Working to Improve Healthcare Delivery

It is the mission of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians Foundation to enhance healthcare delivered to the people of North Carolina by:

• Supporting the goals and projects of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians as its philanthropic arm,
• Developing and providing philanthropic resources for the promotion and support of the specialty of Family Medicine,
• Assisting the advancement of Family Medicine in areas of research, education, student interest, and health care delivery

Our Vision

The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was originally founded to provide scholarships to worthy medical students. As the specialty of family medicine grows, so does the vision of the Foundation.

Today, the NCAFP Foundation provides programs and services supporting two key areas of concern relating to family medicine. Providing primary health care for North Carolina citizens is a main focus of the Foundation's programs and services. The Foundation is committed to efforts that promote and support the specialty of family medicine and helps in recruiting family physicians to serve the people of our state. Working with the medical students at Duke University Medical Center, East Carolina University School of Medicine, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the Foundation fosters interest in family medicine. Activities with the Family Medicine Interest Groups at each of the four medical schools are supported by the Foundation, as well as providing Student Scholarships/Loans to those interested in the specialty of family medicine. Other services provided to students are Research Activities, Student Leadership Workshops and Family Medicine Externships. Medical students are encouraged to become involved both locally and nationally with the Academy. Leadership positions are available on the Foundation Board as well as Foundation and Academy committees.

Promoting preventative health care among the people of North Carolina is a second area of focus for the Foundation. Outreach programs that promote healthy lifestyle choices are provided by the Foundation. Tar Wars, a pro-health, tobacco-free education program and poster contest, is coordinated with 4th and 5th graders in the NC elementary schools. "Into the Mouths of Babes" is a program that trains medical providers to offer preventive oral health services to high-risk children under age 3, in addition to oral screening, dental varnish, and parent education. Senior Vaccination Season Coalition provides flu and pneumococcal vaccinations to senior citizens throughout North Carolina. The Foundation works with the NC Cancer Coordination and Control Advisory Committee to implement the goals and strategies of The Cancer Control Plan 2001-2006 to provide coordination for cancer control and care efforts. These programs are collaborative efforts among Academy members, health care providers, and organizations such as school systems, hospitals, and other professional organizations.

The Foundation has a Corporate Membership program that identifies companies with an interest in advocating the healthcare needs of North Carolina citizens. Companies joining the membership program contribute to the support of the programs and services provided by the Foundation. They are invited to provide representatives to sit on the Foundation Board of Trustees and they receive special recognition during the Academy's spring and winter meetings.

A membership campaign is conducted annually by the Foundation to raise funds to continue current and new programming. In addition, the Foundation sponsors two fundraising events: the Silent Auction at our Winter Family Physicians Weekend, and the Foundation Raffle at the Spring Family Physicians Weekend.

Goals

The Foundation has as its goal to advance primary health care throughout North Carolina by supporting the specialty of Family Medicine. The Foundation is achieving this goal by:

1. Supporting the goals and projects of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians;
2. developing and providing funding resources to promote and support of the specialty of Family Medicine;
3. developing programs that encourage and assist students in choosing a career in Family Medicine;
4. developing projects that promote the health care of citizens throughout North Carolina.