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American Academy of Family Physicians Snapshot
Our mission is simple: Strengthen family physicians and the communities they care for. Built on decades of proven representation, leadership, and advocacy, we support our members and the specialty with high standards and dynamic opportunities.
Be part of Transforming America’s Healthcare
As a member of Team AAFP, you will play an integral role in bringing a wealth of experience and innovation to the mission of transforming America’s healthcare by equipping and educating family physicians.
Be on the leading edge
We are a leader in America’s healthcare industry. As community health needs evolve, we lead the way in ensuring family doctors have what they need to adapt.
The AAFP offers professional opportunities in various areas of expertise or focus, including medical research, journal media, government relations, policy advocacy, population health and education, health equity, marketing and communications, finance/accounting, membership support, and IT, just to name a few.
Be part of Transforming America’s Healthcare
As a member of Team AAFP, you will play an integral role in bringing a wealth of experience and innovation to the mission of transforming America’s healthcare by equipping and educating family physicians.
Be on the leading edge
We are a leader in America’s healthcare industry. As community health needs evolve, we lead the way in ensuring family doctors have what they need to adapt.
The AAFP offers professional opportunities in various areas of expertise or focus, including medical research, journal media, government relations, policy advocacy, population health and education, health equity, marketing and communications, finance/accounting, membership support, and IT, just to name a few.
The American Academy of Family Physicians is the national membership association of family doctors. It is one of the largest national medical organizations, with more than 128,000 members in 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam, as well as internationally.
Until October 3, 1971, it was known as the American Academy of General Practice. The name was changed in order to more accurately reflect the changing nature of primary health care.
The AAFP was founded in 1947 to promote and maintain high quality standards for family doctors who are providing continuing comprehensive health care to the public.
Other major purposes of the AAFP include:
• Providing responsible advocacy for and education of patients and the public in all health-related matters
• Preserving and promoting quality cost-effective health care
• Promoting the science and art of family medicine and ensuring an optimal supply of well-trained family physicians
• Promoting and maintaining high standards among physicians who practice family medicine
• Preserving the right of family physicians to engage in medical and surgical procedures for which they are qualified by training and experience
• Providing advocacy, representation, and leadership for the specialty of family medicine
• Maintaining and providing an organization with high standards to fulfill the above purposes and to represent the needs of its members
The AAFP was instrumental in the establishment of family medicine– a derivative of classical general practice– 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. Examinations have been given annually since 1970, and recertification examinations annually since 1976.
The AAFP is governed by a Congress of Delegates composed of two delegates from each of the 55 constituent chapters, as well as from resident and student groups, new physicians, and member constituencies (women, minorities, international medical graduates, and LGBTQ+). The Congress meets annually, immediately prior to the AAFP Family Medicine Experience (formerly AAFP Assembly), and has sole power to establish policies and define principles. These policies and programs 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 similarly organized.
The AAFP FMX is the AAFP's largest meeting for continuing education, drawing more than 10,000 physicians and visitors.
The AAFP maintains a national headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, located in the Kansas City metropolitant area. The AAFP produces several publications:
• American Family Physician, a clinical journal for physicians in primary care with a circulation of more than 180,000 family and other primary care physicians.
• AAFP News, an all-member news and features publication available online and via email
• FPM, a publication on practice management and socioeconomic issues
Who We Are
AAFP Brand Promise
We are family physicians: the foundation of health care in America. We provide continuing and comprehensive medical care to patients regardless of gender, age, or issue. We are passionate, highly skilled professionals dedicated to serving our patients, their families, and the communities in which we live.
Standing together, we are the American Academy of Family Physicians. We are a membership organization in the purest sense: an association of family physicians led by family physicians. With our colleagues throughout the country, we work to solidify family medicine as the cornerstone of a functioning health care system. We lobby government, negotiate with payers, partner with employers, educate patients, and champion family medicine on the national stage.
Together, we ensure that every family physician is represented, respected, and rewarded.
Who Our Members Are
Members of the AAFP
The American Academy of Family Physicians represents more than 128,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. The AAFP exists to support family physicians so they can spend more time doing what they do best: providing quality, cost-effective patient care. We support family physicians so they can spend more time doing what they do best: providing quality, cost-effective patient care.
Until October 3, 1971, it was known as the American Academy of General Practice. The name was changed in order to more accurately reflect the changing nature of primary health care.
The AAFP was founded in 1947 to promote and maintain high quality standards for family doctors who are providing continuing comprehensive health care to the public.
Other major purposes of the AAFP include:
• Providing responsible advocacy for and education of patients and the public in all health-related matters
• Preserving and promoting quality cost-effective health care
• Promoting the science and art of family medicine and ensuring an optimal supply of well-trained family physicians
• Promoting and maintaining high standards among physicians who practice family medicine
• Preserving the right of family physicians to engage in medical and surgical procedures for which they are qualified by training and experience
• Providing advocacy, representation, and leadership for the specialty of family medicine
• Maintaining and providing an organization with high standards to fulfill the above purposes and to represent the needs of its members
The AAFP was instrumental in the establishment of family medicine– a derivative of classical general practice– 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. Examinations have been given annually since 1970, and recertification examinations annually since 1976.
The AAFP is governed by a Congress of Delegates composed of two delegates from each of the 55 constituent chapters, as well as from resident and student groups, new physicians, and member constituencies (women, minorities, international medical graduates, and LGBTQ+). The Congress meets annually, immediately prior to the AAFP Family Medicine Experience (formerly AAFP Assembly), and has sole power to establish policies and define principles. These policies and programs 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 similarly organized.
The AAFP FMX is the AAFP's largest meeting for continuing education, drawing more than 10,000 physicians and visitors.
The AAFP maintains a national headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, located in the Kansas City metropolitant area. The AAFP produces several publications:
• American Family Physician, a clinical journal for physicians in primary care with a circulation of more than 180,000 family and other primary care physicians.
• AAFP News, an all-member news and features publication available online and via email
• FPM, a publication on practice management and socioeconomic issues
Who We Are
AAFP Brand Promise
We are family physicians: the foundation of health care in America. We provide continuing and comprehensive medical care to patients regardless of gender, age, or issue. We are passionate, highly skilled professionals dedicated to serving our patients, their families, and the communities in which we live.
Standing together, we are the American Academy of Family Physicians. We are a membership organization in the purest sense: an association of family physicians led by family physicians. With our colleagues throughout the country, we work to solidify family medicine as the cornerstone of a functioning health care system. We lobby government, negotiate with payers, partner with employers, educate patients, and champion family medicine on the national stage.
Together, we ensure that every family physician is represented, respected, and rewarded.
Who Our Members Are
Members of the AAFP
The American Academy of Family Physicians represents more than 128,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. The AAFP exists to support family physicians so they can spend more time doing what they do best: providing quality, cost-effective patient care. We support family physicians so they can spend more time doing what they do best: providing quality, cost-effective patient care.
