Inspiring the Next Generation of Family Physicians: Future of Family Medicine Conference & Residency Connection Fair

Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan hosted its annual Michigan Future of Family Medicine Conference on September 14, providing timely networking for 2025 match applicants and programs. Highlights included an engaging residency fair, hands-on clinical workshops (new this year: punch and shave biopsy!) and dynamic round-robin discussions exploring 16 areas of focus within family medicine. 

“I always love the Future of Family Medicine Conference for networking - especially in this day and age of virtual interviews, it allows applicants to really get to know the programs in a different manner to better determine where they would like to apply.  Not only does the residency connection portion allow for networking time, but during the panels and workshops the students get one on one time with educators from around the state of Michigan which again reinforces all that the MAFP has to offer and the wonderful family medicine educators we have around the state of Michigan,” said Olivia Thomas, MD, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine Residency at CMU Medical Education Partners.

Central Michigan University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency was one of 16 residency programs from Michigan that participated in the Residency Connection portion of the conference, ranked by students as the top reason they attended the conference.

MAFP is grateful to the more than 30 volunteers who assisted with the clinical workshops (punch and shave biopsy, suturing, and women’s health procedures) and small group discussions. Below are some highlights of the event according to volunteers: 

“Exposure to medical students that want to stay in Michigan.”

“Watching students learn and connect old and new information”

“Speaking with students about family medicine and research”

Students also shared their highlights from the event:

“The inviting and welcoming aroma of the entire MAFP group and residents/program directors.”

“Having the chance to meet with the program directors.”

“Meeting fellow students.”

“Learning about the different types of family medicine specialties during our speed dating round.”

“Taking the time to review clinical procedures in the workshops”

“My overall experience at the 2024 MAFP Future of Family Medicine Conference was wonderful and highly informative. I had the opportunity to connect with attendings and residents and discuss different opportunities in the field of family medicine, review clinical skills and procedures, and learn about several different residency programs in the Michigan area. It was also great to meet other medical students with an interest in family medicine.” - M4 student from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Thank you to the Southeastern Michigan Academy of Family Physicians and the AAFP Foundation for their sponsorship. We also extend our gratitude to all the residency program and exhibitor representatives; clinical workshop volunteers and small group discussion leads. A special thanks to the FMFM Student & Resident Education Committee for their invaluable contributions to the planning of this impactful event. 

Stay tuned to https://www.mafp.com/calendar for the date and location of the 2025 Michigan Future of Family Medicine Conference & Residency Connection!