MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS

Newsletter - December 6, 2024

Calling All MAFP Members: Academy Advocacy Webinar & Capitol Day 2025

To encourage our members to participate in the MAFP Capitol Day scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians invites members to participate in one of two of our virtual Academy Advocacy Webinars on Wednesday, January 29th or Friday, January 31st, 12-12:30pm. Our MAFP Advocacy Director, Hope Ladner, will share the importance of advocacy at the state level and will have time for Q&A at the end.


Why You Should Participate


These events are essential opportunities for members to strengthen advocacy skills, engage with legislative leaders, and make a collective impact on healthcare issues affecting family medicine and our patients in Mississippi.


Early registration is highly encouraged as space is limited.


Event Details


Academy Advocacy Webinars:

To better accommodate potential attendees, we are offering two dates for this webinar. Please register for the one that works best for you.


The session will cover the following topics:

  • Understand the importance of advocacy.
  • Tips on how to be an effective advocate.
  • Gain insights on legislative issues effecting your patients and your specialty.
  • What to expect at the MAFP Primary Care Day on February 4th.


Wednesday, January 29th

12-12:30pm


Friday, January 31st

12-12:30pm


Register for Academy Advocacy Webinar

MAFP and the American Academy of Pediatrics Mississippi Chapter (Peds) will host Primary Care Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 8am - 2pm. We are excited to combine our efforts with the Peds to bring awareness to family physicians and the work you do.


Mark your calendar for the morning of February 4 and plan to wear your white coat to the State Capitol. The morning will be followed by a MAFP members-only luncheon with a guest speaker at Galloway United Methodist Church, which is walking distance from the Capitol.


You can register online for Primary Care Day at the Capitol now. There is no cost, but you must RSVP in advance to let us know you'll attend.

Register for Capitol Day

Dr. Stevens Elected to AAFP Foundation Board!

Congratulations, Dr. Stevens, on your election to the AAFP Foundation Board of Directors!

Webinar Opportunity | December 10:

Introducing Certification 2025: A Webinar to Address ABFM's Switch to a 5-Year Cycle

To meet the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Assessment Standards for Continuing Certification updated on January 1, 2024, the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) will begin the transition to Certification 2025, the new Continuous Certification 5-Year Cycle on January 1, 2025. This webinar will provide insight into this change and what it means for family physician member-diplomates. Join Gary LeRoy, MD, FAAFP, Senior Vice President of Diplomate Experience at the ABFM as he shares more about the recent modifications in certification requirements, examination formats, and continuing medical education (CME) expectations. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how these changes impact their practice and professional development. This webinar is an invaluable opportunity to stay informed and ensure compliance with ABFM standards, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to patients.



Join the session to find out all you need to know about your certification journey and when these changes will impact you.


Learning Objectives:


At the conclusion of this presentation, the learner will be able to:​​​​​​

  1. Develop an understanding of why the ABFM certification is important.
  2. Describe what’s new in the ABFM’s current certification program.
  3. Discuss the recent enhancements to improve the member experience.
  4. Introduce “Certification 2025” and describe how the 5-year cycle will work.
Reserve Your Spot & Register Today

2025 Will Be Here Soon - Report Your CME

Year end is almost here, which means another re-election cycle is coming to an end. As a condition of membership in AAFP/MAFP, active and supporting (FP) members are required to report at least 150 credits of approved CME every three calendar years (75 AAFP Prescribed Credits and 25 Credits from Live Activities).


The AAFP offers 5 convenient ways to report your CME:

  1. Report your CME online. You will need your AAFP username and password to access the secure site.
  2. Fax your completed CME reporting form or certificate of participation to (913) 906-6075.
  3. Call the AAFP Contact Center at (800) 274-2237 (8:00 am–5:30 pm CT).
  4. Mail your completed form to the Contact Center, 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Leawood, KS 66211-2672.
  5. Complete the post-test or quiz from AAFP-produced self-study programs, such as American Family Physician, Family Practice Management, FP Essentials, FP Audio, and CME Bulletin. CME credit is added to your transcript on the date the post-test or quiz is completed.
  6. (To ensure the accuracy of your CME record, please make sure handwritten information is complete and legible.)


If this is your re-election year, and you're curious about how many hours you still need to report, or if you need help with reporting your hours, please reach out to Caley Dawkins at publicawareness@msafp.org.

AAFP's CME Home Page

Advocate for Physician Payment

As we approach the end of the 118th Congress, it’s crucial to advocate for family physicians and the communities that they serve. Here’s how you can make a difference.


Protect Physician Payment

The recently released 2025 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule once again confirms that an annual update to Medicare payment rates is needed to keep pace with inflation. Take action now. Ask your lawmakers to support the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2024 (HR 10073), to ensure that physicians receive an annual inflation-based payment update tied to the Medicare Economic Index.


Address Administrative Burden

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized two important rules to streamline prior authorization processes and improve transparency across payers. Let’s make these changes permanent. Urge your lawmakers to pass the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702 S. 4532) to ensure that these vital reforms are upheld.


Strengthen the Family Physician Workforce

While Congress has reauthorized the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, which increases funding for training primary care physicians, this program is set to expire on Dec. 31. This creates uncertainty for residents and threatens access to care. Act now. Urge Congress to pass legislation that makes a long-term investment in the primary care workforce.


Use the AAFP Speak Out system to contact our Mississippi Congressional delegation: Speak Out: Protect Family Medicine and Strengthen Health Care

Apply to Attend NCCL As A Delegate

Wednesday-Saturday, April 23-26, 2025 Kansas City, MO


What is the NCCL?


The NCCL is the AAFP's leadership development event that empowers a select group of change makers to catalyze positive change in family medicine. NCCL will inspire you to build on your leadership skills and create a lasting impact for current and future generations of family physicians.



NCCL constituencies include:


NCCL constituencies include: women, minorities, new physicians (in the first seven years of practice following residency), international medical graduates (IMG) from schools outside the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and LGBTQ+. The conference offers and opportunity for members to voice their individual and group perspectives.


Are you ready...

to develop skills to advocate for issues that are relevant to your constituency, your practice, your specialty, and your patients?

The MAFP is seeking physicians to represent our chapter and serve as delegates to the AAFP National Conference of Constituency Leaders. You must be a practicing physician or graduating resident to attend.


This is a great opportunity for upcoming leaders who want to get involved in state and national levels, a great opportunity to network with family docs in other states, and a great opportunity to develop resolutions that shape AAFP policies. Delegates will be reimbursed for travel and accommodations for the meeting.



If you are interested in being a delegate for the MAFP in any of the above constituencies, please contact Caley Dawkins at publicawareness@msafp.org.

For More Information

Giving Tuesday - All December Long

We're Celebrating Giving Tuesday ALL DECEMBER LONG!


While deciding where to give this year, we hope that you consider the MAFP Foundation. The MAFP Foundation highlights the importance of family medicine in the state of Mississippi by promoting a better understanding of what family medicine is and what it does.


Donations to the MAFP Foundation directly support the following programs:

  • Tar Wars - Miss Mississippi travels to 20 schools across Mississippi each year to present
  • AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Students and Residents
  • David G. Hall, MD Memorial Scholarships for High School Students - Mr. Ty Albans of Northpoint Christian School was selected as the 2024 recipient of the $1,000 scholarship
  • AAFP Family Medicine Student Externship Program - an 8-week program where three medical students worked closely with the William Carey University Family Medicine Faculty in clinical and research settings
  • MS Rural Physicians Scholarship Program
  • UMMC Family Medicine Interest Group
  • WCUCOM Family Medicine Interest Group
  • Spring Fling Conference for Students and Residents
  • Annual Meeting Ambassadors - sponsored 14 medical students to attend the MAFP Meeting in Sandestin to meet and connect with physicians throughout the state and allowed for opportunities to hear speakers on a variety of topics
  • Mississippi Family Medicine Residency Learning Network-created in 2023 to serve as a networking and learning resource hub for the nine residency programs in Mississippi


The MAFP Foundation is committed to promoting the importance of family medicine and creating a healthy Mississippi. We are stronger because of the generous gifts that are given to the Foundation.


Thank you to our 2024 Giving Tuesday Donors:

Rickey Chance, DO

Dustin Gentry, MD

Carlos Latorre, MD

William Loper, MD

Brent Smith, MD

2024 In Memoriam

Dr. Thomas J. Anderson - Laurel

Dr. Ralph Lucius Brock - Flowood

Dr. Irvin Howard Cronin - Brandon

Dr. John Murray Estess - Tupelo

Dr. Ralph M. Fortenberry - Oak Vale

Dr. Robert N. Gilliland - Kosciusko

Dr. Brandley B. Pace - Moticello

Dr. Jerry W. Welch - Ellisville

Dr. Ronnie Earl White - Gaylesville, AL

Give a Gift to The Foundation In Their Name

The MAFP Foundation has available memorial cards appropriate for remembering patients and colleagues who are deceased.


“For years, Beth and I have sent these memorial cards,” said Stanley Hartness, MD, of Jackson, “and patients’ families are uniformly grateful their loved ones were remembered with a gift that supports our specialty which touches lives in such a tangible way.”


A package of ten handsomely-inscribed memorial cards is available with a Foundation contribution of $100. To purchase a pack today, please reach out to Beth Wilson at foundation@msafp.org.

2024 Gifts Given:


From Dr. Joe & Mary Johnston - In Memory Of:

Tommie Lou Cole

Joe Patterson

Mary Elizabeth Holbrook

Dr. Harold Brooks

Ernestine Leggett


From Dr. & Mrs. Luke Lampton - In Memory Of:

McKinley Bruce "Mac" Floyd

Dr. John Estess


From Dr. & Mrs. Stanley Hartness:

Dr. John Estess


From the MAFP Foundation - In Memory Of:

James Douglas "Doug" Gentry

Dr. Ralph Brock

Rep. Andy Stepp

Save These 2025 Dates

Tobacco Free Mississippi