Five decades of health leadership

Beginnings

At a meeting held in Greensboro in February of 1948, 100 physicians engaged in general practice met and approved the formation of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of General Practice (AAGP). It was resolved that the necessary steps be taken to form a legally constituted state chapter of the AAGP (formed in 1947).

A letter of request that the North Carolina Chapter be chartered was sent to the President of AAGP. The charter was granted on April 25, 1948, the 21st charter granted to a state chapter. A business meeting of the new chapter was held in May where the bylaws and constitution were read and adopted. In 1970, the constitution and bylaws were revised and the name was changed to the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians.

Historical Summaries - Descriptions of the Academy's past leaders and the accomplishments made.

Family Physicians of The Year - Honorees of NCAFP's most prestigious annual award.

Lifetime Service Award - Physicians and individuals honored for the life's dedication to improving the specialty of family medicine.

Outstanding Residents - Physicians honored for excellence in the performance during their residency training.

Community Teaching Awards - Family medicine educators chosen by each North Carolina medical school.

Distinguished Service Award - Special chapter awards that recognise leaders making a positive impact on family medicine and primary care.

Highlights of the past 50 years:

When chartered, NCAFP had 62 members. Today, membership has grown to over 2,700. Twelve NCAFP charter members are alive today and are still members of the association.

The North Carolina chapter has produced three national presidents, including Dr. Amos Johnson, Dr. James G. Jones, and Dr. Douglas E. Henley.

Three AAFP National Family Physicians of the Year have come from North Carolina: Dr. Jane Carswell in 1984, Dr. J. Seaborn Blair in 1988, and Dr. Melvin T. Pinn, Jr., MD, MPH in 1992. Eight other NC Family Physicians of the Year have been among the top 10 finalists for the AAFP honor.

The NCAFP Foundation is considered the flagship of AAFP constituent chapter foundations. It continues to work with medical schools and students to meet the state's need for more family physicians.

A complete early history of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians is available. The book was published in conjunction with the Academy's 50th anniversary (April 1998).

The Academy also maintains an archive of our Past Leaders, our chapter's Family Physicians of the Year, our annual Residents of the Year selected by each FM residency, individuals honored for their Lifetime Service to the specialty, and our annual Distinguished Service Award Winners.