Ariana Vajdi, MS2
Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine
Attending the AAFP National Conference this year opened my eyes to such a breadth of the field of Family Medicine. As a medical student entering my second year, it was really helpful to simply gain exposure to various niches within Family Medicine, likeminded peers, and a plethora of residency programs all over the country. Especially since I attend a brand-new medical school here at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine (KPSOM), our pool of upperclassmen and historical resources is quite limited—we are building the experience that will support future KPSOM students every day. For this reason, it was especially helpful to connect with likeminded peers on a similar path and a few steps ahead of me to learn about various opportunities I might be interested in, mentors I can connect with, and to broaden my scope of how I may envision my future career. I learned about a fellowship in lifestyle medicine, leadership positions in the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and built connections with potential residency programs—all of which would not have been possible without National Conference!
I wanted to express my immense gratitude to the LAAFP for providing me with the opportunity to learn.
