January 16, 2026
We are thrilled to bring you the audio recording of NCAFP President Dr. Benjamin “Frankie” Simmons’s installation speech! Dr. Simmons delivered this heartfelt, electrifying address during his installation ceremony at the 2025 Winter Meeting, where he discussed his path to Family Medicine, his conviction to serve his neighbors, and his hope for our specialty. “Defying Gravity is exactly what it feels like to be a Family Physician in America today,” Dr. Simmons said. “We rise for our patients, our communities, and one another.”
In that vein, Dr. Simmons outlined his vision for serving his one-year term as NCAFP President: “As your president, I am committed to making sure the NCAFP continues to equip you with everything you need to care for your patients, your communities, and yourselves. Because we rise higher when we rise together.”
The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, Inc. (NCAFP) is a nonprofit professional association headquartered in Raleigh which represents over 4,300 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students across the state. It is the largest medical specialty association in North Carolina and is a constituent chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, based in Leadwood, KS.
