|
FMEC 2026 Annual Meeting Plenary Speakers Confirmed!
The FMEC has confirmed that the three plenary speakers for the 2026 Annual Meeting will be Dr. Kisha Davis, President Elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians; Dr. Kaitlan Baston, Chief Executive Officer of Vinyl Health and Past Commissioner of Health for the New Jersey Department of Health; and Dr. Mike Varshavski, family physician YouTuber, internet personality, and leader in digital health communication. Watch your FMEC email for a full announcement soon.
| |
Submit Your Poster by July 1
Poster submissions are being accepted through July 1, 2026. Visit FMEC Poster Submission Form for more information and the link to submit.
| | |
Watch for Scams
As usual, FMEC is seeing unauthorized third-party companies contacting our prospective attendees, speakers, and exhibitors, falsely claiming to represent our event or offering "discounted" hotel rates. Please be advised that these groups are not affiliated with FMEC. Do not provide your credit card details or personal information to anyone calling or emailing you. Only book your accommodations directly through our official event registration page, which includes both the link and phone number for our group at Harrah’s.
| |
Highlight Your Health System and Recruit at the 2026 Annual Meeting
Your residency program, hospital and health system can stand out and recruit for open positions at the FMEC Annual Meeting! The meeting is a great opportunity to reach over 1,000 family medicine leaders and learners. Many of the hospitals and health systems in the region use the FMEC meeting to stand out and or/recruit for open positions. You can also sponsor an event or activity, which includes recognition and can include sharing information with attendees via a flyer or ad. Read about all the opportunities in the 2026 Annual Meeting Prospectus.
| | |
Join the FMEC Board of Trustees
The FMEC Board of Trustees is seeking members-at-large. Terms will begin after the FMEC Annual Meeting in September 2026 and run for 3 years, with the potential to serve again or assume an Officer position. Candidates must be in the FMEC region (14 states +DC – see the list on the FMEC website). FMEC membership (either individual membership, or membership via an FMEC Partner organization – see the FMEC Partner list) is encouraged. Active participation in the FMEC via speaking at or helping plan the Annual Meeting, participating in a learning collaborative, or other means will contribute to a strong application. Visit FMEC Board of Trustees for the description of Board duties and instructions on how to apply.
Congratulations Dr. Paladine!
Congratulations to FMEC President-elect Dr. Heather Paladine for receiving the New York State Academy of Family Physicians (NYSAF) Advocacy Ambassador Award! The NYSAFP cited her work on the Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) act and other issues. For more information, visit https://www.nysafp.org/.
| |
Share your news with us! If your institution or one of your faculty or residents recently received an honor, send information to jennifer.stamper@fmec.net
so FMEC can share the news!
| | |
Young Breast Cancer Survivors Didactic Now Available
FMEC has developed a Facilitator Guide, PowerPoint presentation, and participant handouts for its CDC-funded project to support young breast cancer survivors. The Supporting Young Breast Cancer Survivors: A Family Medicine Training didactic is ready for you to present to your residents. This adaptable presentation focuses on young breast cancer survivors (diagnosed before age 45) and centers psychosocial and survivorship needs, not oncology treatment. Resources include interactive case studies, role playing tools, and discussion questions. If you are interested in accessing the materials to present or request a presentation, email Rebecca Bouck at rebecca.bouck@fmec.net.
FMEC Residency Learning Update
In April of 2025, FMEC received a grant from the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Foundation to develop a Residency Learning Network (RLN) for family physicians in the FMEC region. Learn more about FMEC’s efforts in the April 2026 Residency Learning Network Update and on the FMEC’s Residency Learning Network website.
Student Loan Consolidation: What to Know Before You Act
Student loan consolidation is often discussed alongside refinancing, but they are not the same. Consolidation typically keeps your loans within the federal system, while refinancing moves them to a private lender. This may change how your loans are treated moving forward. Refinancing federal loans privately removes access to federal protections like Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) forgiveness and emergency relief options. Many federal borrowers will not need to consolidate and in some cases, it can delay or complicate repayment progress. If you’re considering consolidation or refinancing, it’s important to understand the tradeoffs before making a decision. Our partners at Navigate can model your repayment options across different strategies, helping you make an informed choice based on your full financial picture. Use this special link so Navigate knows we sent you: https://navigate.as.me/FMEC.
| | |
FMEC Coordinator Conference
is June 18, 2026
| | FMEC has scheduled its new Coordinator Conference to be held virtually on June 18, 2026 from 9:30am to 11:30am Eastern. Peer-led sessions will include Competency-Based Education, Navigating SOAP; ACGME Site Visit Success: Tips from a Single-Program Institution Administrator; The Faculty GPS, ERAS changes, and more. Registration is free to any staff at family medicine residency programs or medical schools within the FMEC region. Visit FMEC 2026 Coordinator Conference to register. | | |
Mental health is just as important as physical health – not just for patients but for you, too! Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us to reduce stigma, promote self-care, normalize conversations, and encourage compassion. Mental health is essential to whole-person care this month and every month!
| | |
The Direct Primary Care (DPC) Summit will be held Thursday, July 16 through Sunday, July 19, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in New Orleans, LA. The event is organized into three tracks: 101 Starting a DPC Practice, 201 Growing a Practice, and 301 Clinical Expertise. Scholarships may be available for medical students and residents. Visit https://www.dpcsummit.org/home.html for registration information, the meeting agenda, mentorship opportunities, scholarships and more.
Surviving and Thriving in Residency Podcast
PracticeLink, one of the FMEC’s valued sponsors, offers the Surviving and Thriving in Residency podcast, with new episodes every other Monday. Hosted by Charley Lowry, PracticeLink’s Director of GME & Provider Relations, the podcast includes conversations with medical professionals offering advice, support, and insight for students, residents, and fellows. See Surviving and Thriving in Residency for more information.
Arthritis Care Model Improves Access to Care, Resources
The Arthritis Care Model project is a five-year initiative funded by the CDC and led by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). The project aims to develop and implement an evidence-informed approach for healthcare providers managing arthritis. It establishes a comprehensive model that engages primary care providers in screening, counseling, and referral to a Community Care Hub, which matches them with evidence-based chronic disease programs and resources addressing health-related social needs. Read more about the project’s work in Iowa, where a network of more than 300 community partners helped deliver programs and connect individuals to needed resources, in The HUB: Improving Access to Arthritis Care Across Iowa. The NACDD is interested in working with FMEC to share more about its work and engage primary care in working with Community Care Hubs in the northeast U.S. If you are interested in being involved, contact Scott Allen, FMEC CEO, at scott.allen@fmec.net.
| | FMEC Partnerships and Job Postings | | |
Joining FMEC as an individual or institution gives you discounts! Programs who are FMEC Partners receive $300 discounts on their Residency Fair booths, and individuals who join, or receive complimentary memberships through an FMEC Partner organization, receive $50-75 discounts on registration. Join or renew now so you get your discounts on the 2026 Annual Meeting!
Also, institutions that join at the Silver ($2,500) Partner level and above get access to the FMEC’s Special Edition newsletter to post their job and fellowship openings. That’s one fee for an entire year of posting job ads! Read more about Special Edition and share the information with your recruiting department in this FMEC Special Edition Overview. Job hunting? Check out the March 2026 edition of the FMEC’s Special Edition newsletter.
FMEC can “bundle” your invoices for Partnership dues, Residency Fair booths, and faculty and resident individual registrations. We can also invoice your program at specific times during the year, for instance if it’s easier for you to pay at the beginning of your fiscal year, or you have funds left at the end of the fiscal year to put toward next year. If you would like special handling of your payments to FMEC, contact Shayla Rammel at shayla.rammel@fmec.net.
| | Help Introduce Students
to Family Medicine | | |
Donate Today
The Nik Zervanos, MD, Student Scholarship program has brought nearly 8,000 medical students to FMEC meetings over the last 20 years. Please help continue the great work started by Dr. Zervanos and donate to the Nik Zervanos, MD, Student Scholarship program. Help us bring over 300 students to the 2025 Annual Meeting in Cleveland! Donors (individuals, residency programs, medical staff, etc.) are recognized on the FMEC website and on signs and slides at the meeting.
| | |
A selection of upcoming family medicine and primary care meetings, nationally and in the FMEC region. If you have a meeting to be listed, please email jennifer.stamper@fmec.net.
- June 18 - FMEC Coordinator Conference, Virtual
- Jul. 30 – Aug. 1 - AAFP FUTURE Conference, Kansas City
- Aug. 31 – Sep. 2 – STFM Conference on Practice and Quality Improvement, Palm Desert, CA
-
Sep. 24-26, 2026 – FMEC Annual Meeting, Atlantic City, NJ
- Oct. 20-24– AAFP FMX, Nashville, TN
- Sep. 9-11, 2027 – FMEC Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD
| | | | |
