The American Academy of Family Physicians has elected Deborah
McPherson, M.D., as a board member of the AAFP, the 11-member governing
body made up of nine family medicine physicians, one medical resident and
one medical student. This is the first time a Nebraskan has served on the
board.
McPherson, 39, a family medicine resident at the University of Nebraska
Medical Center, for one year will represent the interests and opinions
of the 11,000 family medicine residents in the 85,000-member organization.
The academy, founded in 1947 to promote and maintain high quality standards
for family physicians, is a non-profit medical association of family physicians,
family medicine residents and medical students.
When entering medical school in 1993 at the age of 33, the former
human resources manager knew she wanted to be a family physician and immediately
joined the AAFP. Her decision was influenced by family physicians who helped
her through some of the tough times in her life.
“My mother spent a year in intensive care following a car accident
when I was in high school and it was the family physician who called our
house every single day, McPherson said. Then when I was 29, my husband
died and a family physician got me through that.”
McPherson, now remarried with four children, ages 17, 14, 7, and 2,
is in her third and last year of residency training.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has
established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research
and treatment and solid organ transplantation. More than $34 million in
research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually.
In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more
health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.