Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians’ (LAFP) chapter leaders met in Kansas City, MO, May 8 – 11 for the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL), the Annual Chapter Leader Forum (ACLF), and the State Leadership Conference (SLC).

NCCL is the AAFP’s premier policy development event for underrepresented constituencies, including women; minorities; new physicians; international medical graduates (IMG); and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) physicians or physicians who support LGBT issues. Louisiana’s official delegates to NCCL included Emily Holt, DO (new physician representative); Natalie Trujillo-Aguirre MD (minority physician representative); Lisa Casey, MD (women physician representative); and Richard Edward Bridges MD, FAAFP (IMG physician representative).

ACLF is the AAFP’s leadership development program for chapter-elected leaders, aspiring leaders, and chapter staff. Louisiana members attending included LAFP President elect, Vincent Shaw, MD, FAAFP.  Staff members in attendance included Ragan LeBlanc, Executive Vice President, Lee Ann Albert, Membership and Outreach Coordinator and Lisa Lapeyrouse, Marketing and Events Coordinator.

This year, the AAFP added the SLC to the multi-day schedule which built a network for sharing state legislative wins/challenges and an environment for enhanced advocacy training. Most of Louisiana’s delegation stayed the extra day to hone their legislative and regulatory skills.

Other highlights of NCCL/ACLF/SLC included:

• All of our NCCL delegates participated in the special constituency election process to fill various national-level leadership positions – each did a tremendous job.
• An opening session, Town Hall discussion, and a special elections session were held with AAFP’s senior leadership. One critical discussion was centered on the work being conducted to reimagine the process for electing national leaders to the AAFP’s Board of Directors. The session was created to not only to provide an update on the process to date, but to listen and gather concerns before a resolution is presented to the AAFP Congress of Delegates for a vote.
• A keynote speaker from the Lorne Breen Heroes Foundation addressed all participants on the critical importance of mental health and well-being of the healthcare workforce.
• Members participated in breakout sessions that covered governance; communications; advocacy; media relations; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and membership issues.

In 2024, the three-part leadership conference will be held Thursday-Saturday, April 18-20, 2024, in Kansas City. Save the date and plan to attend next year!