Center for History of Family Medicine Announces 2024 Essay Contest Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Adrieanna Norse
AAFP Public Relations
anorse@aafp.org

February 13, 2024

Leawood, Kan. —  The Center for the History of Family Medicine (CHFM) at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Foundation named Joshua A. Smith, M.D., M.P.H., a fourth-year resident at the Christ Hospital Family Medicine-Psychiatry in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the winner of its essay contest for medical students and residents. Smith’s essay titled, Family Physicians and Unintended Consequences, highlights how in the wake of consequences stemming from past and recent U.S. health policy decisions, family physicians are uniquely positioned to be advocates for their patients and communities.  

The essay explains past U.S. health policy decisions, and how they’ve had downstream consequences on patients and communities. He writes, “In many ways, lack of foresight and limited expertise in health and health care have allowed the unintended byproducts and consequences of decisions to dominate in impact, despite the intentions of policymakers. And in the end, family physicians may be the intervention to change this.” Dr. Smith adds that the recent history of mental health care serves as an emblematic example of action and reaction in U.S. health policy.

Smith’s essay closes with a reminder that family physicians see firsthand how yesterday’s health decisions impact today and tomorrow’s patients. He highlights the importance of organizations like the AAFP, and how advocacy can create impactful change. Learning to advocate is a lifelong process, and I’ve found that training in Family Medicine is a great place to start. Decisions are made by those who show up,” Smith says.

“The history captured in Dr. Smith's essay helps create a path to improve the future of health care and encourages the next generation of family physicians to engage with the specialty's history," said Tomas Owens, M.D., FAAFP, President, AAFP Foundation Board of Trustees.

 _{First Place: Joshua A. Smith, M.D., M.P.H}

 _{Second Place : Muhammad Junaid Anwar, M.D.}