Texas family physicians step into AAFP leadership roles

Thousands of family physicians and other health care professionals traveled from across the country to Nashville last week for AAFP’s Congress of Delegates and FMX. This included more than 300 attendees from Texas including TAFP leaders, family physicians, and family medicine residents.

The Congress of Delegates met for two-and-a-half days to conduct official Academy business. Thank you to all TAFP members for attending, including this year’s Texas delegation: Clare Hawkins, MD, MSc; Emily Briggs, MD, MPH; Tricia Elliott, MD, MBA; and Janet Hurley, MD, MBA. Briggs was reappointed as chair of AAFP’s delegation to the American Medical Association.

For the first time ever, Texas also had four delegates representing the member constituencies. Astrud Villareal, MD, and Carmella DeSerto, MD, served as alternate delegates as the representatives for the women’s constituency and the LGBTQ+ constituency, respectively. Joaquin Villegas, MD, MPH, and Kenneth Barning, MD, served as delegates. Thank you all for representing Texas well!

AAFP also honored this year’s award winners during COD, including two residents from Texas who won the Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education. AAFP only honors 12 residents nationwide with this annual award, recognizing their exemplary patient care, leadership, and community involvement. 

Nayeli Fuentes, MD, is a third-year resident at the University of Texas at Tyler Family Medicine Residency program. She is the first physician in her family and considers this award to be a testament to her perseverance and commitment to breaking barriers for not only her patients, but also future generations of family physicians. 

Timothy Ihongbe, MD, MPH, PhD, is a third-year resident and chief resident at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center of the Permian Basin. He is particularly proud of his work teaching difficult concepts, helping colleagues, creating resources for clinical practice, and turning learning environment problems into opportunities to improve. Congratulations to Drs. Fuentes and Ihongbe!

As the Congress of Delegates events wound down and FMX ramped up, TAFP hosted a reception for all Texas attendees. Around 100 TAFP members and Texas guests gathered at City Winery in downtown Nashville for fellowship time with colleagues, refreshments, and a good time! Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Thank you again to everyone who traveled to Nashville to represent Texas at yet another great AAFP Congress of Delegates and FMX.

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