2024-2025
That doesn’t mean that being nice to our patients isn’t important. Of course, we should endeavor to be kind. But if your patient is ill and they can’t get in to see you for three weeks, they will go see the grumpy doctor at the urgent care down the road who can see them today. And competence? Well, patients assume that. They assume the grumpy doctor down the road is at least competent and will prefer that to seeing you in three weeks, even if you are the most clever doc in town. Family Medicine is a relationship-based specialty. We aim to have strong therapeutic relationships with our patients. There are numerous ways to build that: being a good listener, making patients feel heard, being amiable, helping them feel better. At the end of the day though, nothing fosters loyalty and trust like just being available when your patient needs you. In my office, the patients generally schedule their own appointments through our portal because they can.
NCAFP Board of Directors Executive Officers President
S. Mark McNeill, MD, FAAFP
President-Elect
Benjamin F. Simmons, MD, FAAFP
Secretary/Treasurer
Deanna M. Didiano, DO
Immediate Past President Garett R. Franklin, MD, FAAFP Executive Vice President Gregory K. Griggs, MPA, CAE
At-Large Directors D. Landon Allen, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP Stacey A. Blyth, MD Joshua T. Carpenter, MD Lisa A. Cassidy-Vu, MD, FAAFP Kelley V. Lawrence, MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAFP Amanda R. Steventon, MD, FAAFP Patrick S. Williams, MD, FAAFP Courtland D. Winborne, MD
Academic Position R. Aaron Lambert, MD, FAAFP
Resident Director Stephanie P. Wilcher, MD, MPH
Resident Director-Elect Irina Balan, MD
Student Director
A few weeks ago, a long-standing patient came to see me the same day he needed to, with complaints of abdominal pain and hematuria. After an exam, labs, and some stat imaging, we confirmed the presence of a kidney stone. We got him feeling better quickly and kept him out of the emergency department. He thanked me profusely for “working him in that day.” I acknowledged his thanks and told him, "I'm always happy to be available.” But I still found his comment odd, given that he had scheduled the appointment himself on a slot that was otherwise going unused. I had not taken any special action on his behalf. All I had done was just set up a system 13 years ago that made it easier for him to serve himself. In his mind, however, I had been available when he really needed me, and that was something special. This phrasing, “thank you for working me in,” was not unique to him. Countless patients have said it over the years. Patients have unfortunately become so accustomed to struggling to see their family doctor urgently that when it happens, it feels like a special event and "thank you for working me in" ends up being their phrase of gratitude. Continues on next page
Summer 2025
Nicholas Wells
Student Director-Elect Ryan Taylor
AAFP Delegates & Alternates AAFP Delegate AAFP Delegate AAFP Alternate AAFP Alternate
Tamieka Howell, MD, FAAFP Rich Lord, MD, MA, FAAFP Rhett Brown, MD, FAAFP Thomas R. White, MD
NCAFP Committee Chairs Workforce Committee
Jay Patel, MD, MPH
Advocacy Committee
Deanna M. Didiano, DO
Practice Environment & Profesional Development Committee Academic Department Chairs
Nichole Johnson MD, MPH, FAAFP Margaret Helton, MD, FAAFP
NCAFP Foundation President Maureen Murphy, MD. FAAFP
2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 120, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607 www.ncafp.com
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