Mississippi Student Elected to National Office
Richard Easterling, a 4th-year student at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, was elected July 30 to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Board of Directors to be the voice of the student membership.

Easterling was elected by fellow medical students at the AAFP National Conference of Residents and Students, held July 28-30 in Kansas City, Missouri. He will serve a 1-year term attending board meetings, advocacy events, and conferences.

Easterling is serving in his second year as a student member of MAFP's boards. He is president of the UMMC Family Medicine Interest Group.
Important Upcoming Dates & Deadlines
Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 22, 2023 for the Spring Fling for Residents and Students at the Sheraton Refuge Hotel in Flowood. More details will be announced later.

If you'd like to attend the MAFP Annual Meeting in Sandestin, FL (open to residents or students!), offering ~16 hours of CME plus networking with 140 of Mississippi's family physicians, mark your calendar for July 15-19, 2023.
Spring Fling in Flowood Brought Together Residents, Students, Physicians
Resident and student attendees at Spring Fling wearing their event t-shirts.
Splinting and casting workshop
Suturing workshop
Networking with exhibitors
Dozens of Mississippi family medicine residents and medical students came together Saturday, April 23, in Flowood for the MAFP's Spring Fling. A total of 57 students and residents elected their leaders for the coming year, saw presentations, took part in procedural workshops to hone their skills, and networked with family physicians and exhibitors on hand.

Residents and students gave the event good reviews. "The most beneficial thing for me was having the opportunity to speak to residents and practicing family physicians in a more casual, relaxed environment," one attendee said.

Speakers for the residents included a new physician panel discussion, coding basics, payments, financial planning and more. The student sessions included a M4 panel discussion, a presentation on health apps, and interviewing basics. There was also a family physician Q&A panel, and a joint session on malpractice litigation.
NRMP Updating the Match? Feedback Sought
The National Resident Matching Program Board of Directors announced Aug. 2 it is evaluating the feasibility of a proposed Two-Phase Main Residency Match, to replace the current Match® and Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®) processes and requests your input.

A Two-Phase Match proposes two complete Match cycles within the footprint of the current Match period (September through March) and eliminating the SOAP. There would be a first Match day in February, followed by a month-long second phase culminating in a mid-March second Match day. If enacted, the new process would begin in September 2023.

You are invited to submit comment to NMRP through Friday, Sept. 2, using this link.
Free to members: The American Academy of Family Physicians offers Strolling Through the Match, an e-book guide to matching in family medicine. It has interview prep, tips on personal statements, advice on evaluating programs and much more.
Resident, Student Board Members Elected
The following residents and students have been elected to the MAFP's two boards, the Board of Directors and the Foundation Board of Trustees. Each candidate gave a short speech at the Spring Fling on April 23 and voting took place that day, with residents electing their representatives and students electing theirs.

Resident Voting Member -- Tiffany Chapman, DO, ECHealthNet FM Residency, Meridian
Resident Alternate Member - John Fardell, MD, MS Delta FM Residency, Greenville
Student Voting Member - Stacy Mitchell, William Carey Univ. COM, Hattiesburg
Student Alternate Member - Torrye Evans, Univ. of Mississippi SOM, Jackson

Resident Voting Member - Jessica Joy Jenkins, MD, MS Delta FM Residency, Greenville
Resident Alternate Member - Anthony Carter - MS Delta FM Residency, Greenville
Student Voting Member - Richard Easterling, Univ. of Mississippi SOM, Jackson
Student Alternate - Daniel Paglia, William Carey Univ. COM, Hattiesburg
Ambassadors Networked, Had Fun in Destin
Ten medical students from UMMC and William Carey attended the MAFP Annual Meeting as Academy Ambassadors, taking part in the networking and fun of the 4-day event in Florida. Each Ambassador received a scholarship for their registration and hotel expenses, and was able to spend time with not only other medical students, but family physicians from all over the state.

Ambassadors said it was a great experience. "I got so many offers to visit physicians' clinics and hometowns," one Ambassador said. "It really felt like people there were invested in my success."

"I have always been interested in family medicine," another said. "This experience made my interest even bigger."

Ambassadors were (pictured above from left) Katelyn Swiderski, UMMC; Stacy Mitchell, WCUCOM; Katelyn Jackson, UMMC; Kristen Harvey, UMMC; Daniel Paglia, WCUCOM; Aman Syed, WCUCOM; David Lee, WCUCOM; Vraj Patel, WCUCOM; Richard Easterling, UMMC; and Will Windham, UMMC.

Each year, Mississippi medical students can apply to be an Ambassador in July. The 2023 Annual Meeting is July 15-19 in Sandestin, Florida.
WCUCOM to Host Rural Health Summit
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine is hosting its first Rural Health Summit, which will be held on the Hattiesburg campus Friday and Saturday, September 16-17. Geared toward physicians, residents, and medical students, it will offer attendees 8 hours of FREE CME.

The summit will kick off Friday night at 7 pm with a film screening of Mississippi State University's award winning documentary "On The Farm." On Saturday, attendees will see engaging and inspiring lectures plus take part in hands on sessions on the topics of Ultrasound, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), and Obstetrics. More info and registration here.
Students - Get Insight on Application Season
The American Academy of Family Physicians is hosting a student-only webinar, 'Applying to Family Medicine Residencies,' Wednesday, Aug. 24 beginning 7 pm Central Time. There is no charge. Hear from a panel of experts and get insight into applications, interviews, and ranking tips. Find your place in family medicine! Register now and join the discussion.
UMMC Students Promote Family Medicine at Expo
During orientation for first-year medical students last week, the University of Mississippi Medical Center Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) hosted a booth at an interest group expo, gathering 14 new members for MAFP. FMIG President Richard Easterling and vice presidents Jenna Hull (left) and Taylor Cupit (right) worked at the booth meeting new students, discussing the group's activities, and encouraging people to join MAFP.
Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians | 755 Avignon Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157
(601) 853-3302