Today we take time to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States so that we may live in freedom.

Have you made your plans to attend ?

Registration is open for MAFP's 76th Annual Scientific Assembly, scheduled for July 19-23, 2025, at Sandestin Resort in Destin, Florida! We expect more than 140 family physicians to attend and we hope you are one of them! Registration links are below.

As you know, our theme is based on an interest of our current President and Dr. Vanderloo is a fan of LEGOs. The theme for this year’s meeting is "Stronger Together: The Building Blocks of Family Medicine."

CME Topics Include:

• New Drug Update Part One — C. Wayne Weart, PharmD, BCPS, GASHP, FAPha
• New Drug Update Part Two — C. Wayne Weart, PharmD, BCPS, GASHP, FAPha
• Hyperlipidemia — Bruce A. Warden, PharmaD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA, FASPC
• ADHD in Adults: Screening & Diagnosing — John Norton, MD
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus — James R. Gavin III, MD, PhD
• Navigating Gastrointestinal Challenges: Insight into GERD and H. pylori Managment — Jonathan Firnhaber, MD, MAEd, MBA
• Bridging Community: Collaborative Efforts in Early Detection and Intervention for Alzheimer's Disease
• Rethinking Uncomplicated UTIs: A Comprehensive Review of Diagnosis, Management, and Novel and Emerging Treatment Options
• Lifestyle Medicine Overview: The What and The Why
• RSV Primary Care at the Center of RSV Prevention: Community-Focused Strategies to Foster Trust and Vaccine Acceptance
• Obesity in Primary Care — Donna H. Ryan, MD, FTOS
• The Wake-Up Workshop Initiative: Your Practical, Comprehensive Guide to Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• HIV Update
• KSA on Diabetes

Social Events Include:

• Yoga
• MAFP's Family Fun Night Block Party
• Sunrise Devotionals
• Golf Tournament
• Family Crab Hunt
• Loot and Scoot in Exhibit Hall
• Spouse and Kids Bingo
• Raffle Items
• Split the Pot Fundraiser
• 80 Exhibitors

Speaker Spotlight:

Dr. Jonathan Firnhaber

We are happy to introduce Jonathan Firnhaber, MD, MAEd, MBA, as one of our presenters at Annual Scientific Assembly. Dr. Firnhaber's topic, Navigating Gastrointestinal Challenges, will focus on the natural history and burden of GERD and H. pylori infections, testing to support diagnosis of infections, and therapy in patients with non-erosive or erosive GERD who achieve an inadequate response to PPI therapy.

Dr. Firnhaber is originally from the mountains of Colorado and attended the University of Colorado for both undergraduate and medical training. After Family Medicine residency with the Air Force in Fort Worth, Texas, he was stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, for four years. He completed an additional nine years of private practice in Shelby and Chocowinity, North Carolina before joining the faculty of East Carolina University in 2006 as an Assistant Residency Director. Dr. Firnhaber transitioned to the role of Residency Program Director in 2011. He is a tenured Professor and also serves as Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Family Medicine at ECU. Dr. Firnhaber’s clinical interests include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and office-based procedures. Outside of clinic he enjoys hiking, biking, and kayaking and is the proud father of two beautiful girls.

Thank you Dr. Norton!

We had a packed house at our Spring Conference to listen to Dr. Norton present on Navigating Neurology: Movement Disorders Every Family Doctor Should Know. Attendees left the session being able to recognize the various presentations of parkinsonism and generate a differential diagnosis; gaining the knowledge to be aware of the different other forms of movement disorders--such as chorea, dystonia, and tremors; knowing how to recognize the neuro degenerative disorders that affect the basal ganglia and their treatment; and gaining the ability to recognize the presentation of essential tremor, restless leg syndrome, and other periodic movement disorders. Conference after conference, Dr. Norton receives raving reviews for his psychology-based presentations and the way he breaks them down, making them so easy to understand and grasp. We are excited to announce that we will have Dr. Norton joining us again for our Annual Meeting and Fall Conferences! Make plans to attend. 

Annual Meeting | July 19-23, 2025 | Destin, FL

Fall Conference | October 17-19, 2025 | Gulf Shores, AL

Reserve your room for Annual Meeting here.

Congratulations to MAFP Student Board Members Madison Kirkbride and William Windham who recently received the Dr. M. Winter Jackson Medical Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to students who plan to specialize in the general or family practice of medicine and based on academic standing , potential for growth, and development in the chosen field and need.

Pictured L to R: Ms. Amye Haskins, UMMC Family Medicine Education Administrator, Madison Kirkbride, William Windham, and Emily Davis.

We would also like to congratulate another former MAFP Foundation board member, Syed Amanuddin, for being awarded the initial recipient of the Dr. Keith and Mrs. Sara Speed Family Medicine Scholarship. The Dr. Keith and Sara Speed Family Medicine Scholarship was established in 2024 to provide financial assistance to an OMS 4 student who is committed to practice family medicine in Mississippi or the Gulf South. Dr. Keith Speed is the residency director for Southwest Mississippi Family Medicine Residency. Syed is currently studying at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

For any Family Medicine Preceptor working with medical students, please encourage those students to apply to become an Academy Ambassador. As part of the Academy Ambassador program, medical students attend the MAFP Annual Convention in Sandestin, FL, in exchange for their assistance with planning and putting on the event in Destin. MAFP chooses student applicants who are interested in family medicine and pays for their registration, hotel room, and meals for the week.

While working our events, the Academy Ambassadors interact with exhibitors from all over the state, network with practicing physicians and get to a chance to bond with other students in other classes and campuses.

We are now accepting applications for July 2025. A limited number of students are accepted each year, so encourage them to apply today!

The Family Medicine Chapter Alliance Grant Awards Program provides grants of up to $7,000 to AAFP Constituent Chapters and Foundations for projects supporting FMCA priority areas. One such priority is the Student and/or Resident Project, which emphasizes education, research, and humanitarian initiatives for medical students and Family Medicine residents.

The Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians Foundation received $2,100 for its Future Family Doctors: Skills, Training, and Mentorship Project. This project targets medical students and family medicine residents of Mississippi offering interactive presentations, hands-on training, and mentorship to inspire the next generation of Family Medicine professionals.

The FMCA is a collaborative program of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation and the Constituent Chapters and Chapter Foundations of the AAFP. Created in 2006, FMCA was originally called the Family Medicine Philanthropic Consortium (FMPC) until it’s renaming in 2023. In May 2006, the FMCA created a competitive grant program to distribute a portion of Dues Check-Off revenue among the constituent Chapters and Chapter Foundations to support chapter-level philanthropic programs that align with our mutual missions of improving the health of all people.

SILENT AUCTION & RAFFLE DONATIONS: If you have door prizes, bingo prizes, or a raffle item to be given away during the meeting, please contact Beth Wilson at foundation@msafp.org. The raffle item drawings will take place in the exhibit hall, and we ask that your donation value be a $75 minimum.

It's time to nominate a fellow family physician for the MAFP's annual awards, including Family Physician of the Year, Humanitarian Award, Military Award, New Physician of the Year, and the Patterson Award. To nominate a member, please review the criteria for each award and complete the nomination form. The deadline for nominations is June 1 each year. Online Nominating Form - (only takes 2 minutes).

How Blood Biomarker Testing Can Enhance Early Alzheimer’s Detection

Primary care is at the forefront of transforming Alzheimer's detection—offering a more accessible pathway from early diagnosis to treatment. Recent advances in blood-based biomarkers (BBM), also referred to as “plasma biomarkers”, are changing the game.

The AAFP is here is here to support you with expert-driven resources at every step. Gain a deeper understanding of BBMs, learn the latest techniques to discuss Alzheimer's diagnosis with patients and stay informed with the latest guidelines and recommendations for Alzheimer's screening.

The future of Alzheimer’s care is here—unlock the tools you need to enhance your practice now.