October 25-28, 2017 marked the GAFP’s 69th Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta. Hosting more than 450 family physicians and other health care professionals at the Westin Buckhead Atlanta, the Georgia Academy offered a variety of CME and Industry Partner time to attendees in addition to offering many opportunities to network with colleagues.
Attendees were able to obtain up to 55 AAFP prescribed credits on a wide variety of topics pertinent to the broad range of practice needs of our members.
This year, the Georgia Academy offered a pre-conference QualityImpact Practice Transformation Network Workshop, managed by QualityImpact, the COSEHC Practice Transformation Network. The interactive workshop provided attendees the opportunity to discuss challenges, best practices, and strategies to help participants thrive in a value-based delivery environment.
In addition, four Knowledge Self-Assessment Modules (KSAs) were offered in an effort to fulfill the Maintenance of Certification, Part II – Self-Assessment and Lifelong Learning using the ABFM’s new point system. More than 90 attendees successfully completed the Health Behavior, Medical Genomics, Heart Failure, and Well Child Care KSAs.
Throughout the Annual Meeting, attendees had the opportunity to win several prizes by simply interacting with our Industry Partners when visiting the Social and Information Hub. This year, GAFP PAC raffled off the chance to win a gift certificate for a Big Green Egg Grill, valued at $900. Congratulations to Dr. Rick Wherry on his big green win! 
The most buzzed-about activity during the meeting was the official kickoff of the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance Capital Campaign. The “Your Giving is Great Medicine” Capital Campaign led by Campaign Chair Dr. Loy “Chip” Cowart, seeks to build on the $1 million-dollar gift from the Georgia Academy to raise an additional $3 million to fulfill GHFA’s mission to enhance the well-being of Georgians through educational and outreach programs. The highlight of the evening was the Boots and Barbeque event on Friday night, which featured great food, fellowship, and country karaoke, and highlighted GHFA’s Community Health Grant program that has awarded more than $160,000 in grants to 38 community health projects in Georgia. A great time was had by all in attendance!
Attendees deemed the meeting a big success and offered the following 
comments on their post-meeting evaluations:
- I want thank you all and congratulate you on coordinating one of the best Scientific Assemblies that I have attended in recent memory!
- Great conference overall! A weekend well spent!
- All of the sessions were very good!
- Great meeting!
The meeting’s success was based on the hard work, volunteer time, and efforts of the Education and Research Committee as well as the 2017 Annual Meeting Working Group.
The 2017 Education and Research Committee members were:
Theresa Jacobs, MD – Chair
Ken Howard, MD – Vice Chair
Karla Booker, MD
Mike Busman, MD
Clark Gillett, MD
Alice House, MD
Alison Lauber, MD
Yvonne Maduka, MD
Carl McCurdy, MD
Yuan-Xiang Meng, MD
Monique Merritt-Atkins, MD
Adrienne Mims, MD
Saida Omarova, MD
Blake Rudeseal – student
Harry Strothers, MD
The Annual Meeting Working Group consisted of:
Giselle Blair, MD
Kim Eubanks, MD
Angela Evans, MD
Abdollatif Ghiathi, MD
Shivani Jerath, MD
Theresa Kowalski, MD
Zita Magliore, MD
Sylveria Olatidoye, MD
Shikha Shah, MD
Marilyn Washburn, MD
We would like to thank all of our attendees for their continued support of Georgia Academy educational activities as we strive to offer quality CME to our members and guests.
Mark your calendars now for the 2018 Summer Family Medicine Weekend, which is scheduled June 14-17, 2018 at the Omni Amelia Island in Amelia Island, Florida. Additional meeting information will be available in early 2018.