National Conference of Constituency Leaders
The National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) is the AAFP’s leadership development event that empowers a select group of change makers to catalyze positive change in family medicine. The 2027 conference will take place April 16-18 at the Kansas City Convention Center. NCCL will inspire you to build on your leadership skills and create a lasting impact for current and future generations of family physicians. NCCL offers leadership and policy development opportunities for:
- Women Physicians
- BIPOC Physicians
- New Physicians (in the first seven years of practice following residency)
- International Medical Graduate Physicians
- LGBTQ+ Physicians/Physician Allies
Michigan delegates—one per constituency—are appointed by the MAFP Board of Directors. They exchange information and share experiences with their colleagues from across the country, while developing leadership skills, helping to establish or update Academy policy, and electing national leaders. Chapter delegates are eligible to serve on and testify in reference committees, vote on resolutions, and vote in elections.
Delegates are reimbursed for eligible expenses according to the MAFP reimbursement policy.
Interested in representing Michigan at the 2027 National Conference of Constituency Leaders? Applications are now being accepted through November 14.
MAFP 2026 Delegates
(Pictured above, left to right)
Women Physician Delegate: Elisa Kolk, MD (Van Buren Township)
"NCCL allowed me to network with other physicians from around the country, listen to their experiences and concerns, and work together to try to make progress in addressing those concerns. While at NCCL I was able to both propose, and then be the primary author on, a resolution designed to help with reimbursement challenges we face when a patient is only in our office for counseling, whether for birth control, pre-conception counseling, or another reason designated by a non-reimbursable ICD-10 code."
BIPOC: William Childs II, DO (Grosse Pointe Farms)
"The conference was an incubator for leadership, a place where lived experience was not only acknowledged but elevated as expertise. As the Michigan BIPOC delegate, my understanding of family medicine expanded beyond the clinic walls. I have always believed in the power of relationships and community-based care, but NCCL illuminated how policy decisions directly shape our ability to deliver that care. This experience sharpened my awareness that advocacy is not optional; it is essential. Democracy requires participation!"
Dan Drake, MD, FAAFP (Bad Axe)
"Many of the discussions at NCCL directly mirrored issues I have encountered in my practice. This really underscored that our experiences on the front lines are not isolated; they are part of broader, systemic challenges that can be addressed through organized advocacy. NCCL helped bridge the gap between clinical care and policy, showing how physicians can translate real-world challenges into actionable proposals. For family physicians considering applying to be an NCCL delegate, my strongest advice is simple: apply."
International Medical Graduate: Yamuna Yoganathan, MD (LaSalle, ON)
"I realized that family physicians have a powerful voice and can advocate for meaningful changes that impact not only physicians, but also patients and communities across the country. Seeing firsthand how organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians work tirelessly behind the scenes to influence policy and improve the future of family medicine was truly enlightening. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the leadership, collaboration, and dedication required to create lasting change within healthcare."
LGBTQ+ Physician Ally: Ashley Erwin, MD (Southfield)
"As a member of the LGBTQ+ constituency, I was immediately reassured that I was in a safe and affirming space to ask questions and engage fully. My advice to future applicants: start now. Write down your ideas. Write down your patients' stories. Practice resolution writing, and arrive prepared with resolutions already drafted. The conference rewards those who come ready to engage, and the work you do there has the potential to ripple outward — into guidelines, into policy, and ultimately into better care for the patients who need it most."
Call for Resolution Ideas
Do you have a proposed solution to a concern, a suggestion for a new AAFP initiative, or a requested AAFP policy that one or more of the delegates listed above can formulate into a formal resolution for proposal at the 2025 National Conference of Constituency Delegates? Email [email protected].
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