Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project (MO-CPAP) offer no-cost programs to support Missouri’s healthcare providers in caring for perinatal & pediatric patients with mental and behavioral health concerns.
Both MHAP & MO-CPAP services are available for all providers in Missouri and are offered free of charge.
As the landscape of healthcare evolves, family medicine stands at the forefront of delivering comprehensive and accessible care. The future of family medicine hinges on the integration of emerging technologies that not only enhance patient care but also align with the foundational principles of primary care. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is one such technology poised to transform family medicine, offering a unique opportunity to address emerging challenges while bolstering the 4 Cs of primary care—first contact, comprehensiveness, coordination, and continuity.
In family medicine, the first contact with a patient is crucial in setting the course for diagnosis and treatment. POCUS empowers family physicians to make real-time, informed decisions during this initial encounter. By providing immediate visualization of internal structures, POCUS aids in the rapid diagnosis of conditions such as abdominal pain, musculoskeletal injuries, and cardiac abnormalities (Sorensen et al., 2021). This capability not only enhances the accuracy of initial assessments but also reduces the need for referrals to specialized imaging centers, streamlining the patient’s journey through the healthcare system.
POCUS embodies the principle of comprehensiveness by enabling family physicians to conduct a wide range of diagnostic procedures within their practice. Its versatility allows for the assessment of various organs and systems in the clinic setting, including the heart, lungs, abdomen, and vasculature (Hall et al., 2020). This broad diagnostic capability ensures that family physicians can address a diverse array of medical issues, providing holistic care to their patients.
POCUS also strengthens the continuity of care, which is essential for managing chronic conditions and ensuring longterm patient well-being. Family physicians can use POCUS to monitor the progression of diseases, such as tracking fluid accumulation in heart failure patients or assessing the response to treatment in cases of deep vein thrombosis (Spencer et al., 2019). By integrating POCUS into routine visits, family physicians can provide ongoing, personalized care that adapts to the changing needs of their patients.
As healthcare costs continue to rise and diagnostic delays become more prevalent, the adoption of POCUS in family medicine offers a promising solution. By reducing the reliance on external imaging, POCUS not only lowers healthcare costs
but also minimizes the burden on patients, who often face long wait times for diagnostic procedures (Mcclelland et al., 2019). Moreover, the widespread adoption of POCUS can potentially reduce the need for X-rays and CT scans, thereby minimizing patient exposure to harmful radiation.
In conclusion, the integration of point-of-care ultrasound into family medicine has the potential to improve patientcentered care. By embracing this technology, family physicians can enhance the first contact, provide comprehensive care, coordinate treatments efficiently, and ensure continuity of care. POCUS is more than a diagnostic tool; it is a catalyst for the evolution of family medicine, aligning perfectly with the principles that define the specialty and ensuring that family physicians remain at the heart of patient care in the years to come.
2ND PLACE WINNER
Zain Hazari, MS2
Ponce Health Sciences University-
St. Louis
Trust is the most crucial attribute a future physician will have. Ironic how that brings us full circle to what healers always intended to do: earn our trust.
In an age where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing every sector, let’s reflect on a time when medical science was less advanced. Centuries ago, healers were limited by their scientific understanding and that shaped their knowledge, practice and even societal role. And you had to trust that they could heal you. Today, we are going through the transition to the future of Artificial Intelligence where once again healers will be limited by their scientific understanding and that will shape their knowledge, practice and even societal role. Yet, the one constant, bringing this full circle, is trust, an element that remains fundamental in patient care and reflects the empathetic nature every physician must embody.
In 2023, I attended the LEAP conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest AI/Tech event. I spent most of my time around the HeathTech section, where companies showcased groundbreaking innovations.
One of these innovations was an AI Robot Nurse for your house that could detect vital signs in real time and did not require additional hardware or wearables. Using scientific technology that my understanding is limited to, it was able to monitor heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, temperature, mood and more all with medical-grade accuracy comparable to modern equipment. The robot doesn’t require
an internet connection and could be solar powered expanding its potential to provide accessible healthcare in remote areas.
The robot required only a camera, AI software, and sensors to function, but it was designed with a humanoid appearance to capture the one vital element that artificial technology cannot replicate: the empathy required to build real human trust.
This is where the 4 Cs of primary care come into play. First contact is inherently personal— something no robot can replace. Comprehensiveness is vital for managing preventive care, not just immediate health issues. Coordination of care is best handled by a physician familiar with your family history, ensuring seamless referrals to the right specialists. Finally, continuity of care represents a journey rather than a destination—something AI can never truly replicate, primarily due to the elements of trust and advocacy. Physicians continuously advocate for their patients, whether negotiating with insurance companies or addressing other concerns, often dedicating countless unpaid hours to ensure optimal care.
It’s crucial to recognize AI’s potential to empower healthcare workers. As a medical student, I frequently use tools like ChatGPT and DougallGPT to grasp material more quickly and support my academic progress. However, I don’t rely on these technologies entirely, as they are still flawed, and I can discern when they provide inaccurate information. But the fact that it has passed the USMLE Step 1 and I have not (yet) is very telling. Relax, I just started second year.
Besides one family doctor can entertain an entire family, which more than I can say for a robot.
3RD PLACE WINNER
Manisha Vadali, MS2
University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
The Double-Edged Sword: The Increasing Reliance on Nurse Practitioners and Its Impact on Family Medicine
In today’s healthcare landscape, nurse practitioners (NPs) play a crucial role in filling gaps in primary care, especially in underserved areas like rural Missouri. While this approach addresses physician shortages, it also presents challenges to four key aspects of primary care: first contact, comprehensiveness, coordination, and continuity.
First Contact: Family physicians have been the first point of contact for patients, serving as the gateway to the healthcare system. With NPs stepping into this role, patients might experience fragmented care depending on how well NPs are integrated into the system. For example, a patient with sudden chest pain visiting an NP at a rural clinic might receive initial care but be referred to a distant hospital for follow-up with a physician, leading to delays that compromise patient outcomes (BMC Health Services Research).
Comprehensiveness: Comprehensive care addresses a wide range of patients’ needs, from preventive services to managing complex chronic conditions. While NPs are highly skilled, their training differs from that of physicians, especially in handling complex cases. For instance, a patient with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease might need to see multiple specialists for comprehensive management, increasing
care costs and disrupting continuity. In contrast, a family physician might provide a more integrated approach due to broader training (BMJ Open).
Coordination: Effective care coordination is crucial for managing complex health needs. For instance, a patient with multiple chronic conditions might see an NP for routine care. Without standardized communication protocols, critical health information might not be effectively shared between the NP and specialists, leading to duplicated tests, conflicting treatment plans, or missed follow-ups. These issues stem from systemic reliance and administrative decisions.
Continuity: Continuity of care builds long-term relationships between patients and physicians, linked to better health outcomes. The increasing reliance on NPs, especially in highturnover environments, can disrupt this continuity. On average, 1 in 10 NPs leave their employment setting annually (Nursing Outlook), and the national turnover rate for NPs is about 12.6%, twice that of physicians (Hilaris Publisher). Patients might see different providers at each visit, eroding trust and personal connection essential for effective care. This is particularly concerning in rural areas, where the consistent presence of a family physician is necessary for community health. During my time shadowing a preceptor in Maryville, MO, I saw how many patients initially mistrusted the medical system or didn’t understand their medications. It took years of consistent care for my preceptor to build the trust necessary for these patients to follow treatment plans, highlighting the value of continuity.
Looking Ahead: As we move into the next decade, it’s crucial to balance leveraging the strengths of NPs while preserving the integrity of primary care. An emerging opportunity is the integration of advanced telehealth technologies, enhancing NP-physician collaboration and improving care coordination. However, over-reliance on NPs without addressing systemic integration issues can compromise care quality. The choices we make now will shape the future of family medicine, determining whether it can continue to offer comprehensive, coordinated, and continuous care for everyone.
References: The Role of Point-of-Care Ultrasound
1. Sorensen, B., Hunskaar, S., & Sandvik, H. (2021). The Use of Point-ofCare Ultrasound in
1. Primary Care. Journal of Family Practice, 70(9), 399-406.Hall, M. K., Casey, L. B., Jaffe, R. C., et al. (2020). The Future of POCUS in Family Medicine: Advancements and Applications. American Journal of Family Medicine, 38(7), 1234-1241.
1. Spencer, K. L., Ferguson, D. C., & Clark, A. W. (2019). Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Bridging the Gap Between Family Medicine and Specialty Care. Missouri Family Physician, 47(4), 25-30.
1. Mcclelland, G., Wilson, B., & Gupta, S. (2019). Economic Impacts of POCUS in Primary Care. Journal of Family Medicine, 29(11), 19121919.
References: The Double-Edged Sword: The Increasing Reliance on Nurse Practitioners and Its Impact on Family Medicine
1. BMC Health Services Research: “Nurse practitioners’ diagnostic accuracy and adherence to clinical guidelines in managing acute conditions.” Available at: https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral. com/articles/10.1186/s12913-024-11278-4.
2. BMJ Open: “The role of nurse practitioners in managing chronic conditions and the impact on healthcare costs and continuity.” Available at: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/6/e006670.
3. Nursing Outlook: “Impact of job satisfaction and turnover in nurse practitioners.” Available at: https://www.nursingoutlook.org/article/ S0029-6554%2824%2900083-6/pdf.
4. Hilaris Publisher: “Impact of job satisfaction and turnover in nurse practitioners.” Available at: https://www.hilarispublisher.com/ proceedings/impact-of-job-satisfaction-and-turnover-in-nursepractitioners-8854.html.
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians held the 32nd Annual Fall Conference November 7-9, 2024, at InterContinental at the Plaza in Kansas City, MO. This conference was special as it was the first away from Big Cedar Lodge in several decades.
32nd Annual Fall ConferenceRecap
Family physicians from all corners of Missouri and surrounding states registered for this conference. A total of 121 family physicians, residents, students, and other health care professionals attended this annual CME conference. Moreover, our industry partners play a powerful role in making this conference possible, and their support was strong with 26 exhibitors and sponsors.
This year’s conference education started on Thursday evening with an interactive procedures workshop, OMT For All Physicians: Interactive Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy Introduction for MDs and Refresher for DOs hosted by Kansas City University, a short drive from the Plaza. Friday included the Family Health Foundation of Missouri silent auction which started virtually on November 1. Many great items were available to win including Coach Purse, Kendra Scott jewelry, Rocky Mountain Lodge trip with luggage, MAFP Swag with mystery gift cards, regional specialty goods and art, a
private airplane tour, hosted fishing trips, homemade treats, and much more. Members, attendees, and exhibitors enjoyed shopping to support medical students and residents in their journey to becoming family physicians. Our annual 50/50 drawing was held for those that didn’t find an item in the silent auction or who just wanted to support monetarily. Almost $10,000 was raised through these events for the Family Health Foundation of Missouri! Many thanks to the members that donated their time and talents as well as to all of our bidders and donors. Our physicians were also very motivated to donate to the MAFP Political Action Committee. Our members stepped up their giving to the PAC this year and donated over $6,000 at this conference. Thank you to all who donated!
Attendees were able to earn up to 16 CME credits. Many thanks to the speakers who presented. Based on evaluation responses, attendees were very satisfied overall with the speakers and topics.
OMT For All Physicians: Interactive Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy Introduction for MDs and Refresher for DOs
State of Missouri Healthcare
Colorectal Cancer Screening: Guidelines, Options, and Patient Care
Direct Primary Care: What, Why, How?
Elevating Patient Care: Early Detection and Evidence-Based Pharmacotherapy for Postpartum Depression in Primary Care
Dermatology Essentials for Family Physicians: A Comprehensive Review
Practical Tips for Hepatitis C Management
Perinatal Cardiovascular Health: Fourth Trimester Risks, Evaluation, and Care
Moving the Needle in Older Adults: A Physician Townhall to Enhance Vaccine Uptake
Testosterone Tales: How to Spot It, Prescribe It, and Keep It in Check for Life!
ABFM Update: The Now and Future of ABFM Board Certification
Pediatric ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment: Behavioral and Pharmacotherapy Strategies to Improve Patient Outcomes
Breathing Easy: Conquering Obstructive Sleep Apnea for Better Health
What Primary Care Clinicians Need to Know About MASLD and MASH
In addition to the expert lineup of clinical speakers, MAFP held its annual meeting on Friday followed by a review of MAFP Legislative Initiatives and an update from AAFP Board Member Teresa Lovins, MD, FAAFP.
Friday evening concluded with a Roaring 20’s Banquet Celebration. Several family medicine leaders were recognized including recognition of Wesley Goodrich, DO, MPH as Resident of the Year. Shelby Hahn, MD of CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency in Springfield was awarded the Exemplary Teaching Award. David Campbell, MD was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Brian “BJ” Schultz, MD of Columbia was awarded Family Physician of the Year. Kara Mayes, MD, FAAFP was presented with the Soaring Eagle Award in recognition of her year as MAFP Board Chair. Afsheen Patel, MD was presented with a commemorative gavel in recognition of her year as MAFP Board President. Natalie
Long, MD was installed as our president and received a framed print of the presidential oath. More information on the Annual Meeting including details on these award recipients can be found on pages 22-28. The evening concluded with a heartfelt acknowledgement of retiring MAFP Executive Director, Kathy Pabst. Several past MAFP presidents shared fond memories of her leadership before Kathy’s son, Jeff, closed with congratulatory words.
Save the Date – the 33rd MAFP Annual Fall Conference will be held November 6-8, 2025 at InterContinental Kansas City on the Plaza. The MAFP annual meeting will be held in conjunction with this conference. Watch for more details as the conference schedule takes shape throughout the year.
Annual Meeting Celebrates Family Physicians
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians held its 76th Annual Meeting on Friday, November 8, 2024 at InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza where we looked forward to our future as family physicians. The annual meeting elected new officers, affirmed board appointments, reviewed annual reports, and took a moment of silence for our fellow family physicians who passed away during the last year.
Afsheen Patel, MD presented the slate of officers that were duly elected during this annual meeting: Chair, Board of Directors – Afsheen Patel, MD (Kansas City)
President – Natalie Long, MD (Columbia)
President Elect – Beth Rosemergey, DO, FAAFP (Kansas City)
Vice President – Lauren Wilfling, DO (St. Louis) Secretary/Treasurer – Lisa Mayes, DO (Macon) –Three Year Term Expires in 2027
The membership also ratified the following representatives for the AAFP Congress of Delegates: Delegates
Kate Lichtenberg, DO, FAAFP (Kirkwood) and Peter Koopman, MD, FAAFP (Columbia) Alternate Delegates
Sarah Cole, DO, FAAFP (St. Louis)
Jamie Ulbrich, MD, FAAFP (Marshall)
Throughout the year, there is turnover in the district director positions. The MAFP Executive Commission selected the following members to renew their current position or fill vacant positions on the board:
District 2
• Robert Schneider, DO, Kirksville replaces Dr. Eric Lesh who moved outside the district. Dr. Schneider will fill the remaining term of Dr. Lesh through 2026.
District 3
• Resigning Director - Dawn Davis resigned because of a relocation outside of Missouri
• Resigning Director - Lauren Wilfling will be serving as MAFP Vice President
• Director - Christian Verry, moved from District 3 Alternate Director
• Director - Kento Sonoda moved from Director at Large
• Alternate Director - Stacy Jefferson moved from Director at Large
District 4 Director and alternate rotated positions.
• Director - Jennifer Allen, MD, Hermann resigned her position.
• Alternate Director: Jennifer Scheer, MD, Gerald
District 8 Alternate Director
• Barbara Miller, MD, La Russell – renewing a 3-year term expiring in 2027
District 9 Director
• Douglas Crase, MD, West Plains – renewing a 3-year term expiring in 2027
District 10 Director
• Jenny Eichhorn, MD, Jackson – moved from alternate director to filling the remaining term of Gordon Jones who passed away this year. Her term will expire in 2025.
• The alternate director position in this district is now vacant. Director at Large
• Eric Lesh, Springfield, moved from District 2 director in Kirksville to director at large for a one-year term.
The following family physicians who have gone before us this past year were recognized and remembered:
C W Chastain, III, MD, Appleton
Donald A Potts, MD, Independence
Stanley Gordon Jones, MD, Sikeston
Sisenando P Galvez, Jr, MD, Marceline
Jeffrey A Luerding, MD, Kansas City
MAFP Installs 76th President
Margaret Day, MD had the privilege to install Dr. Long as your 2024-2025 President. As Dr. Day introduced her, she emphasized Dr. Long’s devotion that will make her a strong President. Dr. Day said of Dr. Long:
Whether at home or at work, Natalie is devoted. She is devoted to her four children, Victor, Bella, Russell, and Teddy.
She is devoted to medical education, which has been a priority for her since joining the faculty at MU. In the pre-clerkship curriculum, she directed or co-directed Introduction to Patient Care 3 since 2016 when she joined the faculty, until transitioning to her role as clerkship director. She also coordinates the service-learning course, an experience that pairs medical students with a community organization to perform service, reflect, and complete a quality improvement project. She serves as a faculty advisor for the MU School of Medicine’s student-run clinic MedZou, which provides free health care to uninsured patients in mid-Missouri. In addition, she supports clinical operations tasks and mentors’ students in both quality improvement and research projects.
She is devoted to residency education, supervising residents in the obstetrics and outpatient services.
She is devoted to caring for patients at Compass Health, a federally qualified health center with a diverse patient population, as well as at the Keene Family Medicine Clinic.
Dr Natalie Long is also devoted to the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. We will be well served by her commitment, intelligence, conviction, and skills in advocacy and leadership as president of the MAFP.
Natalie, the membership of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians has chosen you for the role of president in recognition of your dedication, vision and leadership.
Effective leadership includes listening, guiding, and acting. Individually, we all seek the right combination to allow us to lead without it being too overwhelming. But we are all in this together for our patients.
Our specialty cultivates individual leadership. By virtue of the demands of our specialty, we are comfortable taking on more than most people. We are family physicians because we want to make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. Dr. Day presented Dr. Long with the President’s Oath and Pin to commemorate this honorable occasion.
Natalie Long, MD MAFP Presidential Speech
Thank you for the kind words. Margaret has been a long-time mentor, encourager and dear friend, so I am very grateful for your part tonight. I also have Jim Stevermer to credit for starting me down the path that led me to standing here before you today. As a new faculty member at Mizzou, Jim invited me to co-present a KSA
at the Annual Fall Conference and encouraged me to consider getting involved with MAFP as there was an opening on the board. Now a few years down the road, I’m being installed as the chapter president for this year.
I had always been committed to “little a” advocacy, wanting to make a difference in individual patients’ lives, caring for underserved populations and identifying and minimizing barriers and gaps in patient care. I still find that to be a critically important part of my practice. However, my involvement in MAFP has shown me how essential “big A” Advocacy is as well. We as individuals cannot impact system level changes without collaborating with legislators and driving policy makers toward enacting laws that will have a positive impact on the health and lives of the citizens of our state and country. Expanding primary care residency training positions was a huge accomplishment and we will continue to advocate on members behalf on ongoing issues like scope of practice, reimbursement, minimizing administrative burdens and other important topics.
One of our Academy’s strengths is the incredible crew of board members and chapter staff that work diligently on our behalf. I must recognize the outstanding leadership provided by Afsheen Patel, Kara Mayes and the rest of the executive committee (Lisa Mayes, Beth Rosemergey) and our board over the year, all providing time and energy to MAFP while also balancing patient care and a plethora of other responsibilities. The chapter staff (Kathy, Bill and Brittany) help make this happen. This is a special year for the MAFP, as it is Kathy’s last year as Executive Director and I know that we will all miss her leadership dearly. Our Academy has blossomed under her guidance for the past 10+ years, and we are starting this transition with a strong foundation. Thankfully we already know our incoming executive director well – Bill has been training, learning and assisting to grow our academy since 2020 and I’m confident that he is the right person to continue to elevate our academy in the years to come. All transitions are bittersweet, and I must express my gratitude to Kathy for her guidance and knowledge shared, her patience and fierce commitment to promoting family physicians over the years.
I’m so proud to be leading the MAFP this year. When I think of Family Physicians, I am consistently awed by what our profession is capable of doing. Family doctors are a diverse group of clinicians who are trained to care for patients of all
ages, backgrounds, conditions and in multiple settings (clinic, hospital, home, nursing facilities, shelters and more). We practice in urban cities, academic centers and rural communities. Some focus on sports or obesity medicine while others deliver babies or work in the hospital. We provide preventative care, chronic disease management, address acute concerns, pivot from 1 year olds to 100 year olds and everything in between, often in the same day. No two days are the same, and no two practices are the same. How can we find commonality in a time where division seems to be so prominent?
We were each trained in the art of being a personal physician, recognizing that a patient is not just a symptom, body organ system or diagnosis, but a sum of those parts that also must be taken in the context of their social and emotional state. We recognize the value of continuity and building a trusting relationship over time. We know that family doctors include the strongest, kindest, smartest comprehensivists that practice medicine. The work we do is truly amazing, and our impact is deep and lasting.
I’M SO PROUD TO BE LEADING THE MAFP THIS YEAR. WHEN I THINK OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, I AM CONSISTENTLY AWED BY WHAT OUR PROFESSION IS CAPABLE OF DOING.
We are entering into another cycle of strategic planning next year. The health care environment continues to evolve and with it the needs and priorities of family doctors. One of our goals is to provide members with the services and tools they need to be successful. This includes ongoing efforts to enhance our CME offerings both at large meetings like the Annual Fall Conference, virtual CME options, smaller, topic focused sessions and our magazine, Missouri Family Physician. Educating and encouraging medical students and residents to grow into successful family physicians is another priority, and it is never too early to start recruiting! It is too soon to measure impact, but our academy continues to strengthen our partnership with HOSA, engaging with future health professional students still in high school to share the wonders of family medicine and hopefully inspire some future family docs.
One important lesson I have learned is that we can’t do it all on our own. Having a support network to lean on makes an enormous difference. I’m so grateful to have the family I have, supporting me through all my big ideas and goals and allowing me to be a leader. I’m also blessed with amazing colleagues and friends to share the burdens and joys of what is simultaneously the best and hardest job.
Thank you all for your attendance here tonight. It is an honor and privilege to represent this incredible cohort of family physicians, who provide the best medicine to any and all who need it.
Missouri Academy Installs New Officers
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians installed new officers at the Academy’s 76th Annual Meeting on November 8, 2024, at InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Serving as President last year, Afsheen Patel, MD, became Board Chair of the family medicine group. Other officers include President Natalie Long, MD; President-Elect Beth Rosemergey, DO, FAAFP; Vice President Lauren Wilfling, DO, FAAFP; and Lisa Mayes, DO, who was elected to another three-year term as Secretary/Treasurer.
PATEL (BOARD CHAIR)
Afsheen Patel, MD, of Lee’s Summit, practices at the St. Luke’s Primary Care Clinic in Lee’s Summit with a special interest in women’s health care, sports medicine, geriatric care, and primary and preventative care. She completed her medical school training at the Royal College of Surgeons United Kingdom and her residency at the University of Missouri Columbia Family Medicine Residency program. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Patel is married and has four children.
LONG (PRESIDENT)
Natalie Long, MD, of Columbia, completed her medical school and family medicine residency at the University of Missouri Columbia (MU). She practices full-spectrum family medicine and has a special interest in maternal mental health, opioid dependence management, and pregnancy care. She holds the rank of Associate Professor of Clinical Family and Community Medicine at the MU School of Medicine. She resides in Columbia with her four children.
ROSEMERGEY (PRESIDENT-ELECT)
Beth Rosemergey, DO, FAAFP of Kansas City, Missouri, is Chair of the Department of Community and Family Medicine at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and serves as the Associate Chief Medical Officer at University Health Lakewood Medical Center. She completed medical school at the University of Health Sciences – Kansas City and residency at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Dr. Rosemergey lives in Lee’s Summit.
WILFLING (VICE PRESIDENT)
Lauren Wilfling, DO, MBA, FAAFP, of St. Louis, currently practices full spectrum family medicine and obstetrics care as a faculty physician at Mercy Family Medicine Residency in St. Louis, MO. She completed medical school at Kansas City University in Kansas City, where she also earned her MBA in Healthcare Leadership from Rockhurst University. Dr Wilfling completed her residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she stayed to complete a Surgical Obstetrics Fellowship prior to returning to St Louis to practice. Her medical passions include Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Pediatrics and she very much enjoys getting to share her love of medicine with the next generation of residents and medical students in her current teaching role.
L. MAYES (SECRETARY/TREASURER)
Lisa Mayes, DO, of Macon, is employed by the Samaritan Hospital in Macon, Missouri, and has been practicing for 15 years. She is board-certified in family medicine. She graduated from AT Still University in Kirksville and completed her residency at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Missouri. Dr. Mayes has three daughters.
Schultz Named MAFP Family Physician of the Year
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians presented Brian “BJ” Schultz, MD, of Columbia, Missouri, with the 2024 Family Physician of the Year Award at the Academy’s 76th Annual Meeting. A committee of family physicians selected Dr. Schultz from nominations made by patients, community members, and fellow physicians.
Dr. Schultz has practiced family medicine at Compass Health, a federally qualified health center in Columbia, Missouri, since 2003. He cares for Spanish-speaking patients, refugees and underserved patients, and also has time for medical education. He has also impacted the world through his mission trips in Africa and beyond. Dr. Schultz believes in three things to develop in each visit: faith, truth, and virtue, which are integral components of the joy and purpose of caring for his patients and all good relationships. He cares for multi-generational families at ages from birth to senior care. His colleagues share that he is a person of great integrity and character because of his dedication to his patients, community, colleagues, and family.
He completed a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, which exemplifies his interest in sports and caring for athletes. He provided sports medicine care at Columbia Orthopaedic Group until 2017, when he began to focus on international care. He supports his community by serving as the team physician for the Missouri State High School Activities Association state events, as well as the team physician for Fulton High School.
Dr. Schultz is a graduate of the University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine, where he also completed his family medicine residency and a primary care sports medicine fellowship.
2024 Family Physician of the Year Speech - Brian “BJ” Schultz, MD
Thanks so much for this great honor.
Virtue - strength; that substance or quality of physical bodies by which they act and produce effects on other bodies. - Websters Dictionary 1828
Last month, one of my patients, whom I have known since residency, died. She had been through many emotionally trying experiences. She lost two sons to drowning and her husband to ALS. She had diabetes and developed sepsis resulting from a urinary tract infection. I visited her in the hospital in August on what I believed would be her last day. Her family was gathered and waiting patiently for her to pass. The decision was made to allow her to return home with hospice care. The next day we gathered by her bedside in her home. Family members sang, prayed for her, read scripture, and shared words of gratitude to God for the one they loved. There was peace in the room and a hope that was bigger than the circumstances. I expected this might be the last time for me to see her. The following day, I returned. She was sitting up in bed, smiling, talking, and had eaten food. She lived another 6 weeks with her family, able to walk around the home, and enjoy their fellowship.
There were no medications that accomplished this. Something much stronger was at work. It flowed through family members and brought healing to more than just the woman in the bed. Virtue is strength that comes from somewhere outside ourselves and gives power to produce positive effects in others.
I watched this force at work again through my mother a few weeks ago. My father was admitted to the hospital with chest pain and diagnosed with a severe case of pancreatitis. Excluding two hours for errands, she remained with him in the room the entire two weeks he was hospitalized. Her presence connected him to the truth as virtue flowed through her to strengthen him, even when he was convinced they had moved him to the basement of the hospital.
Virtue empowers us to discover the truth of life even in the midst of experiences and situations that cloud our eyes.
Where does it come from and how does one tap into it?
There is a story in the Bible about a group of people who were traveling through the desert. In the midst of their journey, poisonous snakes entered their camp. Their bites claimed the lives of many people. The people asked their leader, Moses, to pray to God to
take away the snakes. He came back with a different plan: make a representation of the snake and set it on a pole. Anyone who looks at it will be healed. A simple plan that connected all the people to a shared experience of faith.
Virtue comes from love. The family of the woman in our first story tapped into it by faith. They understood that faith is the assurance that what you hope for will be accomplished. They hoped for peace for their mother and peace was given, and, as a bonus, more quality time.
I am thankful to Dennis Wen and Jim Kinderknecht for their mentorship. Dr. Wen taught us the value of knowledge by pushing us to step beyond the limits of our current understanding. Dr. Kinderknecht lived and worked as an example of how to connect with other people. That gift opened the opportunity for magic to happen in every encounter: trust brought out the information that led to the discovery of the truth and development of a plan to let virtue do its work of healing.
I am thankful to Sue for sharing life with me. I was hooked from the day I walked out of organic chemistry class. I dropped my books all over the sidewalk and watched in amazement the twinkling of her eye as she smiled and helped me get it together. She inspires me by the way she invests in others to
bring out the best they have and then a little more to help them grow. She does this as a wildly effective high school chemistry teacher. Just as medicine is our connection point with patients, she uses chemistry to connect with students in ways that challenge them to think beyond the horizon they can see in order to achieve better than their best. Love is mighty and inspires people to become who they are.
I am thankful to my parents who laid the foundation of love in my life. A foundation like that allows one to grow up in the confidence of mistakes transformed into learning opportunities.
When I was hired, I was asked who I would name as my “hero.” I answered then and I answer now, Jesus Christ. Everyone he met encountered the truth, in their lives, in society, in the lives of others. Many walked away from the encounter healed of something, all walked away with the opportunity to become the complete version of themselves. He is the physical expression of a love that is too big to comprehend. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to live, to see and to be virtue in action. You have that opportunity as well and I look forward to discovering the wonder that will change the world as we work together.
Fellows Conferred at Annual Meeting
The Degree of Fellow recognizes members who have distinguished themselves among their colleagues, as well as in their communities, by their service to family medicine, by their advancement of health care to the American people, and by their professional development through medical education and research. Fellows of the AAFP are recognized as champions of family medicine. They are the physicians who make family medicine the premier specialty in service to their community and profession. From a personal perspective, being a Fellow signifies not only ‘tenure’ but additional work in your community, within organized medicine, within teaching, and a greater commitment to continuing professional development and/or research.
The following MAFP members were conferred by Teresa Lovins, MD, FAAFP, AAFP Board Member, at the November annual meeting:
Julia Flax, MD, FAAFP - Springfield
Shelby Hahn, MD - Springfield
Jared James, MD, FAAFP - Jefferson City
Katy Liu, MD, FAAFP - Maryland Heights
Emily Lott, MD, FAAFP - Kansas City
Melissa Lueking, MD, FAAFP - Saint Louis
Catherine Moore, DO, FAAFP - Saint Louis
Kento Sonoda, MD, FAAFP - Saint Louis
Lauren Wilfling, DO, FAAFP - Saint Louis
Congratulations! For more information and details about becoming a Fellow, visit the AAFP website at https://www.aafp.org/ membership/welcome-center/involve/fellow.html.
Campbell Receives MAFP Distinguished Service Award
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians presented David Campbell, MD, FAAFP, of St. Louis, Missouri, with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award at the Academy’s 76th Annual Meeting. A committee of family physicians selected Dr. Campbell from nominations made by patients, community members, and fellow physicians.
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes members, nonmembers, and entities for long-time dedication to advancing, contributing, and supporting the MAFP and the specialty of family medicine.
Dr. Campbell has been a family physician for the past 45 years and has served the profession well in a variety of settings. He has served in academic settings, as a resident director, a medical director, a practicing physician, has military service, and is now the president of a local non-profit organization serving the underserved in St. Louis.
He graduated medical school from Saint Louis University and residency at the Naval Aerospace and Regional Medical Center in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Campbell has been very involved with the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians as a member for 45 years. Dr. Campbell has served as board chair, president, district director, and delegate/alternate delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates.
Dr. Campbell practices at the iFM Community Medicine (Institute for Family Medicine), a non-profit health care provider, by improving the health of the St. Louis community, one patient, one physician, and one organization at a time. He resides in St. Louis with his wife, Veronica, and they have three children and six grandchildren.
Goodrich Named MAFP Outstanding Resident of the Year
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians presented Wesley Goodrich, DO, MPH, of Kansas City, Missouri, with the 2024 Outstanding Resident of the Year Award at the Academy’s 76th Annual Meeting. A committee of family physicians selected Dr. Goodrich from nominations made by patients, community members, and fellow physicians.
The MAFP Outstanding Resident of the Year award is presented to a graduating Missouri resident who exhibits exemplary patient care, demonstrates leadership, displays a commitment to the community, contributes to scholarly activity, and is dedicated to the specialty of Family Medicine.
The recipient of this award, Dr. Wesley Goodrich, is a 2024 graduate of the University of Missouri Kansas City Family Medicine Residency Program, where he served as chief resident. Dr. Goodrich’s leadership through medical school and residency is everything you would want in a family physician, from serving as a board member or officer of student medical groups to representing family medicine residents at AAFP’s national conference.
His research and presentations have focused on vaccinations, OMT, hearing loss, bicycling, and other topics of benefit to medical students. He has also been honored as the recipient of the UMKC Chapter Member of Gold Humanism Honor Society and received scholarships from other state and national groups. He leads by example, and his character is described as someone who is selfless, a teacher, high energy, positive attitude, excellence, dedication, committed, and motivated. The MAFP was fortunate to have Dr. Goodrich serve on our board of directors as the resident director, so we saw first-hand the direct impact he has on serving others whether it is in a clinic, in a meeting, or a one-on-one conversation with him. Dr. Goodrich is now practicing family medicine in Wichita, Kansas.
Hahn Receives MAFP Exemplary Teaching Award
The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians presented Shelby Hahn, MD, of Springfield, Missouri, with the 2024 Exemplary Teaching Award at the Academy’s 76th Annual Meeting.
A committee of family physicians selected Dr. Hahn from nominations made by patients, community members, and fellow physicians.
The Exemplary Teaching Award acknowledges MAFP members who deserve recognition for exemplary teaching skills and individuals who have implemented outstanding educational programs and/or developed innovative teaching models.
Dr. Hahn is the program director of CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency program in Springfield, Missouri, and has served in this capacity since 2021. Prior to his appointment to the program director position, Shelby was the associate program director and served on a variety of GME and academic residency committees. His service on these committees highlights his commitment to program excellence and continuous improvement.
Dr. Hahn holds the rank of assistant professor with the University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine, Springfield clinical campus. In this role, he serves as the Faculty Development Director, where he has been instrumental in implementing innovative teaching strategies and fostering a culture of lifelong learning among medical students and residents.
His personal commitment to patient care makes him a leader among teachers of our future family physicians. His active engagement and participation in the MAFP family medicine residency learning collaborative will further expand his impact across the state of Missouri.
Dr. Hahn earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR, and his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica. He completed his family medicine residency at Cox Family Medicine Residency in Springfield, MO.
Missouri Preceptor Tax Credits Available
As you know the MAFP worked to successfully pass the Community-Based Faculty Preceptor Tax Credit program in 2022. This program is administered by the Department of Health and Senior Services’ (DHSS) Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC), provides an income tax credit for qualified community-based faculty preceptors for primary care physicians and physician assistants.
The program is now active and open for applications. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Serve as a community-based faculty preceptor (physician or physician assistant) providing the preceptorship
• Hold a current and active license issued by the Division of Professional Registration of the Department of Commerce and Insurance
• Provide a medical or physician assistant student core preceptorship to 1 or more medical student(s) or physician assistant student(s)
• Complete a minimum of 1 preceptorship rotation (120 hours of community-based instruction in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, or obstetrics and gynecology)
to 1 or more medical student(s) or physician assistant student(s), up to 3 preceptorship rotations during the tax year in which the preceptorship is claimed; and
• Have not received any direct compensation for the preceptorship(s).
You can submit your application electronically through the online Community-Based Faculty Preceptor Tax Credit Program Application which can be accessed online at https://health.mo.gov/living/ families/primarycare/precept/index.php.
Applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis and can be submitted at any point during the calendar year, after completion of preceptorship(s). Final deadline to submit application documentation is January 31 of each calendar year following the tax year in which the tax credit application is being submitted. For example: For tax credit year 2024, the application documentation deadline is January 31, 2025.
Questions? Contact the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care at ORHPCinfo@health.mo.gov.
ADVOCACY DAY
FEBRUARY 2425, 2025
JOIN US AT THE COURTYARD MARRIOTT & THE MISSOURI STATE CAPITOL, JEFFERSON CITY, MO
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24
10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Introduction to Advocacy for New Advocates, Including Students and Residents 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Virtual Legislative Briefing
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25
8:00 – 9:00 am – Buffet Breakfast and Advocacy Briefing
We encourage you to invite a colleague, medical student, or resident to join you to promote the importance of family medicine and primary care. This is your opportunity to educate your State Senator and State Representative on issues that affect you, your profession, and your patients.
Make your lodging reservation at the Courtyard Marriott, 610 Bolivar Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101, (573) 761-1400. Be sure to reference the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians to receive the discounted rate of $145 per night. The last day to make a reservation in our block is January 25, 2025. Any reservations made after that date are subject to availability.
Limited complimentary lodging is available with preference to residents and students. To request a complimentary room, email Bill Plank at bplank@mo-afp.org.
Questions? Contact MAFP by calling (573) 635-0830 or emailing office@mo-afp.org.
Donor Recognition
The following MAFP members have shown their support of family medicine with generous donations to the Family Health Foundation of Missouri or MAFP PAC. Many thanks for their commitment to the future of our profession!
Antonette Acosta-Dickson, MD, FAAFP
David Barbe, MD, FAAFP
Holly Benedict, MD
Denise Buck MD, FAAFP
John Burroughs MD, FAAFP
Sarah Cole, DO, FAAFP
David Cravens, MD, MSPH
Dawn Davis, MD, FAAFP
Arthur Freeland, MD, FAAFP
Laura Glueck, DO
Susan Graves, MD, FAAFP
Arihant Jain, MD, FAAFP
Justin Lawing, DO
Kate Lichtenberg, DO, FAAFP
Natalie Long, MD
Karstan Luchini, DO, MS
Robert Martin, MD
David Meece, MD
Darryl Nelson, MD, FAAFP
David Pulliam, DO, FAAFP
Beth Rosemergey, DO, FAAFP
Robert Schneider, DO, FAAFP
Todd Shaffer, MD, FAAFP
Jamie Ulbrich, MD, FAAFP
Lauren Wilfling, DO
Ngozidilenna Wilkins, MD, FAAFP, MPH
Noah Brown, MD
Mikala Cessac, Student
Greg Dean, MD
Julia Flax, MD, FAAFP
Brad Garstang, MD
Rachel Hailey, MD, FAAFP
Eric Lesh, DO
Kara Mayes, MD, FAAFP
Lisa Mayes, DO
Keith Ratcliff, MD, FAAFP
Amanda Shipp, MD
Shari Thompson, MD
Kristin Weidle, MD
Haley Wolf, MD
More support = more impact.
Scan here to join these leaders in their support of family physicians!
on Your Membership Milestone
anniversaries in 2024.
25Years
John Abraham, MD, Springfield, MO
Alicia Albers, MD, Sedalia, MO
Ann Blackman, MD, Osage Beach, MO
Jennifer Bowe, MD, Laredo, MO
Pamela Davis, DO, Grain Valley, MO
Jack Dodson, MD, Jefferson City, MO
Derek Fickenscher, MD, Parkville, MO
Kandice Fleming, MD, Raymore, MO
Denise Freidel, DO, Centralia, MO
Paul Ganninger, MD, Chesterfield, MO
James Grimes, MD, Washington, MO
Erick Guerra, MD, Lees Summit, MO
Nicolle Gunter, MD, Leawood, KS
Stephanie Haupt, MD, Kansas City, MO
Allison Heider, MD, MPH, Monett, MO
Lyndon Hohenkirk, MD, Saint Louis, MO
Susan John, MD, Columbia, MO
Wan-In Koo, DO, Creve Coeur, MO
Peter Lamble, MD, Eureka, MO
Brian Neely, MD, FAAFP, Ozark, MO
Mark Pelikan, DO, Des Peres , MO
Shawnie Replogle, MD, Marshfield, MO
Chan Reyes, MD, Springfield, MO
Juris Simanis, MD, MPH, MSPH, FAAFP, Bolivar, MO
Jason Snowden, MD, Warrensburg, MO
Kristin Weidle, MD, Washington, MO
30 Years
Elizabeth Ballard, MD, Branson West, MO
Jane Bell, MD, Gallatin, MO
Kent Bogner, DO, Pleasant Hill, MO
Mona Brownfield, MD, Boonville, MO
William Bryant, MD, FAAFP, Sikeston, MO
Brigitte Cormier, DO, Kahoka, MO
Steven Douglas II, MD, East Prairie, MO
Bridget Early, MD, Columbia, MO
Randy Foster, DO, Moberly, MO
Josephine Glaser, MD, FAAFP, Saint Louis, MO
Hudda Hantush, MD, Saint Louis, MO
Mary Hastings, MD, Chesterfield, MO
Michael Hemmersmeier, DO, O Fallon, MO
Anne Hibbard, MD, Saint Peters, MO
Kimberly Johnson, MD, Rolla, MO
Sabrina Jordan-Childs, MD, FAAFP, Florissant, MO
Anthony Keele, MD, Cape Girardeau, MO
William Kelly, MD, Republic, MO
Krista Koinzan Boyd, DO, Rogersville, MO
Lori MacPherson, MD, Mountain Grove, MO
Eric Mai, MD, Saint Louis, MO
Lewis Meyerson, MD, O Fallon, MO
Peter Montgomery, MD, Lake Saint Louis, MO
Victor Pace, MD, FAAFP, Millstadt, IL
Sean Pfeffer, MD, Joplin, MO
Katrina Powers, MD, Blue Springs, MO
Rustico Ramos Jr, MD, Farmington, MO
Erika Ringdahl, MD, Columbia, MO
Samantha Sattler, MD, Saint Peters, MO
Mark Schabbing, MD, FAAFP, Perryville, MO
Matthew Schumer, MD, Cape Girardeau, MO
Sanjay Sharma, DO, Saint Louis, MO
Drew Shoemaker, MD, Springfield, MO
Stephen Terrill, MD, Memphis, MO
Henry Tiemann, MD, Shawnee, KS
35 Years
Debra Ahern, DO, FAAFP, Smithville, MO
Lisa Burns, MD, Town And Country, MO
Steven Eldenburg, DO, FAAFP, Sedalia, MO
Ronald Evans, MD, Bolivar, MO
Michelle Franey, MD, Grandview, MO
Gregory Goodwin, DO, FAAFP, Rogersville, MO
Tammy Hart, MD, Princeton, MO
Jimmy Heath, MD, East Prairie, MO
Elton Hoerning, MD, Mountain Grove, MO
Laura Holmes, MD, FAAFP, Cape Girardeau, MO
Christopher Kafka, DO, Kansas City, MO
Nina Kiekhaefer, MD, Jefferson City, MO
John Lautenschlager, MD, Florence, OR
David Mehr, MD, Columbia, MO
Marsha Mertens, MD, Imperial, MO
David Miller, MD, FAAFP, Wildwood, MO
LaVert Morrow, MD, FAAFP, Saint Louis, MO
Kenneth Phillips Jr, MD, Cape Girardeau, MO
Leslie Robins, DO, FAAFP, Saint Charles, MO
Beth Rosemergey, DO, FAAFP, Lees Summit, MO
Steve Taylor, MD, Mexico, MO
Immanuel Uketui, MD, FAAFP, Saint Joseph, MO
Russell Won, MD, Saint Louis, MO
40
Years
Phillip Asaro, MD, Saint Peters, MO
Clifford Costley, MD, FAAFP, Springfield, MO
Peter Danis, MD, FAAFP, Saint Louis, MO
Darwin Davis Jr, MD, FAAFP, Ellsinore, MO
Edward DuMontier, MD, Springfield, MO
Loretta Feeler, DO, Tebbetts, MO
Robert Frederickson, MD, Sedalia, MO
Deborah Herrmann, MD, Marshall, MO
Michael Houser, MD, Saint Charles, MO
Stanley Jones, MD, FAAFP, Sikeston, MO
Michael LeFevre, MD, Columbia, MO
James Lukavsky, MD, FAAFP, Branson, MO
Harold Maxey, MD, FAAFP, Joplin, MO
William McCarthy, MD, FAAFP, Kearney, MO
Howard Pickett, MD, FAAFP, Excelsior Springs, MO
Robert Sawicki, MD, FAAFP, Lake Saint Louis, MO
Ann Schumacher, MD, Chesterfield, MO
John Stanley, MD, Kansas City, MO
Michael Steenbergen, MD, Jefferson City, MO
Janet Theby, MD, Jefferson City, MO
David Voran, MD, Leawood, KS
Steven Zweig, MD, Columbia, MO
45 Years
David Campbell, MD, MEd, FAAFP, Fenton, MO
Jerald Chaffin, MD, FAAFP, Branson, MO
James Conant, MD, FAAFP, Saint Joseph, MO
Wendell Elliott, MD, Poplar Bluff, MO
Roy Gillispie, MD, FAAFP, Kimberling City, MO
R Griffith, MD, FAAFP, Lees Summit, MO
Rashid Hamid MD, FAAFP, Kansas City, MO
Douglas Kenney, MD, FAAFP, Clinton, MO
Hsien-Ell Lai, MD, FAAFP, Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Carl Ledbetter, DO, Kearney, MO
John O’Connor, MD, FAAFP, O’Fallon, MO
Ronald Phillips, MD, FAAFP, Kirksville, MO
George Prica, MD, Columbia, MO
Kevin Smith, MD, Chesterfield, MO
50 Years
Arnold Brody, MD, FAAFP, Evanston, IL
David Brunworth, MD, FAAFP, Washington, MO
George Klingner Jr, MD, FAAFP, Springfield, MO
Alejandro Ojascastro, MD, FAAFP, Saint Louis, MO
Jimmy Presley, MD, Bolivar, MO
Kenneth Scott, MD, FAAFP, Clinton, MO
55 Years
Bartolome Kairuz, MD, FAAFP, Saint Louis, MO
60Years
Wilbur Dabbs MD, Neosho, MO
L. Silvers, MD, FAAFP, Lees Summit, MO
Tobacco Prevention
Every child deserves to live in a safe, healthy community where they can grow up to lead productive lives free of nicotine addiction.
Youth tobacco use is on the rise.
1 in 4 Missouri high school students used any tobacco product, while 1 in 5 used e-cigarettes.6
9 in 10 people who use tobacco products daily started before age 18.2
23 tobacco stores for every 1 McDonald’s in Missouri27
& COST
2x Tobacco use costs Missourians. Why do youth use tobacco? more people die from smoking than car crashes, illegal drugs, alcohol, accidental poisonings, guns, murders and suicides combined.56
Flavored and packaged like candy
1 in 4
Missouri youth who used e-cigarettes said they bought them from a store33
Missouri does not require licensing that would hold tobacco stores accountable29,30,31
E-cigarette Industry sold 25% more flavored disposable products youth like12
Tobacco Industry spends nearly $1 million every day on marketing in Missouri22 One e-cigarette may have the same amount of nicotine as 590 cigarettes35, 36, 37
Missouri has the lowest tobacco tax in the U.S. at 17₵ per cigarette pack, and no tax for e-cigarettes15, 16, 17
Nearly 2 in 3 public schools are within a 5-minute walk of a tobacco retailer27
Affordable
E-cigarette Industry uses tactics that target and hook a new generation to nicotine for a lifetime of profits74-78, 83
3 in 4
middle and high school youth saw tobacco ads or promotions
Government spending on smoking costs every Missouri family $1,203 in taxes.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Miller Named Missouri Rural Champion
MAFP Board Member, Dr. Barbara Miller has been named “Missouri Rural Champion” by the Missouri Office of Rural Health and Primary Care.
Dr. Miller, who is a Freeman family practice physician based in Neosho, was named the 2024 Rural Health Champion in late October. On November 21st, she was honored at the Fourth Annual Rural Health Day Celebration in Jefferson City. She joins just three other men and women from around Missouri who have made “significant contributions to improving the health and wellbeing of people in rural areas,” according to state officials.
Dr. Miller said she felt both surprise and pride when she first learned the news.
“In my first 11 years in family medicine, I served a tiny town in rural northwest Oklahoma (Shattuck). That community formed me as a community physician; they helped raise my children, we shared joys and sorrows. I learned to appreciate the rhythms of the wheat harvest and high school football championships. Making the decision to leave was extremely difficult, and I promised them and myself that I would train physicians who would go back there to serve, or at least to communities like that one. To me, this award means that I am moving toward keeping that promise.”
Congratulations, Dr. Miller!
Wilkins Appointed to FamMedPAC Advisory Board
Ngozi Ada Wilkins, MD, MPH, was recently appointed to a position on the FamMedPAC Advisory Board. Her two-year role officially commenced on January 1, 2025.
FamMedPAC was established in 2005 to enable the AAFP to have critical access points to lawmakers in Washington to shape policy priorities affecting family medicine. Since its inception, FamMedPAC has been instrumental in establishing the AAFP as a bipartisan voice on pressing challenges facing the practice of family medicine and our nation’s primary care health care system.
Congratulations on your new role, Dr. Wilkins!
Residency Approved to Open Rural Track Program
University of Missouri Kansas City Family Medicine Residency was recently approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to open a Rural Track Program (RTP).
The RTP will be a 1+2 structure with 2 residents per year spending their intern year in Kansas City and then their second and third years of residency at the rural site in Maryville, Missouri. The first residents in the RTP are planned to begin in July 2025.
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Swofford Receives Highest Teaching Award for MU SOM
Sarah Swofford, MD, MSPH, a professor in the Dept. of Family & Community Medicine Residency at the University of Missouri, received the Jane Hickman Teaching Award.
The Jane Hickman Teaching Award is historically the highest recognition of excellence in medical student teaching at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine.
Congratulations, Dr. Swofford!
Moore Represents Affinia at APPNA St. Louis Gala
In October, Catherine Moore DO, FAAFP, represented Affinia at the American Pakistani Physicians of North America STL chapter gala at the St. Charles convention center. This was at the invitation of Dr. Reema Syed, MD, who is a rheumatologist at WashU and is APPNA’s president elect.
Earlier this year, Affinia held an event to raise funds and awareness for colon cancer screening, and at the event, they were awarded the $1000 that they raised!
Flax Appointed to AAFP Commission
Julia Flax, MD, FAAFP, has been appointed to the Commission on Health of the Public and Science (CHoPS). She will serve a two year term which began in December 2024 and will end in December 2026.
CHPS members are often chosen to serve as AAFP representatives on national panels and programs external to AAFP that guide the development of health policies that define standards of care in practice. These national-level efforts have far-reaching implications as the clinical evidence helps define both quality performance metrics for practices and payment for evidence-based care.
