The Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP) Delegates and Alternate Delegates participated in the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Congress of Delegates (COD), held October 19–21, in Nashville, TN.

Prior to the meeting, written testimony on submitted resolutions was collected from AAFP members through an online platform. Virtual Reference Committees then reviewed this testimony and prepared preliminary reports, which were made available to members in advance of the COD. During the in-person COD, two Reference Committees met to address extracted items from those reports, as well as member and late resolutions.

Louisiana was well-represented at the COD. Attendees included:

• James Taylor, MD, FAAFP, of Zachary, LA - LAFP Delegate
• Richard Bridges, MD, FAAFP, of Amite, LA - LAFP Delegate
• Vincent Shaw, MD, FAAFP, of Baton Rouge, LA - LAFP Alternate Delegate
• Lisa Casey, MD, of New Orleans, LA - LAFP Alternate Delegate
• Ragan LeBlanc - Executive Vice President

COD Highlights

Town Hall Session
The evening before the official start of the COD featured a Town Hall with remarks from AAFP Board Chair Jennifer Brull, MD, FAAFP; AAFP President Sarah Nosal, MD, FAAFP; AAFP President-Elect Kisha Davis, MD, MPH, FAAFP; and EVP/CEO Shawn Martin. Members were invited to ask questions following brief presentations.

Day One
The first official day opened with reports from the Credentials, Nominating, and Rules Committees, followed by the introduction of member and late resolutions. Delegates then heard the addresses of AAFP Speaker Russell Kohl, MD, FAAFP; and AAFP President Dr. Nosal.

Consent calendars from the Reference Committees were approved, except for extracted resolutions.  The extracted resolutions were heard in the reference committees in the afternoon.  The day ended with the Candidates’ Hospitality Night. 

Day Two
Day two began with the farewell address from Board Chair Dr. Brull and greetings from several partner organizations, including the:

• American Medical Association (AMA)
• World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)
• College of Family Physicians of Canada
• American Board of Family Medicine
• American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• AAFP AMA Delegation
• AAFP Foundation
• FamMedPAC
• Council of Academic Family Medicine
• FUTURE and NCCL.

President-Elect Dr. Davis delivered her address, followed by the Candidates Forum. Six candidates, delivered speeches and participated in a Q&A session for the Director positions. A similar process was followed for the three President-Elect candidates.

After lunch, the COD resumed with continued hearings and voting on Reference Committee reports and resolutions.  That evening, delegates, alternate delegates, and chapter presidents attended the “Meet the Candidates” sessions.

Final Day: Elections and Closing Activities
The final day of the COD featured the election of new officers and board members:

• President-Elect: Russell W. Kohl, MD, FAAFP
• Speaker: Daron Gersch, MD, FAAFP,
• Vice-Speaker: Beverly Jordan, MD, FAAFP
• Directors: Jason E. Marker, MD, MPA, FAAFP; Domenic W. Casablanca, MD, FAAFP, DABFM; and Renee Crichlow, MD, FAAFP
• New Physician Director: Robert Assibey, MD, FAAFP
• Resident Director: Alexandra Greenberg, MD, MSPH, MS
• Student Director: Lauren Hutchinson

Kisha Davis, MD, MPH, FAAFP was installed as the 2026–27 AAFP president. A complete list of officers and board members can be found on the AAFP website.

Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 COD such a great success!