MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS

The ACGME program requirements include that Family Medicine Residency programs participate in a learning network. We are proud to announce the MAFP Foundation recently received a grant from the ABFM to assist with the development of a learning network for family medicine residency programs within Mississippi. 

In January, we conducted a needs assessment survey and held our first meeting to look at survey results and

provide feedback on the strengths, weaknesses and potential use for a learning network.  The group met at the conclusion of the MOMA meeting in Biloxi last weekend. 

We are excited about this opportunity and will continue to update our progress.  Our thanks to Foundation President, Melissa Stephens, MD, Molly Clark PhD, and Angie Burks for championing the project with Beth Embry. 

Attendees included: 

Leanne Andrews, R.T. 

Southwest Health Fam Med Residency

McComb

Angie Burks

EC HealthNet Fam Med Residency

Meridian

Richard Calderone, DO, MPH

Forrest General Fam Med Residency

Hattiesburg

Rickey Chance, DO

Memorial Health System Residency

Gulfport

Molly Clark, PhD

UMMC, Dept of FM

Jackson

Lorie Cospelich

Memorial Health System Residency

Gulfport

Helen Lofton

Forrest General Fam Med Residency 

Hattiesburg

Janet Ricks, DO

UMMC Fam Med Residency

Jackson

Alexis Smith, MHA

Office of MS Physician Workforce

Jackson

Melissa Stephens. MD, MS, FAAFP, DABFM

EC Healthnet Fam Med Residency

Meridian

Courtney Watts 

Forrest General Fam Med Residency 

Hattiesburg

Pictured are:

Smith, Watts, Andrews, Ricks, Clark, Chance, Calderone, Burks, Stephens, Cospelich, Lofton

Purpose: The major revisions of residency standards are ambitious and require many major changes for family medicine residency programs. Regional and national residency learning networks/collaboratives can accelerate the diffusion of new changes while building capacity for innovation. The purpose of the Planning Grant is to support the initiation, conception and planning phases leading to the creation of family medicine residency networks that support family medicine GME innovation that advances the outcomes of GME and transformation of clinical practice.

Program Objectives: Planning grants provide resources for eligible organizations to fully assess opportunities to serve as a convener for a family medicine residency network by giving aid to: • Conduct a needs assessment. • Assemble interested individuals, subject matter experts and organizations. • Define scope and context of a project charter to develop a Learning Network/Collaborative. • Consider resources needed and timeline for implementing a residency learning network.

Your MAFP was in North Mississippi this week in Tupelo at the North Mississippi Medical Center Family Medicine Residency delivering the message of the harmful effects of tobacco to our resident members. We love partnering with the Department of Health and the Tobacco Quitline to help our patients quit all forms of tobacco. 

MAFP Outreach Director Sharon Holmes will visit all of our residencies to share the importance of educating patients on tobacco harmful effects.  

Join us Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm Central for a webinar, 2024 Documentation and Coding Update Discussion with Nick Ulmer, MD, CPC FAAFP.

As you know, Dr. Ulmer is a Certified Professional Coder and frequently provides our Academy education in this area. The discussion will be topics such as the “visit complexity” code (G2211), the CMS E&M Updates for 2024 and HCC risk coding updates as well as information related to NPP billing and Telemedicine insights post pandemic. He will also cover hospital-related topics, especially the vast changes related to the “Medicare Advantage Final Rule” released last year (CMS-4201-F)- specifically the “Two Midnight Rule” and medical necessity documentation tips to limit denials. 

The licenses for the session are limited, so registration is required. There is NO COST for this 45 minute session (no CME).

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.

The annual conference is scheduled for April 18 - 20, 2024 in Kansas City, MO. 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? Please contact Beth Embry at beth@msafp.org if you are interested in being a representative for the MAFP in any of the above constituencies.

MAFP Capitol Day Set for

Tuesday, February 6!

Next week we will bring our Bling Bling to the Capitol as we begin our 75th Diamond Legacy Celebration at our Capitol Day on February 6.  We have a great group advocating for each of our members, our patients and our specialty. Our thanks to Aledade for helping sponsor our event.

MAFP and the American Academy of Pediatrics Mississippi Chapter (Peds) will host Primary Care Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, from 8 am - 1 pm. We are excited to combine our efforts with the Peds to bring awareness to primary care doctors and the work you do.

Know a High School Senior?

We've Got a Scholarship Available!

High school seniors are eligible to apply for the $1,000 David G. Hall, MD Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by the MAFP Foundation.

To apply, students must write a 500-word essay and send it in along with an application and transcript by the deadline of February 25, 2024. Winners will be chosen from qualified applicants and notified by May 1.

Essays must be titled "The Family Physician: Providing Your Medical Home" and the essay should describe the impact of a family physician in your life or the life of your family and/or the role of the family physician in your community. In what ways do family physicians strengthen the various aspects of the community?

The 2023 Winning Essay was written by Caden Ball of Olive Branch about his grandfather and father and their legacies as family physicians in North Mississippi.