Desiree R. Acosta MPH 3rd/4th Year
PRIME-LA at David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA
I am incredibly grateful for your support in helping me attend the National AAFP Conference. It was a transformative experience that left me feeling energized and more passionate than ever about pursuing family medicine. The workshops I attended provided valuable insights into the vast array of knowledge a family physician holds, and I was able to learn new skills that I will carry with me throughout my career.
One of the highlights of the conference was reconnecting with medical students, residents, and faculty members I had previously met at CAFP’s AMAM, as well as forging new connections. The opportunity to explore various family medicine programs was inspiring, and it made me even more excited about entering residency. I was thrilled to discover the abundance of excellent programs and the endless opportunities they offer.
This conference has contributed significantly to my personal growth, and I am eagerly looking forward to attending POP and continuing my journey toward becoming a family medicine physician.
Jessica Ekeya, MS3
Keck School of Medicine of USC
I was encouraged by colleagues I met at the STFM Annual Spring Conference to attend the AAFP National Conference so I could continue to grow my network of like-minded family medicine physicians, residents, and students. One of my main goals in attending the AAFP National Conference was to explore residency programs before I apply in the Fall. However, I quickly learned that the AAFP National Conference is so much more than a networking opportunity. I learned more than I could have even imagined.
When I entered the convention center on Thursday afternoon, the excitement among attendees was palpable. It was inspiring to see a Nigerian-American female physician with a background very similar to my own, highlighted as the keynote speaker. She spoke about the importance of health equity and diversity and received an enthusiastic standing ovation. I knew from that moment that I had found “my people.” Throughout the conference, I attended engaging sessions including how to craft your residency application, interviewing skills, mental health and resiliency, leadership and advocacy procedures, and much more. I also benefitted from invaluable networking opportunities with residency programs across the country. The conference was a dynamic environment of peers and mentors. I was able to build confidence in my identity as a future family physician. I left feeling invigorated and excited about what the future holds for our field.
It was also an important space of reflection about my own educational journey and goals. It was gratifying to reflect on how I had overcome the challenging transition to medical school to now have graduation on the horizon. Thank you so much for this life-changing opportunity to build lasting relationships, practice fundamental clinical skills, and make plans for my future career: I am eternally grateful.
Anthony Kim, MS4
Keck School of Medicine of USC
I am very thankful to the LAAFP for supporting me to go to the AAFP Kansas City National Conference this year. It was my first time attending, and while I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, this scholarship could not have come at a better moment particularly as a rising fourth year student.
It was amazing to see so many people who were so passionate about Family Medicine, and surreal to see so many fellow students from all across the country. Family Medicine had felt a little bit like a solitary gig to me unless you were in a residency program or a larger clinic with many fellow colleagues, so seeing thousands of people all here to advance the field was very inspiring.
One of several very helpful sessions I attended was about financial literacy; something that is oft-ignored but a very real problem that I myself have worried about for quite some time. The exhibition hall with all the residencies, of course, was incredible. I had the opportunity to speak with many of the California programs I had heard about, and even some unfamiliar ones out of state. It was invaluable to be able to see people, shake hands with them, and share a few words and laughs. It helped me get a sense of what my future might look like, and now I eagerly await the great things to come. Thank you so much, LAAFP.
Jessica Malisa, MS4
Keck School of Medicine of USC
The moment I stepped into the convention center confirmed what I already knew. Family medicine is the specialty where I belong. Surrounded by peers, residents, and attendings, I spent the three days of the AAFP national conference trying to take in as much as I could. From the events highlighting residency application tips, to procedural workshops and advocacy meetings, I had the opportunity to learn so much at the conference. For instance, I went to a workshop called disruptive leadership and finding your voice in advocacy. The speaker came from a completely different background than me and was working in Tennessee in a completely different setting than me. One of my favorite things about this workshop was getting to learn from people in other settings and hearing different perspectives on problem solving and advocacy. I met many other medical students at the conference just as excited to begin a career in family medicine. We talked about our future goals and interests in family medicine. On breaks, I had conversations with physicians about their practice and career in family medicine. I also had the opportunity to see different residencies at the expo fair. It was a great experience overall and I look forward to attending as my career moves forward.
Samantha Rodriguez, MS4
Keck School of Medicine of USC
This past weekend was an amazing experience for me, and it was my first time being able to attend the national conference. When I first got there, I was looking at the multitude of options of activities made available to us and creating my schedule. There were IUD insertion workshop, talks about how to treat SUD, and sessions for advice on the residency application process.
I attended the session with Dr. Olayiwola and got to hear about her life experiences, current hurdles in medicine, and how she came to be a family medicine physician. It felt inspiring to hear her story and look around at the hundreds of attendees with the same goals and mindset.
One of the best parts of this conference was being able to network with the many residents and program directors that attended. Initially, I felt overwhelmed by the many options of programs available. I felt nervous, as well, at the start because I am more introverted. Once I started, I felt more and more comfortable. Everyone was extremely friendly, and it was great to hear about these programs and what they have to offer to their residents. Being able to talk to the program directors and residents allowed me to have a better view of how the faculty are at these programs and how residents view the program itself. After speaking to these programs, I felt more open to applying to programs outside of California which is not something I had initially considered.
This conference was also a reminder of how friendly individuals who are in family medicine or aim to become a family medicine physician are. Whenever I was sitting alone at a table, it was easy to spark conversation with others and learn about where they’re traveling from and what brought them to the conference. I am truly grateful to have received this scholarship and have the opportunity to attend this conference. I feel that attending this further solidified my interest and decision to pursue this field.
Martha Romero, MS2
Charles R. Drew University, College of Medicine
Attending the 2024 AAFP National Conference was an eye-opening experience that solidified my passion for family medicine and reignited my passion for advocacy and leadership within family medicine. As a first-generation medical student in my medical school’s inaugural class, the guidance on residency applications and the connections made with other students interested in family medicine were invaluable. Seeing Latinos excel in leadership and residency roles within family medicine filled me with immense pride and determination. In the future, I aspire to be like them and work in health clinics at the heart of underserved communities, addressing language barriers and fostering meaningful patient-physician interactions.
The opportunity to attend the 2024 Family Medicine POP conference will further enhance my understanding of the residency application process and help me connect more deeply with California family medicine residency programs. I hope to stay in California for residency, so the insights gained at this conference will be crucial in familiarizing myself with California programs and identifying key areas to focus on to become a competitive applicant. This scholarship will alleviate financial barriers, allowing me to fully embrace this transformative experience and deepen my commitment to family medicine.
Martin Vazquez, MS2
Charles R. Drew University, College of Medicine
Attending the 2024 AAFP National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri allowed me the opportunity to begin to set a firm foundation in my journey into family medicine. I was surrounded by medical students, residents and seasoned physicians and listening to their “why family medicine” captivated and solidified my reasoning of choosing this specialty. I attended the ERAS workshop, where I got some important updated and key details on the residency application process. Even though I am entering my second year of medical school, many exhibitors and residency programs were excited to welcome me to apply to their programs. This opportunity to talk to the residents and residency directors one-on-one was amazing, I was able to get questions answered on the spot and they even congratulated me for attending the conference early.
When I attended the Underrepresented in Medicine Special Interest Discussion, I felt at home surrounded with so many BIPOC students, residents, and physician leaders. Here I was introduced to the SNMA and LMSA AAFP Liaisons. They were able to connect me with many resources and leadership opportunities that I can bring back for our growing Family Medicine Interest Group at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science COM. I highly recommend this opportunity to any budding family medicine medical student. I want to thank LAAFP for offering me this opportunity to explore and solidify my journey into family medicine. I am honored to be a part of the LAAFP and look forward to continuing working with our chapter on future events and opportunities.
Angela Zeng, MS2
Keck School of Medicine of USC
It was my first time going to the AAFP National Conference and it was so much more fun than I expected it to be! As an M2, it was exciting to practice procedural skills, learn more about a career in family medicine, and chat with residency programs. I was inspired listening to residents talk about their experiences and am feeling more excited to pursue a family medicine residency. Most of all, I loved connecting with other medical students from Keck, the Keck residents, and Keck alumni. I am grateful that I was able to build meaningful relationships with the Trojan family that made me feel supported in my journey to becoming a family physician. Thank you to the LAAFP scholarship for making this opportunity possible! I will definitely be coming back to this conference!
