One month until Spring Conference—have you registered yet?!

MAFP’s Spring Conference is the perfect blend of learning and networking! Spend Saturday diving into engaging CME sessions and exploring exhibits. Then, wrap up the weekend with a Sunday morning of informative CME before heading out around lunchtime. Plus, residents and students won’t want to miss the MAFPF Spring Fling—an exciting event held alongside the conference!

Early-bird pricing and discounted room block end March 23rd! Make sure to register and reserve your room in the next 10 days to lock in those discounts!

Dr. Keisha Harvey-Mansfield will join us to present "Overcoming Obesity: A PCP's Guide to Comprehensive Obesity Care". At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

•  Integrate evidence-based approaches to diagnose, manage, and treat obesity, including in patients with concurrent comorbidities.
• Determine appropriate treatment with consideration on the latest clinical evidence, mechanism of action, side effects, drug administration frequency, and patient-specific factors when developing individualized treatment plans for patients with obesity.
• Employ shared decision-making and multidisciplinary approaches when discussing weight management strategies, including treatment and lifestyle modifications, to support optimal adherence and outcomes for patients with obesity.

Dr. Keisha Harvey-Mansfield is a family medicine physician, obesity medicine expert, lifestyle medicine specialist, and a life coach. She is the founder of Dr. K's Family Medicine in Bogalusa, LA. Bogalusa is a rural area where 37% of individuals have obesity, 49.8% have hypertension, 54.4% have hyperlipidemia, 13% are diabetic, and 29% are smokers. Therefore, she devotes much of her time to educating patients on small lifestyle changes that can lead to longstanding results.

Dr. Harvey-Mansfield completed her medical education at Meharry Medical College. She completed her residency at the LSU Rural Family Medicine program in Bogalusa where she also received awards in compassion and leadership. Shortly after completing her residency, she was compelled to go into private practice because she wanted more autonomy and freedom to practice medicine in an impactful way.

CME TOPICS & SPEAKERS

Recurrent UTI - Update on Diagnoses, Management, and Treatment

Ayesha Khalid, MD

What's New in Cardiology and Stroke Update

Barry Bertolet, MD

Syphilis Update

Jennifer Gholson, MD

Navigating Neurology: Movement Disorders Every Family Doctor Should Know

John Norton, MD

Top Journal Articles in Primary Care

Richard Calderone, DO

Overcoming Obesity: A PCP's Guide to Comprehensive Obesity Care

Keisha Mansfield-Harvey, MD

Resident and Student Research Poster Presentations

Procedural Workshops

Ultrasound

Dr. Ryan Anderson, Director of Ultrasound at WCUCOM, in conjunction with Butterfly, Inc., has developed a revolutionary ultrasound certification platform certifying over 750 medical students and residents on Point-Of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS). He will be hosting two ultrasound workshops at the MAFP Spring Conference, Echocardiogram and Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (eFAST). These ultrasound workshops are not certification workshops, but introductory workshops focusing on proper techniques for accurate bedside diagnosis.

Splinting and Casting

Join us for a hands-on Splinting & Casting Workshop! This interactive session will provide essential training on proper techniques for stabilizing fractures, sprains, and other injuries. Learn from Dr. Jeremy Wells and gain practical skills to enhance your patient's care.

Medical Buzz Session

Last year's roundtable session was such a hit that we are bringing it back this year! If you have a topic that you can lead the discussion on, you can indicate on your registration form or you can email Caley. Last year's topics include:

• Collaboration Tips
• Credentialing Tips
• Documenting
• Rural Medicine
• How to Reduce Risks

Battle of the White Coats Trivia

Saturday evening, after all CME sessions and procedural workshops are over, we invite you to stay for a rooftop dinner and cocktail hour complete with our Battle of the White Coats Trivia Night. Trivia will consist of teams of four, so grab your friends and lock in your team early!

The Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians Foundation is proud to present our 1st Annual Research Poster Contest at our Spring Fling Conference for students and residents. The contest will give attendees a venue to share innovative and effective educational programs and showcase unique community projects. This opportunity stimulates research among medical students and residents and encourages networking with those who share similar interests. Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in both the Family Medicine Resident and Medical Student categories.

Dates to Remember:

March 16, 2025 – Application Deadline

March 31, 2025 – Notification to Applicants

April 12-13, 2025 – Spring Fling

April 13, 2025 – Poster Presentations and Awards

*Awards will be presented on Sunday, April 13, during the MAFP’s Spring Fling Conference at The Sheraton Refuge Hotel, Flowood, MS

Dr. Diane Beebe’s impact on medical education and family medicine is profound and far-reaching. A dedicated leader, mentor, and advocate, she has shaped the future of countless physicians while strengthening primary care in Mississippi and beyond.

A distinguished MAFP member since 1984, Dr. Beebe served as Chair and Professor of the UMMC Department of Family Medicine, as well as Vice Chair and Residency Director, mentoring thousands of medical students as they became compassionate, skilled physicians. Her leadership extended nationally through her role as Chair of the American Board of Family Medicine and as a contributor to major medical publications.

Dr. Beebe’s visionary efforts were instrumental in establishing the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program and the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce, where she served as the first director. Through these initiatives, she played a key role in addressing physician shortages and ensuring access to quality healthcare in rural communities.

Previously honored with an MAFP Resolution of Appreciation for her extraordinary contributions, Dr. Beebe’s commitment to advancing medical education will continue through the endowment she established to support family medicine education for future generations.

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).

The Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (MAFPF) is proud to announce the successful completion of the full Tar Wars contract, marking a significant milestone in tobacco-free education across the state.

Miss Mississippi, Becky Williams, has spent the past several months traveling to 20 schools, reaching thousands of children with one clear and empowering message: You have the power to say no to things that may harm you. You have the power to live a healthy lifestyle. You are in control of you.

Williams’ dedication to the Tar Wars program has not only made a lasting impact on the students she encountered but has also shaped her own journey. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, "Tar Wars and MAFP have truly changed my life." Her enthusiasm for the program and its mission was evident throughout her travels, as she repeatedly expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you, MAFP, for blessing my life these past few months! I'm excited to see how many more lives we get to change together for the next three!" and "I'm grateful for my partnership with MAFP!"

Tar Wars, a program designed for 4th and 5th grade students, is dedicated to educating children about the dangers of tobacco use, equipping them with tools to make healthy choices, and fostering a sense of personal responsibility for their well-being. The MAFPF serves as the state coordinator for the program, utilizing a community-based approach that engages family physicians, educators, and healthcare professionals in delivering this vital message.

The success of this year’s Tar Wars campaign highlights the power of education and positive mentorship in shaping the future of Mississippi’s youth. With continued dedication and partnerships like that with Miss Mississippi, MAFP remains committed to creating a tobacco-free future for generations to come.

With three months left in the school year, Miss Mississippi hopes to continue reaching more children with the Tar Wars curriculum.

The United States is experiencing a rise in measles cases, with multiple states reporting outbreaks in 2024 and 2025. The CDC has warned that the disease, which had been largely eliminated in the U.S., is resurging due to declining vaccination rates. Texas has been hit particularly hard, with health officials urging families to stay vigilant.

As of now, Mississippi has had no reported cases of measles, thanks in part to the state’s strong childhood immunization requirements. However, with outbreaks spreading in other states, it is crucial for family physicians to remain informed and prepared.

Below, we've included a link to the Mississippi Health Alert Network Advisory on Measles, which provides critical information for healthcare providers. Additionally, we encourage you to read this USA Today article to hear what Texas family physician Dr. Leila Myrick has to say about the ongoing outbreak and the importance of vaccination.



Staying informed and proactive is key to keeping Mississippi measles-free!

The UMMC ACT Center is hosting a Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Training Program on April 7-10, 2025. This nationally accredited program provides healthcare professionals, educators, and researchers with the skills needed to help individuals overcome tobacco dependence.

The training will be held virtually via Webex, making it accessible to participants across the state. Mississippi residents can attend at no cost, while non-residents can register for a fee. Attendees who complete the program will be eligible for certification as a Certified Professional by the American Heart Association (CPAHA) – Tobacco Treatment.

Participants will receive a comprehensive curriculum covering topics such as treatment planning, motivational strategies, pharmacotherapy, and program evaluation. Continuing education credits are also available for various healthcare professionals.

For more details and registration, visit act2quit.org or contact Kelli Olive at kolive2@umc.edu.

The Robert Graham Center, in partnership with Sanofi and the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), is conducting a research project to better understand the barriers to vaccination. This study aims to explore how these challenges vary across different populations and identify potential solutions.

The research team is seeking Mississippi family physicians to participate in one of two ways:

• Interviews: A one-hour Microsoft Teams interview to share insights on vaccination challenges.
• Reviewers: A panel of physicians will review materials developed from the interview data. This review will take approximately one hour and can be completed from anywhere.

Participation is completely voluntary, and you are eligible if you currently provide vaccinations.

If you're interested in learning more or getting involved, please comment here or email Caley Dawkins at publicawareness@msafp.org, and she will connect you with the proper contacts.



Your input can help shape meaningful solutions to improve vaccination rates in Mississippi and beyond!

Detecting Type 1 diabetes early will leave a lasting impact on the lives of your patients. Build on your skills to screen for and monitor Type 1 diabetes to improve health outcomes for those living with the condition in a new episode of the AAFP's Inside Family Medicine podcast.

In this episode with Dr. Sean Oser, get the latest insights on screening and treating type 1 diabetes. Strengthen your clinical approach and help improve quality of life for patients living with this condition. 

The AAFP is here to help you with valuable resources including this podcast episode and a new fact sheet for patients and updated page on FamilyDoctor.org.



Explore the latest valuable clinical resources to immediately implement in your practice.