Advocacy

Read the latest from The Clay Firm

Mississippi lawmakers reached another key deadline last week as committees considered bills from the opposite chamber. Many measures failed to make it through, with the House killing 127 Senate bills and the Senate killing 121 House bills—including several major pieces of legislation.

Another key legislative deadline passed this week. Wednesday marked the cutoff for floor action on general bills and constitutional amendments from the opposite chamber. Some measures have now passed both the House and Senate and are headed to the Governor’s desk, while others will move to conference committees to resolve differences before a final vote.

MAFP Members Serve As Doctor of the Day At State Capitol

Senator Joseph Thomas

Dr. Scott Hambleton

Medical Student Gray Grunsky

Dr. Emily Landrum

Senator Angela Turner Ford

Dr.Carlos Latorre

Senator Briggs Hopson

Medical Student Mason Nordurft

Dr. Mitchell Craig Moffett

Senator Bart Williams

Professional Development

Register now for the MAFP Spring Conference scheduled for April 17 – 19 at the Sheraton Refuge in Flowood. This conference offers a broad spectrum of topics of clinical interest to family physicians. Designed to maximize both continuing medical education and networking opportunities, attendees may earn live CME credits over the weekend. 

Is your clinic recruiting? Attend the MAFP Spring Conference and meet your next partner! 

Topics & Workshops

• Dermatology Update: Psoriasis, Atopic Dermatitis, and Skin Cancer
• Depression in the Exam Room: Practical Strategies for Busy Physicians
• MS Primary Care Update
• Mind the Gap: Improving Diagnosis and Timely Treatment of sHTG and FCS in Primary Care Setting
• Review of Hormonal Replacement Therapy
• Real Intelligence vs. AI: How They

Co-Exist

• One Specialty, Many Stages: A Family Medicine Roundtable
• Splinting & Suturing

Speaker Spotlight: Dr. Molly Clark

Topic: Depression in the Exam Room: Practical Strategies for Busy Physicians

Dr. Clark is a tenured Professor and Associate Program Director in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, with a faculty appointment in the Department of Human Behavior and Psychiatry. She earned her doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi, completed her residency at the University of Missouri–Columbia, and a fellowship in health psychology at UMMC.

Board certified in Clinical Health Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), she trains family medicine residents to care for patients using a biopsychosocial, interdisciplinary approach. Her scholarly work focuses on depression and pain management in primary care. She serves as Credentialing Coordinator for the Mississippi Board of Psychology, Vice Chair of the Council of Academic Family Medicine, and President-Elect of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.

Learning Objectives:

•Recognize key clinical signs of depression commonly encountered in primary care settings and differentiate them from other medical or psychosocial conditions.

•Apply efficient, evidence based screening tools (such as the PHQ 2 and PHQ 9) during routine visits to improve early identification of depression without disrupting clinic workflow.

•Implement practical, time sensitive management strategies—including brief interventions, safety assessment, and referral pathways—to support patients with depression within the constraints of a busy clinical schedule.

Spring Conference

Hotel Accommodations

The Sheraton Flowood Refuge Hotel

2200 Refuge Blvd

Flowood, MS 39232

Rates are $179 plus tax per night. Room block expires Sunday, March 27.

Is 2026 Your Re-Election Year?

If this is your year for CME re-election, the MAFP is here to help! All Active members are required to report 150 CME credits over a 3-year lookback period.

75 must be Prescribed credits, and the rest may be from Live, Elective, Prescribed, or other categories.



Remember, you can report the following:

• Teaching of any health professionals – even your office staff! Claim up to 60 credits!
• Any life support courses: ACLS, ATLS, BLS, etc.
• Claim up to 25 Professional Enrichment credits for attending any medical meeting: medical staff meetings, hospital/clinic meetings, etc.

For more descriptions on what you can report for CME, visit www.aafp.org/cme.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the MAFP office at 601-853-3302 or publicawareness@msafp.org. We will be happy to assist you in submitting your CME credits to the AAFP.

Join Us for More CME!

Sandestin Room Block Is Open



The room block is now open for MAFP's 77th Annual Scientific Assembly, scheduled for July 18-22, 2026, at Sandestin Resort in Sandestin, Florida!

We opened the room block this week to our exhibitors so make sure you reserve your room today and secure the spot you want! Reserve your room by clicking the button below or to call directly:



Sandestin Group Reservations

1-800-320-8115

Group Code: 2562NB

Mark Your Calendars for Fall in Point Clear, AL!

MAFP Fall Conference 2026 will be held October 30 through November 1 at The Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Point Clear, AL.

Rooms for this CME Conference will open soon.

Hot Take and Flashbacks of Menopause



In this episode of CME On the Go, our hosts revisit menopause through a case of a 51-year-old with seven months of amenorrhea, vasomotor and cognitive symptoms, and osteopenia-range DEXA findings, highlighting that she is perimenopausal. They note the limited role of FSH/LH testing and the need to rule out other causes. The episode focuses on systemic hormone therapy, recommending 17β-estradiol with progesterone for patients with an intact uterus, favoring transdermal routes for lower risk, gradual dose titration, shared decision making, and supportive lifestyle measures. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Learn how to select proper dosing and route of administration for estrogen replacement therapy including initiation, adjustments through monitoring, and discontinuation. 
2. Discuss non-medicinal strategies for healthy aging in the menopausal woman including issues around sleep management, general cardiovascular fitness, and dementia. 

Workforce

Residents and Students: Join Us At Spring Fling!

Join us on Saturday, April 18, 2026 for the 2026 MAFP Spring Fling — created just for you!

This exciting event is your chance to connect with fellow students, residents, and practicing physicians while gaining exposure to dynamic speakers, engaging topics, and hands-on procedural skills you may not experience during training. Plus, enjoy joint sessions with active physicians and start building relationships that can shape your future career in family medicine. The best part? There is no cost to attend!

Topics and Workshops

• Interview Techniques
• Rise Through Residency: Building Strength, Skill, and Self-Compassion
• Financial Wellness For Your Future
• Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My First Job After Residency Panel
• Why I Chose Family Medicine Panel
• Suturing Workshop
• Splinting and Casting Workshop
• Board Elections
• Research Poster Presentations

Run for Resident & Student Board At Spring Fling

Public Awareness

MAFP Members Chosen As Chief Residents

University of Mississippi Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Recently named their 2026-2027 Chief Residents. Congratulations to Drs. Charles Adedara and Rachel Royston!

Charles A. Adedara, MD

Hometown: Newark, NJ

Undergrad School: Arcardia University

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine

Rachel Royston, MD

Hometown: Hernando, MS

Undergrad School: Mississippi State University

Medical School: University of Mississippi School of Medicine

Order Some MAFP Swag!

Fresh season, fresh swag! Grab your MAFP logo apparel at a special spring cleaning price:

T-Shirts – $15 (regularly $20)

Sweatshirts – $30 (regularly $35)

Shipping: $7.50

OR FREE Pick-Up at our Spring Conference!