Useful Resources

Family Medicine Organizations

  • American Board of Family Medicine: The ABFP is the medical specialty board responsible for the establishment of high standards of excellence in the specialty of Family Medicine and for the design and administration of the family medicine specialty certification examination.
  • American Academy of Family Physicians: The AAFP is a national medical association of family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students whose purpose is to promote and maintain high quality standards among family physicians and to provide advocacy on behalf of patients and the profession. Our state chapter is the California Academy of Family Physicians.
  • Society of Teachers of Family Medicine: STFM is an academic family medicine organization that strives "to enhance family medicine education by developing and supporting a community of educators, scholars and clinicians."
  • North American Primary Care Research Group: NAPCRG is a multidisciplinary organization that fosters the development of primary care research.
  • Collaborative Family HealthCare Association: The CFHA is a multi-disciplinary group of health care professionals who study, implement and advocate for the collaborative family health care paradigm.
  • World Organization of Family Doctors: A worldwide partnership of family medicine organizations.

National Meetings

  • AAFP National Conference of Residents and Students in Kansas City in late July/early August. It is an excellent meeting--geared to students and residents; great presentations at their level and interests; good opportunity to see how important FM is in the rest of the world. Also, at least 50% of the ~425 FM residency programs have booths at the meeting so students can save money on residency trip travel by talking to programs at the meeting. Great networking and information. There are scholarships available.
  • Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Medical Student Education Conference – Late January, for students interested in academic FM, scholarships available. We strongly encourage you to submit abstracts.
  • Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Annual Conference – April or May, very large attendance, but not specifically geared to students.
  • Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and National Medical Association - the local NMA group contact here is Sinkler Miller in Oakland.

On-line Resources

Options for Loan Repayment & Scholarships

  • California: The Steven M. Thompson Physicians Corps (STLRP) is a loan repayment program for doctors designed to increase health care access in the underserved populations of California. Some sites in the Bay Area qualify for this. The program offers loan forgiveness to participating primary care doctors in exchange for a 3-year service commitment after residency in a medically underserved area of the state.
  • Indian Health Service Loan Repayment
  • National Health Services Corps: The National Health Services Corps (NHSC) recruits and places health professionals at eligible sites within federally designated HPSAs. NHSC recruits primary care physicians who serve in community-based systems of care in return for scholarship or loan repayment assistance.
  • Pisacano Scholarship: Applications are available for entering fourth year U.S. medical students who have declared Family Medicine as their specialty. The Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program will provide education programs, leadership training and funding over a four-year period to award recipients. Funds are intended to reduce medical-school debt and are not based on financial need. Applicants are judged on their commitment to Family Medicine, leadership qualities, academic performance, and involvement in helping others. Deadline: Late February - early March each year.
  • General scholarship information is available from FedMoney.org
  • Financial Assistance Fund for UCSF medical students matching at a UCSF Family Medicine Residency Program - Dr. C.E. Wells Alumni Assistance Fund in Family and Community Medicine: Contact Roy Johnston.
  • Student Loan Repayment Resources for BIPOC Physicians