The mission of the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians is to promote excellence in family medicine and the betterment of the health of the people of Delaware. Purposes in support of this mission are:
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- To provide responsible advocacy for and education of patients and the public in all health-related matters.
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- To preserve and promote quality cost-effective health care.
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- To promote the science and art of family medicine and to ensure an optimal supply of well-trained family physicians.
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- To promote and maintain high standards among physicians who practice family medicine.
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- To preserve the right of family physicians to engage in medical and surgical procedures for which they are qualified by training and experience.
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- To provide advocacy, representation, and leadership for the specialty of family medicine.
- To maintain and provide an organization with high standards to fulfill the above purposes and to represent the needs of its members.
DAFP Non-Discrimination Policy
The Delaware Academy of Family Physicians does not and shall not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, the appointment to and termination from its Board of Directors, hiring and firing of staff or contractors, selection of volunteers, selection of vendors, and providing of services.
Delaware’s First Chapter
Delaware was granted membership to the American Academy of General Practice (AAGP) on August 16, 1950, due to the efforts of six physicians from Delaware. They became the 39th state chapter under the first president, Dr. Harold Tarrant. The early goal of the chapter was to provide local continuing medical education. The first course was offered in EKG interpretation, and by 1951 the first annual meeting took place in Wilmington. In 1952 a winter course of ten Wednesday afternoon lectures began, and the first Annual Scientific Session was presented in March 1953. By this time, membership had grown to a total of 13 general practitioners.
Education
The 1960s saw little growth in the number of family physicians locating to Delaware. A decision was made to support the formation of a residency training program at the Wilmington Medical Center. In 1971 the 73rd Family Practice training program was established under the leadership of Dr. Dene T. Walters. In 1980 a second DE training program began at St. Francis Hospital directed by Dr. Stephen Permut. Today, both residency programs are thriving and boast a strong number of graduates, with a majority of physicians staying to practice in Delaware.
DAFP Chapter Today
DAFP has become an integral part of most practicing physicians in DE. Our chapter boasts a long line of past presidents who have been integral in the expansion of Family Medicine in Delaware. The 1990s saw the formation of the David and Ethel Platt Family Physicians Summer Fellowship, which provides summer fellowships for first and second-year medical students for a four-week rotation in family physicians’ offices. The DAFP also provides excellent continuing medical education through the Top Ten Clinical Pearls Year in Review (formerly the Fall and Winter Courses), the Annual Scientific Assembly, the Annual Geriatric Medicine Symposium, and the Annual Sports Medicine Symposium, as well as other CME activities. We boast a membership market share of approximately 80% and offer support in the changing healthcare climate today. Family Medicine has proved to be just as relevant today as it was 60 years ago, and as we move forward providing a medical “home” to patients, we are excited to be a part of the DAFP for the next sixty years.