| American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) | |
| Abbreviation: | AAFP |
| Founders: | --> |
| Defunct: | --> |
| Type: | Professional association |
| Vat Id: | (for European organizations) --> |
| Focus: | --> |
| Headquarters: | Leawood, Kansas |
| Location Country: | United States |
| Area Served: | or |
| Region: | --> |
| Product: | --> |
| Method: | --> |
| Field: | --> |
| Membership: | 136,700 |
| Leader Title: | CEO and Executive Vice President |
| Leader Name: | R. Shawn Martin[1] |
| Key People: |
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| Staff: | 415 |
| Formerly: | American Academy of General Practice |
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) was founded in 1947 to promote and maintain high-quality standards for family medicine, an offshoot of the classical general practitioner. It is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas.
AAFP is one of the largest medical organizations in the United States, with 136,700 members in 50 U.S. states and territories, in addition to international members. The AAFP was instrumental in establishing family medicine as medicine's 20th primary specialty. The AMA's Council on Medical Education and the independent American Board of Medical Specialties granted approval to a certifying board in family medicine on February 8, 1969.
The AAFP was founded in 1947 as the American Academy of General Practice. The organization's name was changed on October 3, 1971, to "more accurately reflect the changing nature of primary health care".[2]
The mission of the AAFP is to improve the health of patients, families and communities by serving the needs of members with professionalism and creativity.[3]
To fulfill its mission, the AAFP's strategic objectives include:
The AAFP also provides patients with free educational resources on its consumer health site.[4]
The AAFP is governed by a Congress of Delegates composed of two delegates from each of its 55 constituent chapters, as well as from resident and student groups, new physicians, and the special constituencies (women, minorities, international medical graduates, and LGBTQs). The Congress meets annually immediately prior to the Academy's Family Medicine Experience (FMX) event (formerly known as Scientific Assembly) and has sole power to establish policies and define principles. These policies are carried out between annual meetings by the Board of Directors and a number of standing and special commissions and committees. Delegates to the Congress of Delegates elect the Board, which in turn appoints commission and committee members. Constituent chapters are organized similarly.[5]