Shannon Connolly, MD
Happy New Year to my favorite group of people, family doctors! It is my honor to serve you this year as President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Academy of Family Physicians. We have a lot to do this year. In addition to our usual passion work—you know, tirelessly caring for our beloved patients–you may have noted that healthcare in the United States is expected to have some pretty big changes over the next presidential administration. We must take steps to ensure that the voice of family doctors is at the table as new policies and legislation come down the pipeline.
But how do we start? We are a diverse group of individuals and our roles within our communities are even more diverse than we are. We are clinic doctors and hospitalists, sports medicine gurus and palliative care angels, we deliver babies and visit nursing homes, we work in FQHCs and Kaiser, we are academic and community based, we provide mental health care and cancer screening. With a new administration poised for inauguration, we have more questions about proposed changes than answers, and we will be called upon to act quickly over the next weeks and months.
As family doctors, we return to our professional principles to guide us in times of change. While our individual viewpoints are as diverse as we are, we stand united in supporting improved health care access for all, sound public health policy, protection of our most vulnerable patients, and an unwavering commitment to science. As we evaluate new and proposed health policies over the next year, let’s agree to use these principles as a starting point.
This year, more so than ever, I ask you to consider attending the All Member Advocacy Meeting in March in Sacramento. AMAM information. This is an annual event sponsored by the CAFP that includes two days of advocacy and leadership training followed by an opportunity to meet with your state representatives to share your perspective as a family doctor. It is inspiring, impactful, and a great way to meet your amazing colleagues.
Lastly, I would be very remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank our outgoing President, Kevin Rossi, for his tireless service this past year. Dr Rossi has done tremendous work advocating for safer opioid prescribing practices and educating our colleagues on opioid abuse—even while recovering from knee surgery! Please join me in thanking him for his dedicated service.
Best,
Shannon Connolly
