Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine—Southern Utah Recognized by AAFP for Program of Excellence in Family Medicine
August 5, 2020 — The Student Association of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians of the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine—Southern Utah (RVUCOM-SU) was recently recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians as one of 18 medical school Family Medicine Interest Groups (FMIG) to win the prestigious 2020 Program of Excellence (PoE) Award for exemplary efforts to grow and support interest in family medicine. Attendees from around the country celebrated this honor live, Friday July 31, at the first-ever virtual AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students.
The RVUCOM-SU’s Student Association of the ACOFP was recognized as a Program of Excellence for its Excellence in Clinical Skills Development. Its monthly clinical skills workshops have included a suture clinic, osteopathic manipulative techniques in pregnancy, EKG reading, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, vaccine conversations, a simulation on vaginal delivery and a simulation on postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal resuscitation. These efforts extend far beyond the national award to improving the future of family medicine and building the vital primary care physician workforce.
“The student leaders of the RVUCOM-SU have successfully created a series of diverse and engaging events that highlight the scope and variety a career in family medicine has to offer,” explained Dr. Ben Wilde, DO, faculty adviser. “These students’ focused efforts to promote the field of family medicine has nurtured a positive campus culture that is likely to have a positive impact on their medical student peers now and for years to come.”
“The FMIGs we honor this year have gone above and beyond by activating students to put the knowledge they’ve acquired in the classroom into practice,” said Clif Knight, MD, senior vice president for education at the AAFP. “These programs help students develop leadership skills that will serve them in their future practices and communities and provide opportunities to better understand the many vital roles that family physicians play in our health care system.”
The AAFP publishes winning applications to share best practices and innovative programming ideas with other FMIGs and family medicine educators nationwide. There is also a programming resource for all FMIGs to use that highlights the most successful and innovative ideas from these exemplary schools.
FMIGs are independent groups, governed by their host medical school and supported by faculty and staff with resources and support from the national FMIG Network administered by the AAFP.
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About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 136,700 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty.
Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine, the AAFP’s positions on issues and clinical care, and for downloadable multi-media highlighting family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media.
For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s award-winning consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.