UAFP 2026 Board Elections
UAFP Election Information
The Utah Academy of Family Physicians is conducting the annual election for president-elect and candidates running for at-large board membership.
With one nominee for the open president position and seven nominees for seven open seats on the UAFP Board of Directors, voting will be conducted as an up-or-down vote for each candidate.
Ballots will be sent out via email to all active, lifetime, and resident members on Monday, May 11, 2026 at 8:00am MT. Voting will close on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 5:00pm MDT (there is one additional day to vote this year due to the Memorial Day Holiday taking place during elections). If you do not receive your ballot by email, or have questions about the elections, please email us or call 801-736-0722.
NOMINEE FOR UAFP PRESIDENT-ELECT
Katherine Hastings, MD
Originally from Texas, I studied philosophy at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, attended Georgetown University School of Medicine, and completed my residency training at the University of Utah. After a few years of practice in Missoula Montana, and the difficulties of starting a family away from family, I resettled in Salt Lake with my family and re-joined the University of Utah Madsen Family Clinic 5 years ago. After 5 years in a consistent practice I finally feel like I am getting to embrace the core of being a family physician by caring for families, year after year. I practice broad spectrum outpatient medicine with an interest in adolescent, young adult and women's health. I have grown clinical expertise in women's health procedures, birth control management, mental health, stress management and eating disorder management. In my 5 years at the University I have explored both educational and administrative roles, serving as the Family Medicine Clerkship Co-Director and the Clinic Director at Madsen. As the University of Utah School of Medicine roles out a new Mission Driven Curriculum I am leading the team building longitudinal clerkships opportunities throughout the state.
Why Dr. Hastings wants to serve as president of the UAFP board:
I moved to Utah for my Family Medicine residency and stayed for my first job at the University of Utah. Over the past several years, serving on the Utah Academy of Family Physicians board has greatly expanded my sense of community within Family Medicine and deepened my appreciation for the support, collegiality, and collaboration that exists across the state. I am motivated to serve as UAFP president because every Family Medicine colleague should be aware of — and feel connected to—the strong, supportive community available in UAFP should they every want or need it. I believe that building and harnessing this community, during a primary care crisis in our state, can empower us as physicians, educators and advocates. I want Family Medicine to define who we are and what we can do for Utah and I believe the UAFP provides us the platform to do so.
NOMINEES FOR UAFP AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Scott Black, MD, MPH
I graduated from Utah Valley University in 2008. I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in 2012. I completed residency training at the Utah Valley Family Medicine Residency in 2015. I then worked at a rural FQHC in La Pine, Oregon for 3 years. In 2018, I was lucky enough to be hired as a faculty member at my former residency and have been here ever since. Teaching is my passion and I really feel like I have the greatest job in the world. I have frequently commented to my wife that I can't believe I get paid to do what I do. Our residents are amazing and they make my job a blast! I'm also the Clinic Medical Director at the Merrill Gappmayer Family Medicine Center, our residency's clinic. This has been a growing experience for me, and I'm sure it will continue to be. Growth is good! I also serve on Intermountain's GME Faculty Development Committee. I am Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at NOORDA College of Osteopathic Medicine and Clinical Affiliate Faculty at BYU School of Medicine. On my own time I love to ski and mountain bike. My family and I love Sundance so this season has been rough. I help coach the high school mountain bike teams in Orem and serve on the operations board for Orem Youth Cycling Association. If I can be outside, I want to be. I have a wife and 4 kids and they make my life awesome!
Tell us in a few words why you would be interested in joining the UAFP Board?
Early on in my practice this is actually something I wasn't interested in at all. I didn't really feel that leadership experiences were necessary or a good use of my time. "Let someone else do it," I thought. However, over time I've, thankfully, come to learn that family medicine physicians are all leaders, either by default or by design, and I want to do it by design moving forward. I love Utah and I love family medicine and I want to be able to advocate on a broader level for our profession and the amazing family medicine physicians all across Utah.
Branden Buffington, DO
Dr. Branden Buffington is a board-certified Family Medicine physician practicing in Salt Lake City, Utah. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, before going on to complete his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Following undergrad, Dr. Buffington spent six months interning at the Governor's Office in California, an experience that sparked a lasting interest in policy, politics, and advocacy. He completed his residency training at St. Mark's Family Medicine Residency in Salt Lake City, where his commitment to community-centered, whole-person care continued to grow. Dr. Buffington's clinical interests span preventive health, lifestyle medicine, mental health, and addiction medicine, as well as a broad range of office-based procedures including ultrasound-guided joint injections and dermatologic procedures. He is passionate about empowering patients of all ages to take an active role in their health, and during residency he led group visits focused on nutrition and chronic disease management — reinforcing his belief in team-based, patient-centered approaches to care. He is dedicated to developing individualized, evidence-based care plans that align with each patient's unique goals. During residency, Dr. Buffington had the opportunity to rotate with the Utah Academy of Family Physicians, where he witnessed firsthand the meaningful work UAFP does to advocate for physician rights and advance health policy at the state level. That experience deepened his appreciation for organized medicine and solidified his desire to take a more active role in shaping the future of family medicine in Utah. He looks forward to contributing his voice and energy to the UAFP's mission. Outside of medicine, Dr. Buffington enjoys mountain biking, skiing, camping hiking with his two boxers, and international travel with his wife.
Tell us in a few words why you would be interested in joining the UAFP Board?
Family medicine is at a critical inflection point. The rapid advancement of AI, expanding scope of practice by non-physician providers, declining insurance reimbursements, burdensome prior authorization requirements, and the increasing politicization of medicine are reshaping our profession in ways that demand strong, unified advocacy. As these pressures grow, so does my sense of urgency to be part of the solution rather than a bystander to it. My interest in the UAFP is not new — I was first introduced to the organization during residency, and that experience left a lasting impression on me. I am now eager to move beyond that initial exposure and make advocacy a permanent, meaningful part of my career. I believe the UAFP is the right place to do that, and I am committed to contributing actively to the work of protecting and advancing family medicine physicians in Utah.
Erin Helms, MD
Originally from North Carolina, I went to both college and medical school there before moving to Utah. As an undergrad at NC State, I studied microbiology and biotechnology. NC state is also where I met my husband Jefferey, played on the ultimate frisbee team, and studied abroad in Santander, Spain. After graduating, I spent time working at the Genomic Core Laboratory in the Lineberger Cancer Center as well as volunteering as a birth doula for UNC Hospital. I graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and was thrilled to learn that our next adventure would be at the University of Utah. We have now been in Utah for 13 years and plan to be here forever. Our daughter, Nora (15), skis and runs cross country and track. Our son, Joel (11), loves skateboarding, skiing, and reading for hours in his hammock. Jefferey can usually be found on the golf course or working on our Westy so we can take road-trips and camp with the family. Our most recent trip was exploring South Dakota. I also love mountain biking, trivia, or cross stitching on the couch with one of our pets -Herb (the 3 legged cat), Penny (the 4 legged cat), or Tabasco (the bearded dragon). I am about to celebrate 10 years at the Intermountain West Valley Clinic which opened in 2016. We have now grown to nine family medicine providers serving a very diverse community, often with complex social and medical needs. I love my clinic, and I’m proud of the work we do. I am especially interested in obesity medicine, caring for infants and children, and women’s health. I am passionate about teaching and enjoy having medical students with me in the clinic. I have enjoyed the education, support, and camaraderie of the UAFP throughout my career, and I would love the opportunity to serve on the board!
Tell us in a few words why you would be interested in joining the UAFP Board?
The UAFP has been an important part of my professional development since my intern year at the University of Utah. I have appreciated all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into supporting UAFP members, and I would like to take a turn doing that work for others.
Spencer Lindsay, MD, MPA
I am from Cedar City, Utah, I went to medical school at the University of Utah and did my family medicine residency at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. Currently work at the Heber Valley Hospital with Intermountain Health. I am active with the AMA and a delegate for the young physician section and I have a strong interest in healthcare policy. I am married and have one daughter who just turned a year old.
Tell us in a few words why you would be interested in joining the UAFP Board?
It would be great to connect with other family medicine docs and leaders and contribute to UAFP.
Frank Powers, MD
Frank Powers MD is a board-certified family physician and family medicine residency director at the Community Health Centers in Salt Lake County, Utah. Here he has had the privilege of serving people from diverse backgrounds helping them navigate barriers to care by addresing social drivers of health in addition to complex medical conditions. He speaks English and Spanish every day. His practice includes care of individuals across the lifespan including children and pregnancy which includes work at Intermountain LDS Hospital and University of Utah Medical Center. Dr. Powers grew up in Michigan and attended Kalamazoo College where he studied biology including in Ecuador and ran cross country. He attended the Rural Physician Program at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. In 2008, Dr. Powers moved to Utah where he completed residency at St. Mark’s Family Medicine Residency and Family Medicine OB fellowship at the Community Health Centers / University of Utah. He joined Community Health Centers, Inc in 2011 and has remained there ever since. He has held several leadership positions within the organization, served on hospital committees and statewide public health committees. This includes Chair of the Maternal Health Committee on the board of the Utah Women and Newborn Quality Collaborative. Dr. Powers is an adjunct Assistant Professor in the department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and adjunct clinical faculty for Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a board member and graduate medical education committee (GMEC) member at Utah Healthcare Institute (St. Mark's Family Medicine). He has been actively involved in teaching medical students,advanced practice clinicians (APC) students, residents and fellows in OB-GYN and Family Medicine throughout his career. Most notably in the past 3 years, Dr. Powers with the support of his colleagues, started the first new family medicine residency in Utah in 30 years. CHC Family Medicine Residency is a community-based residency program with Community Health Centers acting as the sponsoring institution and GMEC with clinical partners at Intermountain LDS Hospital, University of Utah Health, Primary Children's Hospital, Alta clinic and community partners throughout the state. CHC Family Medicine Residency is a Teaching Health Center program and as such connected with other such programs throughout the country. In this work, Dr. Powers has gained experience in graduate medical education development and physican workforce.
Tell us in a few words why you would be interested in joining the UAFP Board?
I have been a UAFP member since 2008 and active both locally in UAFP and nationally in AAFP. It is my time to serve on the UAFP board. I would bring perspective from my work in primary care at Community Health Centers, Inc in Salt Lake County including care of children, women including full spectrum pregnancy-related care and medically underserved care. As founding program director for the family medicine residency at the Community Health Centers, I bring experience in graduate medical education growth and physician workforce. In 18 years in Utah I have made many connections in the community and joining the UAFP board will enable me to broaden my connections in order to address the needs of the communities I work with: the people of Utah and physicians in training.
Joseph Sanchez, MD
I grew up in Belen, New Mexico and have found my home in Salt Lake City, Utah. I completed my undergraduate and medical school trainings at the University of New Mexico. My medical interests include caring for patient populations at risk, especially caring for those with developmental and physical disabilities. I am passionate about working with medical trainees and helping to shape the future of medicine. My medical philosophy roots from helping to care for my older sister, Kierstin Marie Sanchez, who had many developmental and physical disabilities. I became a physician to care for people like her, to be surrounded by a group that finds joy in the smallest of gestures and taught me the healing power of kindness. My hobbies include walking his dogs, cooking, and outdoor activities like hiking and skiing. I desire to work with patients and their caretakers to bring a sense of belonging, to help people know they do not face challenges alone.
Tell us in a few words why you would be interested in joining the UAFP Board?
UAFP aligns with my mission to advocate for our community and promote physician wellbeing.
Jonathan Shumway, DO
I was born and raised in Provo, UT and received a Bachelor's degree in Public Health from BYU. I completed my medical training in Fort Worth, Texas at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) and JPS Family Medicine Residency. I have been working at Revere Health in Salem as a family physician for the past 4.5 years. I loved my patients and learned so much from them about how to be a compassionate physician. I also love teaching students and chose to accept a full time position as Faculty of Clinical Sciences at Noorda-COM in Dec 2025. Currently I have a non-compete clause and could resume clinical work when that expires. My current roles include developing Communications curriculum, teaching in General Skills and OMM Lab, and working as the Family Medicine Clerkship Director. I love Noorda-COM students and I want to inspire more to go into primary care. I hope to work to improve the health system for future family medicine physicians as well. When I'm not at work you can find me doing a calisthenics/kettlebell workout, riding my ebike, or attending the symphony or a musical with my wife Lizzy. We have three children together, Saul (7), Naomi (5), and Eve (1) and love to make treats, read stories, and go on adventures as a family.
Tell us in a few words why you would be interested in joining the UAFP Board?
I’ve been experiencing growing concern over the future of family medicine lately. Fewer medical students are choosing primary care and I can understand why. Problems such as high medical school debt, decreasing physician reimbursement, and an ever increasing EHR/administrative burden make it hard for medical students to choose a field that seems less advantageous after years of hard study and labor. I fear primary care will slowly be handed over the realm of PA/NPs, whose training is less consistent across the board and can lead to lower quality of care and poor patient outcomes. I was recently impressed by the elimination of non-compete clauses in Utah and I feel that getting more involved is the best way to start helping address some of these issues on a legislative and health systems level. I truly want to see Family Medicine succeed in helping our patients live life to the fullest potential.
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