The MAFP continues to be amazed at all that family physicians do every day. We are especially grateful for those who support the MAFP on top of everything else they do.

As we celebrate this season of gratitude, we hope you and your loved ones enjoy some time reflecting on all we have to be thankful for because we are are truly thankful for you!

The new edition of The Mississippi Family Physician is headed to print! Keep an eye out for its arrival to mailboxes soon!

Volume 58 highlights chapter news and family medicine updates from Fall 2024 through Fall 2025.

A special thanks to Dr. Stanley Hartness for his editorial assistance with this issue.

Have a story idea for the next issue? Send submissions to Blake Butler at publicawareness@msafp.org

Sam Ogunbode To Serve As AAFP FMIG Network Regional Coordinator

We want to congratulate William Carey Universtiy Colleage of Osteopathic Medicine Student Sam Ogunbode on his appointment to serve as an AAFP Family Medicine Interest Group Network Regional Coordinator.

Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) Network Regional Coordinators play a crucial role in facilitating collaboration and connections between students and local FMIGs. Regional coordinators communicate with FMIG leaders at each medical school in their respective region, serve as a resource for information about the AAFP, and assist with FMIG programming.

Sam completed his Associate of Science degree at South Suburban College & his Bachelor of Science degree at Northern Illinois University. Sam is currently in his third year at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

MAFP Gains 65 New Student Members at Residency Fairs

Recently, MAFP attended two residency fairs for medical students in Mississippi. William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine held their statewide Residency Fair and the University of Mississippi Medicial Center held their GME Recruitment Fair.

MAFP Public Awareness Director Blake Butler and MAFP Foundation and Workforce Director Beth Wilson attended the WCUCOM Residency Fair where they met with students interested in Family Medicine. Beth and Blake shared information about the Academy, student involvement with MAFP and the Tar Wars Program, and encouraged attendees to sign up as student members.

WCUCOM Students signing up as members and learning about our Tar Wars Program!

MAFP Foundation and Workforce Director Beth Wilson participated in UMMC's GME Recruitment Fair. This year's them was the "Wide Wide World of Family Medicine", where students had the opportunity to learn about the different aspects of family medicine including research/QI, community engagement, wellness/resiliency, residency and fellowships, student interest group and MAFP.

All 65 students who decided to sign up as members at each event were entered into a drawing for MAFP Swag! Pictured here is one of the student winners!

Don't Forget! Renew Your Membership Today For A Chance To Be Entered Into Our Giveaway!

The AAFP and MAFP exists to protect and promote family medicine and family physicians—a responsibility we take very seriously. Our work is bolstered by the strength of our membership, which is why we value you as a family physician and as a member.   

 It’s time to renew for 2026. By renewing, you’ll not only keep us working together, but also continue to enjoy benefits, such as: 

• Free, all-access digital subscription to American Family Physician journal 
• Family Medicine Compensation & Career Satisfaction Benchmark Dashboard, filled with family physician-specific data (Be sure to help update local data by taking the 2025 survey if you haven’t already!) 
• Advocacy Ambassadors program, offering free advocacy training courses to add your voice to both local and federal efforts  
• Evidence-based education, tailored to your specialty through your chapter and a variety of methods on the AAFP website  

We will draw our winner for a FREE Annual Assembly Registration ($475 Value) on Monday!

Some Good News For Primary Care:

The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

If you have been following health care news lately, you may have heard about something called the Medicare physician fee schedule. While it might sound technical—and, truth be told, it is—it could not be more important to you as a family physician, whether you are running your own practice or working for a practice. 

The Medicare physician fee schedule is how the federal government determines how much physicians are paid for the care they provide to patients covered by Medicare Part B. Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updates this schedule, which affects millions of patients and the physicians who care for them.

While that might sound like an issue only for Medicare patients, the impact reaches much further. Payment rates set by Medicare set the trend for what other insurers, such as Tricare, Medicaid and private health plans, end up paying you for providing care. That means the Medicare fee schedule plays a central role in shaping the entire health care system, from your local clinic to hospitals nationwide.

Read why The 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule brings good news here.