FFFM | Previewing the Family Medicine Advocacy Summit

In this episode, AAFP Vice President of Government David Tully talks with Sage Bauer, the Academy's director of political affairs and member engagement and a veteran grassroots organizer, about how AAFP members help advance family medicine's advocacy priorities — and about the unique opportunity to maximize this impact at next month's Family Medicine Advocacy Summit.

This is the AAFP's biggest in-person advocacy event of the year, when more than 250 members gather in Washington, D.C., to meet directly with their members of Congress and other policymakers. As Bauer says, there is always a noticeable uptick in lawmaker support for AAFP-backed legislation in the days immediately following FMAS.

The summit also includes training so that even first-time advocates know how to get the most out of their meetings and enjoy a solid grasp of the issues in play and the politics affecting those issues.

Topics by Timestamp

• 00:00 Welcome to Fighting for Family Medicine for a conversation about next month's Family Medicine Advocacy Summit
• 00:40 Meet Sage Bauer, the Academy's director of political affairs and member engagement.
• 00:53 What is a fly-in, why is one such as FMAS important, and how is FMAS structured?
• 03:19 Why lawmakers value meetings with constituents, especially experts such as family physicians
• 06:12 How advocacy has transformed over the past two decades
• 09:07 What a first-time FMAS attendee can expect
• 11:25 How AAFP members unable to attend FMAS can still get involved in advocacy
• 13:55 Closing

Resources

Register here for this year's Family Medicine Advocacy Summit, Sunday, May 19, to Tuesday, May 21, in Washington, D.C.

The AAFP's Grassroots advocacy page helps Academy members connect with their lawmakers to advocate personally.

The AAFP's Speak Out page puts members in touch with their members of Congress to advocate for the Academy's top policy priorities.

Disclaimer: Copyright 2024. AAFP. The views presented in this broadcast are the speaker's own and do not represent those of AAFP. The information presented is for general, educational, or entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal, health, financial, or other advice. AAFP makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for results that may arise from its use. Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and respective governing bodies for applicable laws. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AAFP unless specifically stated otherwise. AAFP and the AAFP logo are registered trademarks of American Academy of Family Physicians.