UNMCs student-run Family Practice Club has been named one of 10 recipients
of the American Academy of Family Physicians 2002 Program of Excellence
Awards.
The annual award is given to those who exhibit exemplary efforts in
the following areas: infrastructure, student involvement/student retention,
family practice advocacy and community outreach/patient advocacy. The AAFP
is the nations second largest physician organization.
“This national award is a tremendous tribute to the hard work of the
officers and their support staff in the department of family medicine,
and the quality of programs sponsored by the club for our medical students,
said Paul Paulman, M.D., professor in UNMCs department of family medicine
and the clubs adviser.
Barbara Goodman and Suellen Dashner of the department of family medicine
also provide support for the club.
UNMCs Family Practice Club is one of the largest and most active student
interest groups on campus with more than 60 percent of all UNMC medical
students as active members, said Tami Dodd, UNMC Family Practice Club president.
The club advocates family practice medicine through a variety of programs
and activities including:
Catch a Kid program The new program gives first- and second-year medical
students an opportunity to observe and assist UNMC Family Medicine residents
in obstetrical care and delivery.
Anti-smoking campaigns — Club members promote anti-smoking campaigns
by educating children about the dangers of tobacco use. During the 2001-2002
school year, 23 first and second-year medical students made presentations
to 782 students at 15 schools.
In partnership with the UNMC American Medical Association-Medical Student
Section, the group also conducted a letter-writing campaign to support
LB1149 a bill that would increase the tax on cigarettes by 50-cents per
pack.
Family Practice Residency Fair — Each year, the club sponsors the annual
Family Practice Residency Fair, which provides students in the Midwest
an opportunity to learn about different family medicine programs. The event
also serves as a major fund-raiser for the club.
Besides UNMC, the following family practice clubs were honored with
the AAFP award:
· Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health
· University of Missouri, Columbia School of Medicine
· James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State
University
· Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
· The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
· University of Texas School of Medicine, San Antonio
· The University of Utah School of Medicine
· Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
· University of Kansas School of Medicine