America’s Family Physicians Are Newest NHM Supporters

The American Academy of Family Physicians, the nation’s only medical specialty society devoted solely to primary care, has made a $75,000 pledge to support the development of the National Health Museum in Washington, D.C.

“America’s family physicians are dedicated to educating and empowering their patients to lead healthier lives,” said Douglas E. Henley, M.D., executive vice president of the AAFP. “While patient education happens on the individual level every day in family physicians’ offices, the National Health Museum will offer us a powerful new way to reach the broader public and impact their health. The AAFP is proud to support this innovative new museum.”

The AAFP’s three-year pledge of $25,000 per year was made as part of the Museum’s Federation of Medicine Campaign, a major initiative designed to involve the nation’s leading medical specialty organizations in the Museum’s development.

The AAFP’s gift will be used to support overall Museum operations, including ongoing efforts to secure a location at the national Mall in Washington, D.C. It will also help support Access Excellence, the Museum’s award-winning Web site for health and life science teachers and learners.

“We are proud to have the support of America’s family physicians, who are at the core of health care in this country — both as an integral component of its history and a vital part of its future,” said J. Mark Dunham, acting president of the NHM. “The AAFP’s leadership in the Federation of Medicine Campaign will help us to create a truly unique Museum that will not only inspire people of all ages to lead healthier lives, but will also inspire young people to consider careers in medicine.”

The AAFP represents more than 94,300 physicians and medical students nationwide. Family physicians, like other medical specialists, complete an extensive three-year residency program after graduating from medical school. As part of their residency, family physicians receive training in six major medical areas: pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, psychiatry and neurology, surgery and community medicine. They also receive instruction in many other areas including geriatrics, emergency medicine, ophthalmology, radiology, orthopedics, otolaryngology and urology. As a result, family physicians are the only specialists qualified to treat most ailments, and to provide comprehensive health care for people of all ages.

Family physicians are trained to treat a broad range of illnesses including influenza, ear infections, allergies, chest pains and back problems, and provide ongoing care for a variety of conditions, including prenatal care, depression, diabetes and hypertension. In fact, almost 210 million office visits are made to family physicians each year — 75 million more visits than to any other medical specialty.

The National Health Museum will feature health-oriented exhibitions and educational programming, a state-of-the-art health conference center and special resources for K-12 students. It will seek to motivate people to learn more about their health needs and make positive lifestyle changes that will benefit their personal and their family health; inspire people, especially youth, to pursue careers in health by exploring growing opportunities in this field; promote appreciation of our nation’s health science and medical heritage; and serve as an independent, unbiased center of dialogue about health issues.

For more information on the American Academy of Family Physicians, visit http://www.aafp.org.