Improve Medicare Advantage oversight and patient access

Medicare Advantage now covers more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries. While the program offers important benefits and coverage options, family physicians continue to see persistent challenges that can delay or disrupt patient care, including burdensome prior authorization requirements, inappropriate care denials, and lack of transparency in plan decision-making.

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 would strengthen oversight of Medicare Advantage plans, improve accountability, and help ensure beneficiaries receive timely access to medically necessary care. By supporting this legislation, Congress can help protect patients while preserving physicians' ability to make clinical decisions based on what is best for those they serve.

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Reduce barriers to chronic care management

Millions of Medicare beneficiaries live with multiple chronic conditions and rely on ongoing care coordination to manage their health. Chronic care management services, or CCM, help family physicians support these patients between office visits, improving outcomes and reducing avoidable hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

Unfortunately, patient cost-sharing requirements continue to create barriers to participation in CCM services. The Chronic Care Management Improvement Act would eliminate cost-sharing for CCM services under Medicare, making it easier for patients to access the coordinated care they need while supporting more effective management of chronic illness.

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Strengthen physician workforce pathways

Communities across the country continue to face physician shortages that limit access to care. International medical graduates play a critical role in meeting workforce needs, particularly in rural and underserved areas where recruiting physicians can be especially challenging.

The H-1Bs for Physicians and Healthcare Workers Act would create a more reliable pathway for qualified physicians and health care professionals to enter and remain in the workforce, helping patients maintain access to timely, high-quality care. Supporting this legislation is an important step toward addressing workforce shortages and strengthening the primary care pipeline.

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Asking for a Mom is a Texas public education initiative that provides free, easy-to-understand information in English and Spanish to help Texas women and their loved ones understand pregnancy emergencies, available medical care, and patient rights under Texas law. The initiative seeks to distribute educational materials through healthcare providers, hospitals, and community organizations throughout the state.

“The campaign was created following passage of the Life of the Mother Act and is designed to provide clear, medically informed educational resources that help women and families understand their options and communicate effectively with their healthcare providers during urgent situations,” according to a statement from Asking for a Mom.

The project is supported by a coalition of healthcare and community partners committed to improving maternal health and patient education across Texas. TAFP and the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition have joined a number of other organizations as strategic partners of the campaign. 

You can download a pdf of the main pamphlet in English and Spanish and order free printed copies at askingforamom.org/pamphlets. Each first order will also include a letter-size poster that can be displayed at your place of business.

Why it matters: 

Medicare payments to physicians have not kept up with the rising costs of running a medical practice. Congress must modernize the outdated Medicare physician payment system to better support patient care and strengthen primary care practices. Without congressional action, budget neutrality requirements and the lack of inflation-based payment updates will continue to strain physician practices and threaten patient access to care.

What we’re working on: 

Physician compensation should better reflect the value of prevention, health maintenance, early diagnosis and early treatment. These are core services family physicians provide every day. Yesterday, former AAFP president, Steve Furr, MD, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health for a hearing titled, Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms. Dr. Furr’s testimony focused on four key areas to improve Medicare payments to physicians.

• Better recognizing and valuing primary care work within the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which also shapes many value-based payment models.
• Reforming budget neutrality rules that can create competition between physician specialties and limit CMS’s ability to invest across the full range of patient care services.
• Reducing financial barriers for patients by waiving cost-sharing requirements for chronic care management and other primary care services.
• Creating more stable, predictable payment streams for primary care practices so physicians can better tailor care to patients’ needs.

Read Dr. Furr’s full testimony here.

AAFP urges DHS not to stall on visas for IMGs

Why it matters: 

Family medicine relies heavily on international medical graduates to meet patient care needs, but ongoing delays in visa processing are worsening workforce shortages and disrupting care continuity. 

AAFP was encouraged that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it lifted the hold on physician applications but urges the agency to issue further guidance that details how this reversal will be implemented and for Congress to conduct oversight to ensure family physicians can care for their communities.

What we’re working on:

• AAFP led a coalition letter to the Departments of Homeland Security and State urging expedited processing of visa applications and related immigration adjudications for foreign physicians who are essential to the U.S. physician workforce, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
• We have also endorsed the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, legislation that would exempt physicians’ sponsoring institutions from the new H-1B $100,000 fee.

Family physicians support legislation to increase primary care investment

Why it matters: 

Investing in primary care remains an essential strategy to lower health care costs, keep people out of hospitals, address chronic conditions and prevent disease early. AAFP endorsed the Prioritizing Primary Care Act (H.R. 8765), introduced by Reps. David Rouzer, Ami Bera, Jen Kiggans and Joe Courtney — four co-chairs of the Primary Care Caucus — which would require all federal health programs to clearly track and report how much money they spend on primary care services. This includes both the total dollars spent and what share of overall health spending goes to primary care.

The bill would also create a federal working group within the Department of Health and Human Services to study how the government can better support primary care. This group would look at ways to increase access to primary care doctors, improve quality of care and encourage more investment in primary care services.

AAFP and SCAN leaders: Making America healthy again requires more than a committee

The government’s new Healthcare Advisory Meeting was held on May 18 to discuss policies to improve the U.S. health care system. In a recent op-ed in Fierce Healthcare, AAFP CEO Shawn Martin and Sachin H. Jain, MD, CEO of SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan, outlined five bold ideas that challenge both government and industry leaders to rethink what it will actually take to make the country healthier.

1. A call for every sector to look inward and take responsibility for its own role in poor health outcomes
2. A shift from measuring financial performance to measuring what truly matters: health
3. Treating the rebuilding of public trust in science as a national imperative
4. Ensuring technology strengthens rather than erodes the human relationships at the core of health care
5. Re-centering primary care as the foundation of prevention and long-term health

Read the full piece.

AAFP speaks out on student loans 

Why it matters: 

AAFP continues to advocate for federal student loan policies that support the physician workforce and strengthen pathways into primary care. Reducing the financial burden of medical education can help more students choose careers in family medicine and other primary care specialties, especially in underserved and rural communities where access to care is often limited. We also remain steadfast in our advocacy efforts to support policies that expand loan repayment and forgiveness opportunities for physicians who commit to serving high-need populations.

What we’re working on:

• AAFP continues to engage with the Department of Education following the release of the RISE final rule, raising concerns about provisions that could restrict access to federal student loans for medical students and residents. 
• We are working closely with partners and key stakeholders to better understand the rule’s implementation timeline and identify opportunities to reduce disruptions for current and future borrowers before it takes effect on July 1, 2026. 
• AAFP is also highlighting the potential impact on the primary care workforce, particularly concerns that eliminating Graduate PLUS loans and imposing new borrowing limits could make it harder for students from lower-income backgrounds to pursue careers in family medicine. 
• In addition, AAFP supported the bipartisan Congressional Review Act resolution led by Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Joe Courtney to overturn a recent rule affecting the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. 
• We remain concerned that the PSLF rule would allow the Department of Education to disqualify certain employers from the program, creating uncertainty for family physicians currently participating in, or considering, the PSLF program.

Family physicians urge Congress to oppose ECAPS

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services, or ECAPS Act, is seeing renewed movement in Congress. The bill would add pharmacists as eligible Medicare Part B providers for testing and treating conditions such as COVID-19, RSV, strep throat, influenza and future public health emergency-related illnesses. Proposed legislation is also projected to cost Medicare an estimated $2 billion, funding that could instead support primary and preventive care services.

AAFP continues to express concerns about the potential impacts on care coordination, continuity of care and patient safety for Medicare beneficiaries. We remain committed to working with Congress to instead advance policies that promote nationwide access to high-value, physician-led care, such as by allowing family physicians to be able to administer all recommended vaccines to seniors under Part B.

What we're reading

AAFP EVP and CEO Shawn Martin spoke to the Washington Examiner about how AI can help doctors, but there must be guardrails. “I still think there’s a humanism all about family medicine and primary care, that it’s going to be a one-to-one relationship for a long time, hopefully forever,” he said.

AAFP told Becker’s that “Physicians and medical trainees are indispensable to the nation’s health care infrastructure. We are encouraged that UCSIS has reversed the visa freeze for international medical graduates and look forward to the agency issuing further guidance that details how this reversal will be implemented. As we wrote in our April 8 letter to the Departments of State and Homeland Security, prolonged visa processing delays and indefinite adjudicative holds are forcing physicians to abandon residency programs and leaving already strained communities without access to care.” 

Reps. Kim Schrier and John Joyce introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Vaccines for Children Program Act. AAFP president, Sarah C. Nosal, MD, said in a joint press release, “As a family physician, I see every day how vaccines protect children from serious, preventable diseases. This bill takes important steps to make vaccines more accessible, support the time we spend counseling families, and ensure more children get the care they need. Expanding and supporting immunization programs like Vaccines for Children is one of the most effective ways we can keep our communities healthy.”

For the latest policy updates impacting family medicine, follow us at @aafp_advocacy.

For Diana Medina Galvan, MD, family medicine has always been about building meaningful relationships and delivering truly patient-centered care. After years practicing in traditional clinical settings, she developed a deep appreciation for comprehensive primary care while recognizing the challenges that time constraints and administrative demands can place on the physician-patient relationship. That experience inspired her to launch Luminous Health and Wellness in 2019, a direct primary care practice in Houston designed around longer visits, greater access, and personalized care. Today, she combines her expertise as a board-certified family physician and obesity medicine physician to help patients improve their overall health, with a special focus on metabolic health and perimenopause and menopause care. 

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
Family medicine appealed to me because it combines breadth, continuity, and trust. I was inspired by the idea of being the physician who can care for an entire family across seasons of life, and who can partner with patients over years, not just a single visit. I also valued the ability to blend preventive care, chronic disease management, and lifestyle-based medicine into one specialty.

Congratulations on opening your own private practice! How is it going?
It has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. Building a clinic from the ground up taught me to be intentional about the kind of care I wanted to deliver, the systems that support it, and the community I wanted to serve. I am proud of the patient relationships we have built and the outcomes we are seeing, especially when patients feel heard, supported, and empowered.

What are your practice passions?
My passions include prevention, metabolic health, obesity medicine, and caring for women through perimenopause and menopause with evidence-informed, individualized treatment. I also care deeply about patient education, helping patients understand their bodies and options, and creating a clinical environment that is calm, respectful, and judgment free.

You are building a social media following as a family doc. What made you begin that journey? 
I started because I realized many patients are getting health information from social media, whether we participate or not. I wanted to provide clear, evidence-informed education in a way that is approachable and empowering. It has also become a way to advocate for patient-centered care, normalize conversations around menopause and weight stigma, and help people understand that family medicine can be both comprehensive and highly specialized in areas like metabolic health.

Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
I value being connected to a professional community that advocates for family physicians and patients across Texas. TAFP helps ensure that the voice of family medicine remains strong. I also appreciate the opportunity to connect with colleagues who share a commitment to excellent, broad-scope care.

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my family, crafting, listening to podcasts, and being involved in community activities.

TAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Texas family physicians in TAFP News Now and on the TAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different TAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting TAFP by email at tafp@tafp.org or by phone at (512) 329-8666. 

Sanjna Jagani, MD, is a second-year resident at the DHR Health Family Medicine Residency, located on the US-Mexico border. Erica Munoz, DO, is a second-year resident at the TIGMER Community Based Family Medicine Residency Program in San Antonio.

Meyer Maddox is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine. Nima Rahman is a fourth-year medical student at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. Rinka Ko is a second-year medical student at the UNT Health Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and will begin serving as TAFP’s student chair-elect this summer.

“Texas has had a number of great leaders come out of this program in recent years, and we're excited to have these five up-and-coming leaders join the ranks as scholars in 2026,” says TAFP Membership and Workforce Development Manager Juleah Williams.

These students and residents will receive a scholarship to attend AAFP’s FUTURE conference this summer in conjunction with a session of the leader institute program. Throughout the yearlong program, they will attend in-depth workshops focusing on topics like policy, project management, and philanthropy, while working with a volunteer family physician mentor to create a leadership project of their choosing.

Family Medicine Leads is the AAFP Foundation’s Education Signature Program, focusing on supporting the future of the specialty and its workforce by increasing the number of family physician leaders with the best and brightest in the field.

Growing up in rural Jamaica, Shana-Kay Lambert-Johnson, MD, witnessed firsthand the vital role trusted physicians play within their communities — an experience that continues to shape her approach to medicine today. As chief resident for the Family Medicine Residency Program at Medical City Fort Worth, she now cares for diverse patient populations across both inpatient and outpatient settings while also pursuing interests in medical education, patient safety, and quality improvement. Lambert-Johnson is just about to complete residency and says she hopes to be “someone who provides thoughtful care while also contributing to the growth and support” of those around her.

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
What first drew me to family medicine were the relationships I saw physicians build with patients and families over time. Growing up in Jamaica, I saw family physicians serve not only as clinicians, but also as advocates, educators, and trusted figures within their communities. That continuity and sense of connection left a lasting impression on me.

As I went through training, I realized how naturally I connected with the culture of family medicine itself. I enjoyed the variety within the specialty, the collaborative environment, and the ability to care for patients across different settings while still building long-term relationships. It felt like the specialty that best aligned with both my interests and my personality.

Congratulations on the AAFP Award for Excellence in GME you won last year! Tell us about the work you did with the clinic guide that contributed to your winning the award.
The project grew out of conversations with medical students beginning their third year and stepping into their first hands-on clinical experiences in family medicine. They were incredibly motivated and capable, but like many of us entering a new clinical environment for the first time, they were learning how to balance studying, presentations, documentation, workflow, team dynamics, and patient care all at once.

I created a resident-led Family Medicine Clinic Guide focused on the practical lessons we often learn through experience during rotations. It included workflow tips, documentation guidance, communication strategies, and advice shaped directly by resident and student feedback.

The most rewarding part was hearing students say they felt more confident and prepared walking into clinic. It reminded me how meaningful small acts of mentorship and support can be during training.

What are your career plans once you complete residency?
After residency, I’ll be working as a hospitalist while continuing as teaching faculty within my residency program. I’m excited to stay involved in both patient care and medical education.

I also hope to continue growing in areas like quality improvement and systems-based care, while remaining open to future opportunities in physician leadership. Right now, I’m most looking forward to continuing my career in the same community that played such a meaningful role in my own training.

What’s some advice you wish you would’ve received in medical school? What about residency?
In medical school, I wish someone had told me earlier that you do not need to know everything to belong in medicine. I think many students quietly struggle with self-doubt, especially in environments where everyone around them seems confident. Over time, I learned that growth matters more than perfection. Being curious, teachable, dependable, and kind will take you much further than pretending to have all the answers.

In residency, I learned that sustainability matters. Training teaches you how to work hard, but it is just as important to learn how to ask for help, communicate well, prioritize your time, and make space for rest.

I would also encourage both medical students and residents to say yes to opportunities that genuinely align with their passions and values. Many of the projects and experiences that shaped my career started as small conversations or volunteer opportunities that eventually grew into something much bigger than I expected.

Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
One of the things I value most about TAFP is the sense of community it creates. As a resident, it gave me opportunities to connect with physicians and mentors from across Texas, learn about different career paths within the specialty, and present scholarly work in a supportive environment.

I also appreciate how invested TAFP is in students and residents. Organizations like TAFP help young physicians develop confidence, leadership skills, and professional relationships early in their careers, and I’ve personally benefited from those experiences throughout residency.

As I transition into the next phase of my career, I look forward to continuing to lean into the TAFP community for both professional growth and a continued sense of connection throughout my medical journey. I’m also excited to find opportunities to pay it forward through mentorship, teaching, and supporting students and residents the same way others generously supported me along the way.

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
Outside of medicine, I really enjoy cooking, especially Jamaican food and exploring different cuisines. Cooking has always been a creative outlet for me and a way to stay connected to home and culture. I find it relaxing, especially after a busy week.

I also enjoy traveling, trying new experiences, and spending time with family and friends. Anything interactive or team-oriented, like escape rooms or game nights, is usually something I’m excited to do because it gives me a chance to disconnect from work and just enjoy being present with people I care about.

Texas was represented well by TAFP members at AAFP’s National Conference of Constituency Leaders last month. Several Texans served as leaders and were elected as future leaders.

Co-conveners Kenneth Barning, MD, and Joaquin Villegas, MD, planned and assisted in running the constituency caucuses throughout the meeting. They will also serve as member constituency delegates at AAFP’s Congress of Delegates meeting in October.

Additionally, Astrud Villareal, MD, was elected as the women’s constituency co-convener and Camella DeSerto, MD, was elected as the LGBTQ+ constituency co-convener. They will both serve as alternate delegates to AAFP’s Congress of Delegates.

“We had a great group of Texas family physicians at NCCL again this year,” said TAFP Chief Operating Officer Kathy McCarthy. “It was great to see their passion for the specialty and their support of each other in seeking leadership positions and crafting and introducing resolutions.”

Thank you to all of the Texas family physicians who attended this year. Check out TAFP’s Instagram for more photos from the conference.

“We chose to offer osteopathic CME credit to better support our DO members in meeting AOA requirements and accessing relevant educational opportunities,” she says. “This ensures our programming remains inclusive, meets the needs of osteopathic physicians, and continues to provide strong value to their membership with TAFP.”

Lisa Nash, DO, is the dean of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine UNT Health Fort Worth. She says she sees firsthand how important it is for DOs to be recognized and supported within our professional organizations.

“Offering AOA credit sends a clear message that TAFP values osteopathic training and is committed to meeting the needs of its DO members. That kind of intentional inclusion matters, and it strengthens engagement, professional development, and long-term connection to the Academy.”

With three osteopathic medical schools in Texas, the percentage of TAFP members who are osteopaths continues to increase. Currently, 15% of active members and 33% of resident members trained at osteopathic medical schools. Members who are board certified by the AOA are required to earn 30 AOA Category 1-A credits every three years.

Dwane Broussard, MD, of Houston was elected by the TMA House of Delegates as an alternate delegate to the American Medical Association. Broussard will represent TMA, serving as a key liaison for other physicians looking to participate in national advocacy, policy, and programs.

Greg Fuller, MD, of Keller retained his position on the TMA board and will now serve a second three-year term as secretary/treasurer. Rodney Young, MD, of Amarillo will also continue serving on the board this year as an at-large member.

TAFP hosted a Primary Care Update for the second year in a row, which was open to all conference attendees and provided free CME. A crowd of more than 50 physicians attended, including family docs and other specialties. Topics presented included liver disease, dermatitis, and cardiomyopathy.

“Now in our second year offering clinical CME at TexMed, TAFP is proud to strengthen the family medicine presence through primary care-focused education,” said TAFP Director of Education Jessica Miley. “We aim to deliver practical, evidence-based learning that physicians can use right away to improve patient care.”

With a strong showing of family physicians at TexMed and in TMA leadership the specialty continues to be well represented in the wider organized medicine community. Similarly, TAFP’s strong presence at TexMed and newer initiatives like the Primary Care Update show that the Academy continues to champion family medicine and help members evolve with the needs of patients and communities.

Why it matters: 

Family medicine relies heavily on international medical graduates to meet patient care needs, but ongoing delays in visa processing are worsening workforce shortages and disrupting care continuity. Backlogs and uncertainty around J-1 waivers, H-1B extensions and green card applications are forcing some physicians to delay residency start dates, cut back hours or leave their communities altogether.

What we’re working on: 

• AAFP led a coalition letter to the Departments of Homeland Security and State urging expedited processing of visas and immigration benefits for IMGs who are essential to the U.S. physician workforce, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
• We have also endorsed the H-1Bs for the Physicians and Healthcare Workforce Act, legislation that would exempt physicians from the new H-1B $100,000 fee. 
• AAFP is calling on the departments to use existing tools — such as premium processing and expedited review — to fast-track applications for already credentialed physicians ready to practice. 
• AAFP is also continuing to work with federal partners to improve coordination across agencies and reduce immigration-related barriers to care, while longer-term workforce solutions are developed.

Family physicians weigh in on AHEAD proposed rule

Why it matters: 

A proposed rule for the new Workforce Pell program would open eligibility to individuals with bachelor’s degrees but exclude anyone who has already earned a graduate credential. Restricting eligibility in this way could unintentionally shut out learners who are trying to reskill or change careers, particularly those from underrepresented or low-income backgrounds who often follow non-linear education paths. 

Limiting federal aid based solely on credentials, rather than financial need or workforce demand, risks reinforcing existing inequities instead of addressing workforce gaps.

What we’re working on:

• In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, AAFP urged a broader approach, recommending that access to Workforce Pell be based on need and workforce goals rather than prior degree status.
• We called for more inclusive eligibility criteria that allow all qualified individuals, including physicians, to access Workforce Pell funding. 
• AAFP urged the Department of Education to ensure this program supports a diverse, adaptable workforce and expands opportunities for those seeking to enter or remain in high-need fields like primary care.

AAFP voices support for chronic care management legislation

Why it matters: 

Chronic care management, such as care coordination, electronic care planning and managing transitions between clinicians, have been shown to improve patient outcomes, boost satisfaction and reduce hospitalizations and emergency visits. Despite these benefits, only about 4% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries currently use CCM, largely due to cost-sharing barriers and confusion about billing. Removing coinsurance could open access to millions more patients while also lowering overall Medicare spending.

What we’re working on: 

• AAFP supports the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act of 2026, which would expand access to coordinated care for Medicare patients with chronic conditions. The bill would eliminate the current 20% coinsurance requirement for Chronic Care Management services — an out-of-pocket cost that has limited uptake of these high-value services.
• AAFP joined 39 other health care stakeholders in supporting this important legislation. Improving chronic conditions starts with ensuring patients can afford care from their family physician.

AAFP supports event for LEAD model

AAFP participated in an in person convening focused on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ new Long Term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model, joining physician groups, accountable care leaders and federal officials to discuss the future of value-based care. The meeting coincided with the model’s rollout and included engagement from CMS leadership, highlighting continued federal focus on strengthening accountable care.

AAFP is actively collaborating with partners and federal officials to help shape LEAD implementation, with a focus on supporting primary care–led models, reducing administrative burden and ensuring long-term stability for participating practices.

NASEM meeting spotlights primary care 

Dr. Yalda Jabbarpour, Director of the Robert Graham Center presented at the National Academies of Science workshop, “Exploring Opportunities to Improve Patient Access to Care through Strategic Changes to Graduate Medical Education.” She discussed the importance of comprehensive data, especially as it relates to measuring the successful retention and recruitment of primary care physicians in communities of greatest need. At the conference she discussed RGC’s development of the Graduate Medical Education Impact Quotient (GME-IQ) data tool, which measures primary care output with a focus on practicing in high needs areas.

AAFP CEO testifies before Congress on U.S. health care affordability

AAFP EVP and CEO Shawn Martin testified last month before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. For decades, the U.S. has woefully underinvested in primary care, and patients are paying the price. In his testimony, Martin outlined six steps policymakers can take to start to correct the affordability crisis in health care.

1. Double the nation’s financial investment in primary care and the primary care workforce.
2. Reform Medicare payment to better value the actual care physicians deliver to patients, rather than overvaluing health care facilities.
3. Establish a regulatory framework that supports independent physician-led payment models like direct primary care.
4. Create space to allow physicians to focus on patients by reducing administrative complexity.
5. Remove financial barriers to accessing primary care.
6. Promote proven, evidence-based interventions like vaccines.

Regulatory roundup

AAFP has been active in the regulatory space, weighing in on proposed rules that would impact physicians, patients and practices. Here are a few highlights.

CRUSH RFI

AAFP submitted comments on CMS’ proposed CRUSH RFI aimed at reducing fraud, waste and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid.

• While the AAFP supports efforts to strengthen the Medicare and Medicaid programs, we cautioned that many current and proposed administrative requirements, such as documentation, audits and prior authorization, place heavy burdens on family physicians without effectively targeting fraud.
• AAFP warned these demands contribute to clinician burnout and may accelerate physician practice consolidation.

AAFP urges changes to 340B rebate pilot

AAFP submitted comments to HRSA opposing a proposed 340B pilot that would deviate from current practice and require community health centers to pay full price for some drugs upfront and wait for rebates. We warned this could strain limited resources and delay access to affordable medications and urged HRSA to exempt these centers.

AAFP weighs in on FDA e-cigarette guidance

AAFP raised concerns about youth harm from e-cigarettes while cautiously supporting the FDA’s draft guidance to be more strident on flavored products. We called for strict, risk-based standards across all electronic nicotine delivery systems, emphasizing that youth-appealing flavors should only be approved with strong evidence of helping adults quit smoking and urging continued enforcement against illegal products. 

What we're reading

The voice of a physician has always carried weight, especially when it comes to advocacy for public policies. In a new essay for Johns Hopkins University, AAFP President Sarah C. Nosal, MD, dispels misconceptions about physician-led advocacy.

MedPage Today highlighted the AAFP-led coalition letter urging expedited processing of visas and immigration benefits for IMGs. “We urge the departments [of State and Homeland Security] to act swiftly to implement targeted, lawful relief that recognizes the national interest in ensuring that qualified physicians can enter, remain and continue serving patients in the U.S. without unnecessary delay,” AAFP said.

Shawn Martin’s congressional testimony on health care affordability was quoted in Becker’s Hospital Review.

For the latest policy updates impacting family medicine, follow us at @aafp_advocacy.

The road to family medicine wasn’t necessarily a straight line for Ben Galichia, MD, which is exactly what makes his journey so compelling. Originally a Spanish major, he spent a few years working as a patient care tech and anesthesia tech while preparing for medical school before earning his spot at UT Southwestern. From there, he completed a family medicine residency at JPS in Fort Worth, where he also did a surgical family medicine and obstetrics fellowship, building a strong foundation in full-spectrum care. After training, his journey took him far beyond Texas, including time traveling abroad, serving at a mission hospital in Tanzania, and working rural ER shifts west of Fort Worth. Now, he’s stepped into his first full-time attending role at Texoma Medical Center, where he’s helping launch an FMOB service within the residency program, bringing together his passion for obstetrics, global health, and serving communities with limited access to care.

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
I think growing up in my family's antique shop is probably what most inspired me to become a family doc. We've had people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and types come through our doors over the 30+ years I've spent in the shop. Watching my parents listen to, learn from, and interact gracefully with them and navigate all sorts of conversation types and lifestyles really suited me to be a full-spectrum family medicine doctor. Both are definitely all about developing relationships with people, and in my work, I just add in the medical knowledge part. In both though, you have to be ready for whatever walks through the door. Shameless plug — Country Garden Antiques in Dallas — check them out!

Tell us about your experiences with global health and how that became a passion of yours.
Ah yes, my global health obsession... I think it honestly mostly stems from growing up quite poor in a violent part of Oak Cliff, in Dallas. I grew up seeing a lot of unpolished in-your-face things, and it inspired me to try to do something greater with the one life I've been given. Part of that became traveling and getting out there in the world, which made me realize there are levels of need that I didn't imagine existed!

One of my favorite stories is from last year in Tanzania, when the local physician, Dr. Moses, and myself had just finished rounding on the pediatric unit at Bwambo Hospital. A mother brought her four-year-old child up for discharge. He was crying because he had never seen a white person before and was scared of me. When we pulled out his IV, he wiped his tears and blurted out, "Asante babu albino," which means, "Thank you, albino grandfather." Haha!

Global health moments like these can really humble anyone, remind us to not take ourselves too seriously, and remind us of our common humanity in ways that are much more basic than what we experience in the U.S.

In your current position, you are working to expand the OB training at Texoma - why do you think it's significant that family docs have extended OB training?
Obstetrics-capable family doctors are filling crucial gaps throughout Texas. In a state that is hemorrhaging OBs, many communities, especially more rural ones, are left with no maternal care options.

What we are seeing here in the Sherman-Denison area is an incredible number of women who cannot get an OB appointment for multiple months out and are resorting to either having zero prenatal care and hoping for the best or having occasional ER visits as their only interaction with the health care system prior to going into labor. What we hope to do is in the short term to help fill those gaps, and in the long term to train up more family doctors to continue to change that need. Being able to provide both vaginal and cesarean deliveries as a family doctor — and then to be able to care for the newborn and follow the child as they grow up — is an incredibly fulfilling privilege, and I hope that more family doctors get to experience what a rush that is. As family doctors we are often in unique positions to reach some of society's most vulnerable people, and my training by my amazing teachers at JPS has taught me that providing excellent obstetrical care is a way that family doctors can change lives and stick up for their communities.

Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
I choose to be a TAFP member to constantly be plugged in to ways I can make my career and my calling about something bigger. It is an easy way to learn about what cool things are going on in the family medicine community, and what needs and opportunities are going unmet. Being part of TAFP also allows me to hold myself to a high academic and evidence-based standard.

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
Outside of medicine I love doing black and white analog/film photography and developing my own prints in the darkroom. I also love traveling to off-the-beaten-path places around the world, experiencing and learning from other cultures, and being an active member of my church.

TAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Texas family physicians in TAFP News Now and on the TAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different TAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting TAFP by email at tafp@tafp.org or by phone at (512) 329-8666. 

TAFP’s leadership programs

A new class of the Family Medicine Leadership Experience began their program on Thursday. Across two days, the 2026 class of family physicians from across Texas learned about personality types, leading effective teams, negotiating, and more. These 10 physicians will graduate from the program after two more in-person sessions later this year, joining the approximately 150 FMLE alumni as family physicians ready for leadership roles. Interested in FMLE? The application process for the next class will launch in the fall of 2027. 

Additionally, the current class of the Resident Leadership Experience graduated on Saturday after a year of dedication and mentorship. The program is similar to FMLE, with curriculum focused on interpersonal skills, advocacy, communications and media training, and more. This year’s class of 20 family medicine residents have met monthly over the past year, both in person and virtually. Thank you to this year’s mentors for providing such valuable assistance to participants – Fozia Ali, MD; Jonnae Atkinson, MD; Kathy Nguyen, MD; Laura Nietfeld, MD; and Mary Shipman, DO. Interested in RLE? You can apply now at tafp.org/academy/rle. Applications are due June 1.

Official TAFP business

TAFP’s councils and committees met Friday and Saturday to conduct official Academy business. The Member Assembly with Council Forums featured recent work of each of the three councils as well as a TAFP update from President Ike Okwuwa, MD, MBA. Attendees then heard a presentation on the Child Psychiatry Access Network and the Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network from Nithya, Mani, MD, from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School. And lastly, TAFP member Tina Philip, DO, gave a presentation on downcoding. For more on downcoding, check out Philip’s recent AAFP blog and episode of AAFP’s Inside Family Medicine podcast.  

Thank you to all the members who joined us and participated. To get involved in Academy business, complete TAFP’s engagement form at any time or apply for a council position. 

Mark your calendars for TAFP’s remaining CME opportunities this year, including an opportunity to earn CME from TAFP at the Texas Medical Association’s annual meeting.

Primary Care Update at TexMed | April 16 | Corpus Christi

Texas Family Medicine Symposium | June 5 – 7 | San Antonio

Annual Session and Primary Care Summit | November 6 – 8 | The Woodlands

The new requirement stems from passage of Senate Bill 912 in the 2025 legislative session by Sen. César Blanco, (D-El Paso), making Texas one of a growing number of states mandating the use of CE Broker as the exclusive system for tracking and verifying continuing education for a variety of licensed professions.

The company offers a free “Basic” account that it says is sufficient to report required CME for licensure, but it offers three tiers of paid membership ranging from $39.99 to $199.99 per year that provide enhanced support and management features. TMB suggests physicians sign up for an account before September 1 to become acquainted with the system.

The basic CME requirements for licensure remain unchanged. Physicians must report a total of 48 hours every two years, with 24 of those being formal Category 1 or 1-A hours — AMA PRA Category 1 Credits,™ AOA Category 1-A credits, and AAFP Prescribed credits all suffice — and 24 informal hours in any format. 

While the imposition of CE Broker into the TMB licensing and renewal process will likely increase family physicians’ administrative burden, TAFP members will enjoy an advantage, according to TAFP COO Kathy McCarthy. All CME credits members earn from TAFP and AAFP will be automatically logged in their CE Broker accounts. “If you are a member of the Academy or you are maintaining board certification, you are earning more than twice the CME needed for your state license,” she says. “So it may make sense to count all of your AAFP and TAFP CME first and then fill in the rest of the required 48 credits in the simplest way you can. Your Academy invests significant resources to track and report your CME as a way to reduce your stress and administrative burden. Hopefully, those efforts will help as the medical board transitions to this new system.”

For more information on CE Broker and a tutorial on creating an account, watch this video. 

Other CME news to note

In addition to the courses mandated by the Texas Medical Board on pain management, ethics/professional responsibility, and human trafficking, family physicians must now complete a course on pregnancy-related medical emergencies. With the passage of the Life of the Mother Act, or S.B. 31, by Sen. Bryan Hughes, (R- Mineola), family physicians along with doctors in 11 other specified specialties must take a single one-hour course on pregnancy-related medical emergencies. TMB offers the only eligible course for free on MyTMB. All family physicians are required to complete the course, regardless of whether they provide obstetrical care.

The pain management requirement has been reduced from two hours every renewal period to two hours for the first two renewal periods, then two hours every eight years after that.

The human trafficking requirement will now be required only once. If TMB approves more than the one course it currently offers, direct patient care physicians will need to take a course every six years.

TAFP now provides AOA Category 1A credit!

This year, TAFP applied for and received accreditation through the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians to provide AOA Category 1-A credit for our CME courses. TAFP’s director of CME and compliance, Jessica Miley, is excited to offer AOA credit for the first time at this year’s Texas Family Medicine Symposium, June 5-7 at the Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort and Spa in San Antonio.

“We chose to offer osteopathic CME credit to better support our DO members in meeting AOA requirements and accessing relevant educational opportunities,” she says. “This ensures our programming remains inclusive, meets the needs of osteopathic physicians, and continues to provide strong value to their membership with TAFP.”

Though he has served in a number of roles throughout the years, Mark Ambler, MD, has spent his entire family medicine career since residency at one place – Austin Regional Clinic. He’s worked on the peer review committee, executive board, clinical quality committee, and currently serves as the associate chief medical officer of primary care. His administrative work hasn’t kept him completely out of the clinic, however, as he still sees patients today. 

Ambler has also precepted medical students and nurse practitioner students over the last 20 years, and serves as the medical director of the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic. Austin Regional Clinic is currently one of TAFP’s Partners in Health.

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
My mother was a psychotherapist and always wanted me to become a psychiatrist. I found there was enough psych work in family medicine, but it gave me more variety of conditions to address as well.

What unique challenges are represented in your patient community?
The biggest challenge today is the lack of primary care in general. Unfortunately, there are more family medicine providers retiring every year than graduating from residency. That makes it hard for patients to find a provider, and they often accumulate several conditions to address before they come in. Affordability of care, especially medications, also can be frustrating for patients and providers alike when you think a medication will help, but is too costly.

What are your practice passions?
Like many providers, my patients have aged with me, so I see a lot of geriatric patients. Building those relationships over the years has been very rewarding, so keeping those patients as healthy and active as they can be is my passion.

You've been a preceptor for a number of years. What makes you want to do that work?
We all benefit from others teaching us over the years, so precepting is a good way to give back and some days I learn more from them than they learn from me.

Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
Being a TAFP member helps link providers all over the state and supports students and residents who will be the backbone of primary care going forward. Solid primary care is the key to valuable medical care for everyone.

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
When I’m not working, I enjoy playing tennis. My dad started teaching me at age 5. Also, just about anything else outside — hiking, biking, kayaking.

TAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Texas family physicians in TAFP News Now and on the TAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different TAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting TAFP by email at tafp@tafp.org or by phone at (512) 329-8666. 

Nationwide, this was another record-setting year for family medicine, as the specialty offered and filled more positions than ever before. The NRMP reports that family medicine increased the number of positions offered by 133 positions from 2025 to 2026, and filled 4,613 positions. However, the fill rate declined from 85 to 83.6%, leaving 899 family medicine resident positions unfilled across the country. Read the NRMP's full report on the 2026 match here.

According to the NRMP's report on match rates by specialty and state, Texas family medicine filled 294 of 347 total positions, not including the SOAP. Read the full report here. 

Check out AAFP's Match Day coverage and resources, as well as this March 20 news report, 2026 Match sets records for family medicine positions offered and filled.

Welcoming new residents in training to the “family” of family medicine is among the greatest joys for the members and leaders of TAFP. We hope everyone enjoys their Match Day celebrations. Scroll through TAFP's Instagram for fun match day content.

Whether you were in the inaugural class of the Match in 1952, or plan to match into family medicine in the next few years, the excitement of Match Day is contagious and undeniable. It’s a day of exhilarating anticipation and a time for all to celebrate the incredible specialty of family medicine. 

New residents interested in getting involved with the Academy dedicated to their success should visit TAFP's resident resources for information about TAFP's Student and Resident Summit, TAFP leadership opportunities, travel funding, and more. 

In celebration of Match Day, we recently featured a number of TAFP members who offered advice for medical students hoping to match into family medicine, as well as for new family medicine residents. 

• March Member of the Month: Maria Ferreira Caceres, MD
• Fourth-year medical student ready to start career in rural family medicine: Joshua Mihalik
• PGY2 encourages future residents to maintain personal life outside of residency: Nayeli Fuentes, MD
• Academic physician is hopeful about the future of family medicine: Tatiana Cordova, MD
• El Paso physician teaches to invest in the future of family medicine: Rebecca Campos, MD, FAAFP

To improve timely delivery of specimens, submitters should avoid using regular United States Postal Service for submitting NBS specimens for testing. Specimens sent through standard mail often arrive too late for testing and do not include tracking.

DSHS currently supports courier transportation through Data Rush and FedEx. Many facilities already use courier services for specimen transport. Submitters that currently use a courier service may continue using their existing service.

Submitters that do not have a courier service may enroll in the DSHS newborn screening courier program at no additional cost. Submitters can enroll by completing the Courier Expansion Enrollment Form at bit.ly/49bixDb.

After submitting the form, the DSHS Courier Coordinator will contact the submitter with the next steps for enrollment.

For decades, the U.S. has woefully underinvested in primary care, and patients are paying the price. On Wednesday, March 18, AAFP's EVP and CEO R. Shawn Martin testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health for a hearing on the role that clinicians play in making health care more affordable for all Americans. Martin laid out his message to the subcommittee in a blog post entiled "Six ways Congress can make health care affordable for doctors and patients."

Chronic diseases now account for 90% of our $4.9 trillion in annual health care spending. Yet, the U.S. allocates less than 5% of total health expenditures to primary care, a figure that lags far behind other developed nations. Primary care receives a small fraction of overall health care spending, even as it is asked to do more to manage chronic disease, coordinate care, and serve as the front door to the health system. This chronic underinvestment has led to workforce shortages, longer wait times, practice closures and fragmented care that drives costs higher for everyone. It also accelerates health care consolidation, which often makes profit an incentive rather than patient care.

AAFP takes family medicine priorities to Capitol Hill

Last month, AAFP leaders convened on Capitol Hill to push for practical solutions that will improve access to care for patients and improve practice environments for physicians. They engaged directly with lawmakers and urged them to enact policies that would do the following.

• Make primary care more affordable. Ongoing, coordinated care keeps patients healthier, but only if cost-sharing doesn’t stand in the way. When patients worry about surprise charges, they skip essential follow-up and coordination services. That hurts outcomes and raises long-term costs. Primary care must be affordable for it to work.
• Protect access to vaccines. Family physicians are among the most trusted sources for vaccine guidance and delivery. Public policy must continue to be grounded in science and data.
• Enact tax policies that strengthen independent practice and the primary care workforce. Targeted incentives can help support physicians serving rural and underserved communities, care for vulnerable populations and promote practice ownership. Several states have explored or implemented approaches such as these. Together, these incentives can help recruit, retain and sustain primary care where it’s needed most.

Department of Education rule would jeopardize primary care workforce

Why it matters: 

Physicians are the most likely professionals to carry student loan debt, with 81% having graduate school debt and 80% owing due to undergraduate education. 

The high burden of medical education debt contributes to worsening physician shortages and puts medical education out of reach for many potential physicians, further undermining progress toward a robust health care workforce. Given that these challenges slow progress toward better patient and population health outcomes, addressing the burden of student loan debt for physicians and medical students is one essential step to improving our nation’s health care system.

What we’re working on: 

AAFP submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging the agency to expand individuals’ ability to pursue a career in family medicine, including through thoughtful regulation of federal student loan programs. Our letter asked that the department:

• maintain access to Graduate PLUS loans for medical students or create a medical education carve‑out in the new loan programs to reflect the unique cost structure, training length and public service value of primary care physicians;
• exempt medical education programs from automatic loan proration or provide clear hardship and program‑specific exceptions to ensure that future primary care physicians are not forced into private lending or delaying completion of their education; and
• preserve generous reconsideration and correction mechanisms and ensure that repayment plan transitions do not reset or jeopardize Public Service Loan Forgiveness program eligibility.

AAFP also submitted a letter to Congress expressing concern that many of the higher education reforms in H.R. 1, including a $200,000 cap on professional student loans, will lead to even fewer new primary care physicians.

• In our letter, we called for passage of the REDI Act to mitigate at least a small portion of the financial burden that family physicians and others accrue while they are completing their medical training.

Family physicians weigh in on AI adoption in clinical care

Why it matters: 

The family medicine experience is based on a deeply personal patient-physician relationship that benefits from many supportive technologies, including AI. 

In 2023, the AAFP developed an initial set of principles that we believe must be applied to AI’s implementation across the broad range of settings in which family physicians practice. 

AAFP believes AI tools should be evaluated with the same rigor as any other tool used in health care, and that it has the potential to support the core functions of primary care, which are frequently characterized as first contact, comprehensiveness, continuity and coordination of care.

What we’re working on: 

AAFP submitted comments and joined a sign-on letter to the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) and recommended ways to establish a stronger approach to use AI as part of clinical care. In our letter, the AAFP highlighted the following.

• AI technologies and medical devices must be integrated into health care in ways that are safe, effective, fair and transparent.
• HHS should include practicing physicians throughout the AI lifecycle and establish advisory panels that include primary care physicians to ensure AI tools are aligned with real-world clinical workflows and patient needs. An AAFP survey conducted jointly with Rock Health in September 2024 found that many primary care physicians reported having little to no involvement in these decision‑making processes. This can lead to AI tools being implemented that impede, rather than improve, clinical workflows.
• AAFP strongly believes that AI tools should enhance, not burden, clinical practice. We support HHS prioritizing research on AI products that streamline documentation, reduce administrative burden and support clinical decision-making.
• AAFP recommends modernizing payment policies so practices, especially small and independent practices, can invest in the infrastructure needed for AI integration.

Also in the health IT arena, the AAFP submitted comments to ASTP/ONC and urged the agency to maintain key privacy, security and transparency requirements in the Health IT Certification Program and ensure that the health care system maintains a robust health IT landscape while reducing administrative burden and spurring innovation.

On the legislative side, the AAFP submitted a letter for the record ahead of a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing with Dr. Thomas Keane, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. In the letter, the Academy outlined how the committee can support the recommendations the AAFP shared with ASTP/ONC in its two recent comment letters.

AAFP urges Congress to support health care research 

Why it matters: 

Too many Americans struggle to get the care they need. Patients face long wait times, high costs and care that doesn’t always improve their health. At the same time, many physicians are burned out. Health services research helps find practical solutions to these problems. But when funding is cut, it becomes harder for our country to improve care and health outcomes.

What we’re working on:

• AAFP signed onto a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to fully fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in the next fiscal year.
• AHRQ provides research and data that help doctors, patients and policymakers make smarter health care decisions. Its work helps ensure that people get high-quality care at a reasonable cost.
• We urged Congress to provide at least $500 million for AHRQ so it can continue research that makes care safer and more affordable.
• We also asked HHS to support adequate staffing and resources so AHRQ can effectively manage its programs, research grants and scientific review process.

What we're reading

The voice of a physician has always carried weight, especially when it comes to advocacy for public policies. In a new First Opinion essay in STAT, AAFP President Sarah C. Nosal, MD, writes that it’s more important than ever for doctors to leverage their authority to push for a variety of changes that shape care both inside and beyond the exam room.

AAFP Board Chair Jen Brull, MD, spoke to Healio about how a proposed rule would cap graduate student loan borrowing. 

AAFP’s Robert Graham Center’s new thematic report on chronic disease was covered in Marketplace. The report explores how primary care plays a vital role in in the prevention, early detection and management of chronic disease while helping reduce the financial burden on both the U.S. health care system and its patients.

For the latest policy updates impacting family medicine, follow us at @aafp_advocacy.

Rebecca Campos, MD, FAAFP, can tell you exactly the moment she realized a career in medicine was for her. Her elementary school teacher introduced the class to her own siblings — twin physicians serving their hometown community of El Paso. Campos says that their example sparked an interest in her. She also credits an unexpected opportunity to teach a high school algebra class with the realization that she wanted to teach. It wasn’t until medical school and residency that she realized she could do both.

Campos is now a course director for clinical skills in the pre-clerkship curriculum at Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, where she blends compassionate care with meaningful teaching. “My journey has taught me that sometimes your path unfolds in layers — and when you remain open to opportunity, your passions can come together in ways you never imagined,” says Campos.

What advice would you give to students who are choosing a specialty?
When I meet with students, I encourage them to look at what field both ignites and sustains their interest. While there are many fields that can be fascinating, find which one will maintain the feeling of fulfillment daily and as they look forward five, 10, and 20 years from now. Align their personal strengths with their personality traits, such as the steady, long-term relationship with patients in continuity versus a fast-paced, intense environment. Every field will have both rewards and strengths, as well as trade-offs.

How do you feel about the future of the specialty?
I am hopeful and encouraged about the future of family medicine. Our specialty provides a unique relationship with longevity and depth that absolutely no other field offers. The ability to expand skills within our specialty or direct our skills more narrowly provides the flexibility to shift a practice to meet the patient’s needs and physician’s new interests. 

What makes family medicine worth choosing?
What makes family medicine a highly rewarding and valuable path is the comprehensive nature that allows meaningful patient and family relationships through the patient’s entire life. The families that span multiple generations demonstrate a continuity that is unique to our specialty and is the best example of a patient-physician relationship built on trust, purpose, and professional fulfillment.

The breadth and adaptability that family medicine offers allows us to build our practice around our interests and passions. It is a privileged experience to walk through the different seasons in a patient and family’s life. Being able to teach a wide breadth of medicine to a variety of learners in different stages of their education has also been remarkably fulfilling.

This member profile is part of TAFP's coverage of Match Day 2026, taking place on March 20, 2026. Check out all of TAFP's Match Day coverage here.

Tatiana Cordova, MD, says she was interested in medicine as far back as she can remember. She’s always had a desire to help people and was always shown how to be a helper by her father. After completing medical school, residency, and a fellowship, she knew she wanted to stay in academia as a way to “pay it back” in honor of those who taught her.

She is now core faculty for the family medicine residency program at UT Health San Antonio and serves as associate program director and medical director for the family medicine hospitalist service there. “Nothing beats every June when I reflect on how far each and every trainee has come during their residency training,” Cordova says.

What advice would you give to students who are choosing a specialty?
I would advise them to seek as many early opportunities as possible for clinical exposure to help guide them into their decisions and to keep an open mind to all options. There are some students that come into medical school with a preconceived notion of what their future holds or even what a specific specialty looks like, but are often surprised in their ultimate choice as they become more familiar with the various opportunities.

How do you feel about the future of the specialty?
Despite the many changes happening in our world, I believe the future is bright as we have more family medicine physicians who are passionate about their communities and the needs of their patients, and are dedicated enough to seek alternative ways to ensure their needs are met.

What are your hopes for future family docs?
I hope everyone understands the importance of advocacy and community involvement to better serve our patients. It's important to become involved to ensure our patient’s and community's voice is heard

What makes family medicine worth choosing?
Family medicine opens the door to many opportunities, whether through fellowship or your own choice in practice, but none better than the connections with individual patients and their families. Also, the opportunity to counsel and educate patients to prevent advancement of their medical conditions and the ability to practice full-spectrum medicine and to care for a family in all stages of their life.

What keeps you passionate about family medicine?
Being able to support my patients and the ability to educate the community. In my role as faculty I have been able to participate in various community engagement events which furthers the community connections that allow us to make a difference.

This member profile is part of TAFP's coverage of Match Day 2026, taking place on March 20, 2026. Check out all of TAFP's Match Day coverage here.

Raised in a large, blended family in San Antonio, Joshua Mihalik chose medicine because a desire to help others was instilled in him from an early age. He might be the first physician in his family, but a few relatives helped light the way to a medical career. His father served in the Army, providing care to those wounded in active duty, and his stepfather has a long career as a nurse who now practices at the VA. Now a fourth-year student at Texas Tech Health El Paso, Mihalik plans to match into rural family medicine on Match Day.

How did you choose family medicine?
I think of my path to family medicine as three trails that ended up meeting at the end of the hike, with family medicine as the finish. For me, I realized early in medical school how much joy I get from interacting with patients and building real relationships with them daily. After that, the versatility of family medicine really drew me into the specialty. Like many medical students, I love learning and have a yearning to know as much as I can so I can be the best physician I can be.

To me, family medicine represents the crux of mastering a lot of diverse information and skills, using them to find and provide the best care for your patient and condensing it into accessible bites for patients. Lastly, I have been moved to always ask myself if I am serving others as much as I can, and this has led me to pursue more advocacy. In family medicine, I believe family doctors are the ideal health care providers to help bridge the gap between the voices of patients and those who decide how they receive health care.

What are your hopes for your career?
I hope to practice rural family medicine in Texas, with a balance of inpatient, outpatient, and obstetrics, while working with my partner to improve the health of the community we end up in. I also hope to become further involved in the legislative process for health care in Texas to help strengthen the voices of physicians in making decisions regarding how health care is conducted. I plan to do this by becoming more involved in TAFP and AAFP, as well as local chapters where I practice. I also hope to become a mentor to future medical students and hopefully inspire them to pursue family medicine as well.

What would you tell medical students who are early in their education about preparing for match and choosing a specialty?
I wish I had sought out a mentor sooner in medical school, so that is always my top advice for incoming medical students and those seeking guidance for their future career. I am fortunate to have found a family medicine mentor in the past year who has helped me prepare for my future in ways I did not think of but am so grateful for now. A mentor is a priceless source of wisdom, information, and reassurance when you are overthinking everything as application season approaches.

What surprised you most about interview season?
How nice everyone was! All the applicants, residents, residency program staff, and administration were so nice throughout the interview process. I feel very blessed to be going into a field with so many people who will make going to work that much easier.

What was the hardest part of the match process?
Deciding on my top-ranking programs. Because everyone is so nice, it really came down to what my goals for the future are and how each program could help me achieve those goals while helping me remember why I chose family medicine in the first place. I know wherever I end up, I will work with the program and my co-residents to become the best family doctor I can be for my future patients and community.

This member profile is part of TAFP's coverage of Match Day 2026, taking place on March 20, 2026. Check out all of TAFP's Match Day coverage here.