Kelvin Alexis Alvarez, MS2
Keck School of Medicine, USC
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to the LA Academy of Family Physicians for supporting me in attending the CAFP Prisms of Practice Conference. I felt so welcomed, revitalized, and excited about family medicine through this experience. I look forward to becoming more involved in FM throughout my medical school career!
As a second-year medical student, I am balancing my preclinical curriculum while exploring my specialty and career interests – and I always find myself drawn toward Family Medicine. The specialty focuses on comprehensive and holistic health care in and out of the clinic. We care about patients on an individual, community, and systemic level. All the FM physicians and leaders I have met embody this sentiment.
I also learned so much in all the sessions! From Trauma Informed Care and Medical Abortion to tips on financial literacy and residency apps to skills such as pap smears, suturing, and POCUS, I came out of the conference with many more skills that will set me up for success in medical school.
At POP, I was so excited to see many familiar faces from AMAM and AAFP National Conference in 2023 and even more excited to make many more friends and connections. Everyone was so supportive and encouraging of my academic goals and professional interests. I enjoyed the Sunday LA AFP meeting and was happy to be part of the team planning some chapter-wide community service events! Attending the conference reminded me how much Family Medicine feels like a family!
Amir Nader Bahmani, PGY-1
HCA Riverside
The POP conference was a fun staple for family medicine practitioners in California. It featured various topics, including the latest advancements in primary care, patient management, and healthcare policy. This diversity allows healthcare professionals to gain a holistic understanding of primary care and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. Attendees, including resident physicians like me, benefited from workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. The conference hosted renowned keynote speakers who shared their expertise in family medicine.
The POP conferences attracted healthcare professionals from various backgrounds, including residency directors who met with aspiring medical students. It provided an excellent platform for networking, allowing students to connect with peers, experienced practitioners, and even potential mentors. These connections will be invaluable for students’ career development. For example, meeting Los Angeles chapter members offered me a great deal of insight into the exciting future of this chapter. Attending the POP conferences reignited my passion for medicine. Listening to the success stories of people like Dr. McDonald and understanding the dedication of other family physicians to the field can be incredibly motivating and remind you of the importance of your work.
On day two of the POP conference, over 15 different breakout sessions allowed individuals to customize their experience based on their preferences. I chose Value-based care, Gender expansive care, behavioral health integration, Financial Updates for Family Physicians, and Updates in Hormone Replacement Therapy. Each of these sessions featured renowned keynote speakers and experts in the field. Listening to these speakers share their insights and experiences was inspiring and educational. It allowed me to learn from the best in the field of medicine.
During the last day of the conference, I attended Dermatology, Musculoskeletal (MSK), and POCUS workshops, which briefly taught resident physicians’ essential procedures. These workshops provided practical skills and knowledge that can significantly enhance my ability to diagnose and manage various medical conditions in primary care settings. They align with my goal of providing excellent healthcare while potentially expanding my practice services.
The POP conference was stunning because it offered a wealth of knowledge, networking opportunities, and inspiration. It will be vital to a healthcare professional’s ongoing education and career development, contributing to delivering high-quality patient care and helping everyone achieve their goals.
Soomin Jung, PGY-3
California Hospital
I am so thankful that I was able to attend the first ever CAFP Prism of Practice (POP) conference, which took place Aug 2023. It was amazing to be able to connect with everyone who is in various stages of their training – students, residents, attendings, and even those who have retired! I was able to sit in, listen, and to learn more about various topics of family medicine: poster presentations, COVID, diabetes, pathway projects, and so much more. It was incredibly humbling and motivating to see the vastness of family medicine, and to know that this is the very community that I can continue to grow with. In addition, I loved attending the annual LAAFP meeting – it warmed my heart so much to see students, residents, and doctors who are practicing family medicine in such unique ways, and are also passionate about how family medicine can positively impact LA county as a whole.
I am always so grateful that LAAFP prioritizes and supports students and residents’ involvement including attending events, such as the CAFP POP conference. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of LAAFP and thank you for investing into the next generation of students and residents.
Shirley Mori, MD, PGY-3
Charles Drew Family Medicine
I would like to state that attending the California Academy of Family Physicians POP conference was an amazing experience for me. As a third-year resident, I was thankful to finally have the opportunity to attend the conference. I am also thankful to the Los Angeles Academy of Family Physicians for granting me a scholarship.
As a first-generation college graduate and physician, I appreciate the opportunity to attend this conference; it enhances my professional life and has an impact on my career and my advancement in medicine.
Participating in the conference also gave me tools that I can use with the underserved communities in which I work. I especially enjoyed the ACES aware workshop and learning about Trauma informed care. I also really gained valuable skills during the procedure workshops in which I learned skin biopsy techniques, trigger point injections and ultrasound to further enhance my practice. One of the highlights of the conference was also attending the LAAFP meeting in which I was able to meet and network with members that also work at FQHC’s.
I really enjoyed my time at the conference and I believe the tools that I learned at the conference will help make a difference in my patients’ lives.
Ernie Rodriguez, MBA
M.D. Candidate || UAG School of Medicine
AAFP FMIG Network National Coordinator
The 2023 CAFP Family Medicine Pop was bursting with many exciting possibilities. Conference started with “The Necessity of Action”, a captivating and stimulating keynote speech by Dr. Renee Crichlow. Followed by a leadership panel session of three inspiring leaders sharing their stories, triumphs, and the importance of physician leadership. Medicine involves leadership. As future physicians, it is imperative that we develop leaderships skills as we will be leading a team of medical students and/or residents. The Family Medicine POP was filled with many learning sessions and workshops providing me with an advanced knowledge and leadership growth.
As a first-generation Hispanic medical student, I know firsthand how challenging it may be navigating the medical world. Immersing myself in medical conferences, such as, the Family Medicine POP has been helpful for professional and personal growth; it has offered me an opportunity to meet and connect with medical students, resident physicians, physicians, and residency program directors. I’ve witnessed firsthand the diversity, love for the specialty and representation from international medical students interested in the field of family medicine.
On my last day of conference, I attended the LA Chapter Annual Meeting where I accepted a nomination to serve in a prestigious position which further exemplifies my commitment to the specialty. Most importantly, I had an opportunity to join a team to help build a mobile street medicine community service project and a pathway program for high school and pre-med students. Both essential to stimulating community engagement and to inspire the next generation of family physicians.
I’m grateful and thankful to the LAAFP executive board for awarding me this scholarship. I aspire to match into a full-spectrum family residency program, where I can further my interest in obstetrics, medical education, and leadership. The LAAFP has provided me a pathway to continue chasing my dreams.
For more information regarding Mr. Rodrigues’s journey in medicine, please see the following link and view his AAFP interview response.
https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/the-everyone-project/aafp-center-for-diversity-and-health-equity/hispanic-and-latino-heritage-month.html
