The History of the LAFP
The Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians is the state association of family doctors. It is one of the state's largest medical specialty organizations, with more than 1,600 members. The LAFP, headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA, serves the family medicine community and provide a unified voice for family medicine. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the LAFP’s parent organization, maintains a membership of more than 115,900 members in 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.
The LAFP was founded in 1947 to promote and maintain high quality standards for family doctors who are providing continuing comprehensive health care to the public.
Other major purposes of the Academy include:
-
Advocating for family physicians to lawmakers, organized medicine and the public;
-
Providing high-quality continuing medical education to physicians in Louisiana;
-
Keeping members informed of changes in health care; and
-
Nurturing the next generation of family physicians.
The LAFP is governed by a board of directors comprised of members from throughout the state. The board establishes and reviews Academy policy and plans during the LAFP Quarterly Board Meetings and the annual General Assembly meeting. LAFP member committees study, analyze and make informed policy recommendations to the board.
The LAFP tracks and lobbies for legislation impacting family physicians and their patients. The Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians Political Action Committee (LaFamPac), the political voice of family medicine in Louisiana, speaks on behalf of Louisiana family physicians and their patients through grassroots involvement, personal relationships with elected officials and political campaign participation and contributions. LaFamPac is a non-partisan political action committee that supports candidates who prioritize issues important to family physicians and their patients.
The Academy wishes to equip family physicians with beneficial tools for the continual improvement of the specialty. To do this, the LAFP promotes the constant education of members to help them meet the required 150 hours of approved continuing education every three years to retain membership. This requirement is met through continuing education programs which the LAFP offers throughout the year.
The LAFP maintains communication with its members through an up-to-date Web site that contains information about CME activities, legislative issues and current medical news. The Academy publishes a quarterly journal, Louisiana Family Doctor, and several smaller publications throughout the year. Members also receive the Weekly Family Medicine Update, an electronic newsletter.
