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As we approach the end of my term as ACOFP president, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and how our organization is poised to excel in the future. My presidential theme of Legacy and our focus on: (1) increasing engagement among our members, (2) increasing collaborations with other organizations, and (3) increasing the membership of our organization have yielded some impressive results.
The engagement and involvement of ACOFP members is the cornerstone of our growth and success. We launched new tools to encourage active engagement, including a new mobile app called ACOFP 365. Please download and use it! On a personal level, I visited 18 state society and student chapter meetings during this past year, fostering connections and gaining valuable insights through individual interactions. Together with other board members, we made over 28 of these visits in 2023-2024 to engage our members and we are excited about bridging these connections well into the future.
Our external collaborations have been a particular point of strength this year. We launched the Corporate Council Roundtable program, which yielded exceptional results and strengthened our ties to eight health industry corporate partners, providing mutual benefits to them and to our membership. This initiative has not only expanded our impact but has paved the way for positive partnerships that will continue to benefit the ACOFP community. I am proud of our grant efforts reaching new heights, with several collaborative grants and the massive Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) grant for opioid education. The REMS grant was our largest grant ever and will produce free educational opportunities for thousands of family physicians. Educational partnerships with several other associations resulted in a wealth of new learning opportunities for the ACOFP community and beyond.
We are growing and I am inspired for our future! Our membership organization grew to over 26,000 members strong, an increase of over a thousand members since this time last year. This is a testament to the value and impact ACOFP has for our members and propels us to achieve our vision of being the professional home of osteopathic family medicine for the nation. I can’t thank each of our members enough for their growing support and engagement, which is the foundation of our success as an organization.
As we look ahead to the ACOFP '24 annual convention, scheduled from April 3rd to 7th in New Orleans and also taking place virtually, there is much to anticipate. This event is poised to be an unforgettable experience. Those attending in person will have the chance to engage with everything New Orleans has to offer, from its rich culinary scene to its vibrant music culture. This conference will provide a unique blend of learning and networking opportunities that will further empower and connect our family of brilliant physicians and students. I am anticipating a record- breaking attendance of students!
One innovative initiative during the conference will be the Think Tank on April 6th and 7th. This event will convene 100 practicing physicians and students to identify innovative ways to promote family medicine as an appealing and satisfying profession for osteopathic medical students as we continue the impactful work of the ABFM Futures grant. Another exciting event is the Best Of Osteopathic Manipulation Mentors (BOOMM!), a small group event that will teach our students real-world applicable techniques and demonstrate the power of our osteopathically trained hands.
As I conclude my term, I want to express my sincere appreciation to each member of the ACOFP community for their dedication, collaboration, and unwavering support. Together we have achieved great milestones, and I am confident that the legacy of our accomplishments will resonate for years to come. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your president, and I look forward to witnessing the continued success of ACOFP in the future.
Professionally Yours,
David J. Park, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP dist.
2023–24 ACOFP President