Members Connect, Lead, and Celebrate at the AAFP FUTURE Conference

More than 3,000 family medicine residents and medical students from across the country convened in Kansas City, MO, July 31-Aug. 2, for the AAFP’s FUTURE — the largest annual education, networking, and residency-connection forum for family physicians-in-training in the United States. Among those in attendance were 50 MAFP members who took advantage of the opportunity to learn, connect, lead and leave their mark on the future of family medicine. 

Leadership, Advocacy
During business sessions of the resident and student congresses, Michigan’s delegates advocated for meaningful change through networking, learning about the resolution-writing process, and serving on committees to review and recommend action on submitted resolutions. MAFP Delegates included Student Delegates Natalie Delemeester and Ryan Flaherty, and Resident Delegates Drs. Ahmed Saleh and Julie Ngo.

Delegates also had the opportunity to explore leadership pathways within AAFP. MAFP’s Julie Ngo, MD ran to serve as the Resident Member of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Board of Directors. While Dr. Ngo tied in the first round of votes, she ultimately did not win the position. We are proud of Dr. Ngo for her initiative and ongoing leadership contributions. 

Residency Program Exploration
The “Michigan Aisle” in the expansive Expo Hall featured 16 of Michigan’s 39 family medicine residency programs, each showcasing their unique strengths and training opportunities. Programs engaged with prospective residents while proudly representing the state’s commitment to excellence in family medicine education. MAFP supported the aisle with eye-catching “Welcome to Michigan” banners and coordinated signage for each program.

“This year at FUTURE we had an excellent turnout of interested medical students to the Michigan aisle. The booths were bustling for most of the time,” said Nikolaus Fulbright, MD, Assistant Program Director Henry Ford Providence. “The expo hall was full with great applicants.”

Building Community
Hosted annually by MAFP and the Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan, the Michigan Reception brought together generations of family medicine professionals. Held at Shark Bar in Kansas City’s Power & Light District, the invitation-only event welcomed more than 120 medical students, residents, program directors, faculty, and staff. The reception reflected the close-knit, supportive nature of Michigan’s family medicine community and its commitment to the future of the specialty.

Khrizan Ali, M3 at Windsor University School of Medicine, said attending the reception was one the highlights of the conference, outside of visiting residency booths and attending meetings. 

“The reception offers a unique opportunity to truly get a feel for a program’s culture — the ultimate ‘vibe check.’ It’s also a great way to discover programs that may not have been on your radar,” Ali said. “Most importantly, it’s where you connect — and reconnect — with your people — the ones speaking your language: those pursuing, and those already living, the incandescent passion that defines Family Medicine. I highly recommend attending!”

Recognition
During FUTURE, AAFP recognized both Adam Shammami, DO and the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine for outstanding contributions to advancing family medicine. Dr. Shammami was named the 2025 recipient of the AAFP Joyce Jeardeau Memorial Award, an honor presented annually to a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to FMIGs and the future of family medicine. As faculty advisor to Oakland’s FMIG, Dr. Shammami has played a pivotal role in mentoring students, fostering interest in the specialty, and helping build a vibrant, mission-driven community. Under Dr. Shammami’s leadership, the Oakland University FMIG was named a 2025 AAFP Program of Excellence Overall Award winner, distinguishing it as one of the top FMIGs in the country. This national award celebrates student-led groups that show exceptional creativity, leadership, and dedication to promoting family medicine on campus and in their communities.

Get Involved 
Below are links to where you can learn about getting involved in AAFP’s 2026 FUTURE Conference:

• Michigan Resident & Student Congress Delegate Positions (scholarship included)
• Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute 
• Family Medicine Leads Scholarships 
• Family Medicine Interest Groups 

Plus, Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan is hosting its annual Michigan Future of Family Medicine Conference & Residency Connection on Saturday, Sept. 13, in Novi. Touted as a mini-National Conference, this state conference for medical students offers hands-on clinical workshops, small group discussions with family physicians about subspecialties within family medicine, and a residency fair with programs from Michigan. Registration is open for students, residency program exhibitors and volunteers who would like to talk with students about their areas of expertise/special interest and/or help instruct a clinical workshop. Join us!