Newsletter: Sandestin Hotel Rooms Available and More

MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS

Newsletter - February 18, 2022

It's time to reserve your hotel rooms and condos for the MAFP's 2022 Annual Scientific Assembly in Sandestin, FL. The event will be July 16-20 and the room block spans July 15 to July 21. Browse the available rooms and make your reservations online using this link. Make sure you change the dates at the top to your desired arrival and departure dates to see everything available.

Exhibitors and sponsors can browse available rooms using the vendor link.

Some of the larger rooms - Luau 2 BR, Luau 3 BR and Grand Sandestin Complex 3 BR - do not show on the link. You must call Sandestin at 1-800-320-8115 to reserve them.

Talking to MAFP Advocacy Committee Chair Dr. Katie Patterson, Rep. Larry Byrd of Petal wore one of the MAFP's 'I Heart My Hometown Family Physician' buttons.

Senator Brice Wiggins addressed the Primary Care Day luncheon, and afterwards spoke to Dr. Bill Grantham (foreground) and Drs. John Vanderloo, Carlos Latorre and Jennifer Gholson.

Primary Care Day at the Capitol a Success

Family physicians and pediatricians from all over the state participated in a morning of activities highlighting family medicine Feb. 9.

Primary Care Day at the Capitol began with registration in the rotunda at the MAFP booth, where 48 attendees – including 22 residents from 6 family medicine residency programs - were given special buttons to wear and share with their legislator(s). Things kicked off with a Capitol building tour and one attendee said, "Wonderful tour guide for the Capitol! I've seen almost 40 state capitols and ours is among the most beautiful."

MAFP visited with legislators and gave them information about the Academy. After being introduced in the House and Senate galleries, MAFP members then gathered for lunch to hear Senator Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula speak and hear updates on state issues.

When each House convened, MAFP members were recognized and introduced, including Dr. Carlos Latorre, MAFP President, of Vicksburg. “We are glad to have this opportunity to recognize our state legislators for their past support,” Latorre said, “and we’re especially excited to highlight our current efforts to advance family medicine in Mississippi.”

Here are photos of the event. Related organizations also taking part were:

The MAFP Foundation was there to support a Smoke-Free Mississippi along with special guest Miss Mississippi Holly Brand. Brand travels the state on behalf of MAFP Foundation teaching 4^th and 5^th graders about the dangers of tobacco use.
Students from the MS Rural Physician Scholarship Program were there showcasing the program, funded by the Mississippi Legislature since 2007. In 14 years, the program has awarded millions in scholarships to medical students who commit to practicing primary care medicine in Mississippi’s rural communities, after their medical training. Because of the program, there are now more than 60 new primary care physicians working in Mississippi’s neediest areas, and many more in training.
The Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce was on hand to promote their work on the state’s physician workforce development needs. Since its creation in 2012, OMPW has increased the number of first-year residency spots in Mississippi – outside of UMMC – from 12 to 115. OMPW has grown the number of Mississippi residency training sites from 4 to 13 with two more in development.
Pediatrician members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Mississippi Chapter joined in the event along with family physicians.

AAFP Member Directory Now Available

The AAFP has launched a new Member Directory that allows members to search for colleagues based on location, chapter, residency program or medical school, and then invite fellow members to connect with them.

Be aware that privacy controls let members decide what information they want to share, and those who have opted out of AAFP directories or rosters will not appear in the new Member Directory. Because of these privacy settings, you may not be able to find someone you are certain is a member.

MAFP Represented at MOMA

MAFP joined other organizations in the exhibit hall at the Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association (MOMA) Annual Meeting in Biloxi January 28-29. Beth Embry, Executive Director, was on hand to visit with students, physicians and faculty about the MAFP's events and programs. Pictured are William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine students who stopped by the booth.

Academy to Host Family Medicine

Grand Rounds Around the State

The MAFP is offering a new event in 2022 - MAFP Grand Rounds. We are planning evening events to showcase MAFP, our residencies and our rural scholars. We're bringing MAFP to you! These events are for MAFP members to learn more about our Academy and our issues. We look forward to seeing you to hear what's important to you. We will also invite area legislators and community leaders to share with them about our specialty and our Academy.

Our first Grand Rounds event is scheduled for Greenville on February 24. Each member in MAFP District 6 received a personal invitation to attend. Attendees as of 2.18.22

We are making plans for Grand Rounds in Meridian, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Tupelo, and Gulfport so be on the lookout for dates and your invitation.

Need Those 5 Hours of Controlled Substance? MACM Offers Free Courses to Insureds

Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi (MACM) offers a dozen free online courses at no cost to its insureds, including controlled substance training, which is required by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure to maintain your license. MACM Medical Interactive CME

AAFP Members Save $ on UpToDate

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As an AAFP member, you can subscribe to UpToDate at special Member rates with special discounts off the full purchase price. Plus, with an individual subscription, you can easily earn AAFP Prescribed credit and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ every time you research a topic in UpToDate.*

Hattiesburg, Greenville Residency Programs Learn About Tobacco Cessation

Thanks to a grant from the Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Tobacco Control, MAFP Foundation provides education each year to family medicine residents to teach them how to counsel their patients about quitting smoking or other tobacco use.

Jewell Buckley, Special Projects Coordinator, makes these visits and dentist Dr. Karen Crews makes the presentation to the doctors. Lunch is provided and the residents learn about the Academy in addition to hearing the speaker. In the past two weeks, the pair has visited Forrest General Family Medicine Residency and the Mississippi Delta Family Medicine Residency in Greenville (pictured).

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 for 2022, 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 Feb. 25, 2022. 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 2021 winning essay was written by Caroline McKinney of Brandon High School about family physician Dr. Richard Randolph of Brandon.