UNMC’s student-run Family Practice Club has been named one of 10 recipients of the American Academy of Family Physician’s 2002 Program of Excellence Awards.
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UNMC Family Practice Club Officers, 2001-2002: Front left — Catherine Craig, DOC coordinator; Tami Dodds, president; Mike Bauer, vice-president; Terri Myers, secretary; Andrea Rasmussen, Tar Wars; Back left — David Mair, recruitment chair/treasurer; Jessica Banks, DOC coordinator; Clark Diffendaffer, DOC coordinator; Dr. Paul Paulman, advisor; (not pictured: Neil Bratney, Tar Wars). |
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 nation’s 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 UNMC’s department of family medicine and the club’s adviser.
Barbara Goodman and Suellen Dashner of the department of family medicine also provide support for the club.
UNMC’s 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 club’s 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