Established in 1951, the Maine Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) is the largest specialty physician organization in Maine, currently representing over 700 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students.

          Family physicians, like other medical specialists, complete an extensive three-year residency program after graduating from medical school.  As part of their residency, family physicians receive training in six major medical areas:

• Pediatrics
  
• Obstetrics and gynecology
  
• Internal medicine
  
• Psychiatry & Neurology 
  
• Surgery
  
• Community medicine

They also receive instruction in many other areas.

          Four Family Medicine Residency programs have been established here in Maine and have graduated Family Physicians for over 25 years.  The MAFP is an ardent advocate for public health with family physicians participating in a number of statewide health initiatives such as Tar Wars (a tobacco education program for elementary school children).

          The MAFP has established 3 priorities:   A  -  C  -  E 

A  -  ADVOCACY:   For the specialty of Family Medicine, Family Physicians in Maine, our patients, and the citizens of Maine

C  -  COMMUNICATION:  Enhanced communication to and among family physician members and primary care physicians across Maine

E  -  EDUCATION:  Providing clinical & policy information to Family Physicians across Maine.  Support the Tar Wars program in Maine

          As a constituent chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the MAFP is part of one of the nation’s largest medical organizations, representing more than 94,300 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students nationwide. Founded in 1947, the AAFP’s mission is to preserve and promote the science and art of family medicine and to ensure high quality, cost-effective health care for patients of all ages.  One avenue for this reform is through implementation of the Patient Centered Medical Home concept in training and medical practice.